Mr. Au behind his counter
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Located on Stanley Street in the heart of the Central District of Hong Kong, Everbest Camera Supply is one of several photographic specialty shops on the street. Mr. Au is the friendly head man of Collectible and Used cameras at Everbest. I have never seen him without a smile.
The shop itself is tiny. There is no front door, the shop simply opens onto the narrow pavement of Stanley Street. Many is the time when I've had to elbow my way into the shop during the lunch hour crush (from 1 PM until 2 PM) Sometimes, like a boat missing the pier in a fast current, I've had to go past the shop, and take a second try to make it inside, such was the volume and speed of the pedestrian traffic.
The left side of the single aisle shop is of little interest to collectors, unless you're looking for a new lens hood or a special filter. New point and shoot cameras and cheap accessories and flashes occupy the shelves and counters there.
At the rear, customers line up to have their developing and printing done. On Tuesdays developing is free, and the crowd inside the shop can be as daunting as. that outside.
Mr. Au's domain is along the right side of the shop and consists of a glass counter with glass fronted shelves behind. Most of the cameras and accessories available from Everbest are on consignment. A floor to ceiling glass cabinet holds some of the larger items, such as Lenses for 1000F and 1600F Hasselblads. Larger items often appear only in photographs taped to the display window. Often exotic hand crafted items, such as the Paillard Cine lens grafted to a Yashica/Contax mount are on display.
There are a surprising number of such strange lenses and accessories, I have learned that many Hong Kong amateur photographers enjoy using strange lenses on their cameras. Something about German Glass on their Japanese 35 mm camera excites them. For example I recently saw a 47 mm Angulon on a 6x9 roll film Viewfinder camera from China in Mr. Au's camera display. It was for sale for a mere 6500 Hong Kong Dollars, about US$840. The workmanship on most of the "crafted" items I have seen can only be called adequate. Things function, but are not pretty.
The recession here in the Far East has hit the shops on Stanley street just like it has hit other merchants across the region. The difference on Stanley Street is that prices have not fallen to reflect the new reality. More collectors have been putting cameras out for sale. It's obvious from one visit to the next with the sudden appearance of seven Contaflex cameras, or half a dozen stereo cameras showing up all at once. Prices are 25 to as much as 100% higher than I would expect to find at similar shops in the USA. Rarely have I found a bargain.
Everbest does have a selection of new accessories for user collectible cameras. I was able to find 40.5 mm filter adapters and a 37 mm metal lens hood, both made in Japan, and cheap at US$6 each.
Right next to Everbest is another similar shop which is the mirror image in layout. I go into this shop, but the man behind the used/collectible counter is rarely in a good mood. So often is he a sour puss that some friends and I have named him "Grumpy." I did manage to buy a Hasselblad Pro shade from him once. I needed it, and at US$120 I went for it. If I could have waited I'm sure that I could have found one at a show in the US, but then I'd have to add on the price of the plane ticket......
Click on the thumbnails for a larger view.
Who knows what's lurking Under the Glass?
Lots of home made goodies here
a potential customer examines the goods
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