It’s about time I did a piece on Peace Camera. A staple of the downtown area for much longer than I’ve been living here, it is the best friend of a photographer of any variety. Lest you think I’m plugging the place because it’s a locally-owned operation, ponder this: When was the last time you visited a local shop that had prices lower than national chain stores? Not only that, but actually compare with an online buying experience?
It’s certainly possible to buy cheaper new gear online (especially when much of the time the items are of a gray-market nature), but the difference isn’t that much, especially when you factor in the cost of shipping. The ability to hold the item in your hand and try it out in the parking lot before you buy it is an experience that you just can’t match online. This is especially true for used photography gear. Defects and abuse are easily hidden–even with good quality pictures. For me, this fact alone makes it all worthwhile. I’ll be honest in that I’ll scan craigslist.org first for used equipment, but I always go to Peace Camera for new stuff.
The staff is incredibly knowledgable and helpful. I almost always learn something new whenever I go there. They’ll also clean your camera sensor for free, which is a must for folks like me with an older digital camera and that frequently change lenses. There really just aren’t enough good things to say about Peace Camera. If you are looking to buy anything dealing with cameras, go their first. You’ll find it’s well worth it.