Camera Stores ?

[bigdog]

Planing to buy a 600MM Telephoto lens for my wife :)

Looking for a local camera store in the Lakes Region, one that has knowledgable staff and know phtography, not just Wal-Mart type sales people.

Closest one I know of. is in Manchester ' Hunts Camera' on S. Willow St.
Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Bigdog

[djwoodward]

For equipment, Hunts is about the closest. I use B&H online for most of my purchases or Amazon..

[BroadHopper]

Has camera accessories. I don't expect the associates to know squat!

[Joebon]

What about spectrum in wolfeboro?

[brk-lnt]

Planing to buy a 600MM Telephoto lens for my wife :)

Looking for a local camera store in the Lakes Region, one that has knowledgable staff and know phtography, not just Wal-Mart type sales people.

Closest one I know of. is in Manchester ' Hunts Camera' on S. Willow St.
Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Bigdog

As much as I support buying from local businesses, this isn't a case where you want to go exactly that route.

A 600mm lens is the sort of thing that can either be a really solid piece of gear, or a total piece of junk. Any local/independent place is very likely going to try and sell you on whatever they carry, even if it's not what you really want.

For this purchase you should be doing your research online, and THEN find a local shop that carries, or can order, the specific lens you want.

As a bit of a guideline, there are very few quality lenses that hit 600mm, and I'm not aware of any worth owning under $2000 (though I haven't kept up with photography as much in the last few years). A quality 600mm lens is also going to be heavy, and it's not something you can hold-hold and get a good shot from, so look into getting her a nice carbon-fiber monopod or something to go with it.

The good news is your research should be fairly easy. The only lenses worth investing in are going to be from the 4 major players: Canon, Nikon, Tamron, Sigma. *Maybe* Pentax, but not many people shoot Pentax anymore and the big Pentax lenses are pretty rare.

[bigdog]

Thanks everyone for all the great feedback, much apprecited !

Yup, homework is first in order, then purchase. May go to Hunt's Camera in Manchester, just for the 1 on 1 conversation, but then buy online.

FYI, my wife will be using the lens on her Nikon !

[Resident 2B]

I use B&H exclusively for gear. The local stores, do not sell quality gear. Hunt's is OK. but B&H kills them on price.

Be aware that a top of the line 600mm lens will cost more than $10k. There might be other options, like a good 400mm with an extender that could work. Depends on what she will be doing with it, including what time of day.

Good luck!

R2B

[thinkxingu]

May go to Hunt's Camera in Manchester, just for the 1 on 1 conversation, but then buy online.

Please don't do this--as a long-time retail salesman there are few things more annoying than time-wasters. The people you'd be talking to, the building you'd be talking to them in, and the product they might show you all cost money--the in-person experience that you are spending time looking for, presumably because you value them, need to be paid for. Please be honest with them and give them the opportunity to earn your business, even if that means paying more than an online retailer.

Getting off my soapbox.

Thanks everyone for all the great feedback, much apprecited !

Yup, homework is first in order, then purchase. May go to Hunt's Camera in Manchester, just for the 1 on 1 conversation, but then buy online.

FYI, my wife will be using the lens on her Nikon !


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[Airedale1]

I use B&H too. Hunts is not a bad alternative.

[DougNH]

I am very happy with B&H

[NHskier]

I've had great success with B&H over the past 25 years, also find that Adorama is very good as well on selection, price and service.

As noted a quality 600mm lens is going to be a high-end purchase, and there may not be much expertise on these even in photo shops.