Post by Mark Vaughan on Sept 28, 2009 10:34:29 GMT -5
All,
I took my daughter to the Metroplex Camera Show this weekend in Grapevine, TX and really enjoyed it but it certainly wasn't what I thought it was going to be.
We thought there would be formal displays of antique / classic cameras with history, background, etc... like a museum exhibit. Instead, it was a bazaar-like free-for-all with EVERYTHING for sale. I know this as a Swap Meet! Either way, it was fun!
There were three types of exhibitors here:
1.) Local camera shops selling their used / trade-in gear for top prices. Typical retailers needing to turn a profit.
2.) Local individuals selling their personal collections and there to just talk cameras - this was my favorite part. And there were deals a-plenty.
3.) ...and this was the most interesting part: a group of people who do nothing in life but buy up old camera gear for the sole purpose of selling it at these shows. One guy had about 100 camera bodies and 200 lenses. He told me that his next stop was Washington, DC and that he goes through his entire stock about twice a year selling on the CAMERA SHOW CIRCUIT (?). In his home time, he searches ads for cameras, combs estate sales and the classifieds in search of stock. Apparently there is an entire "underworld" circuit of traveling camera conventions that occur all across the US and Canada. Yet, I have been unable to locate any formal schedule. Working on this and will try to post it.
Any of you privy to this convention circuit?
Pretty fun weekend altogether and I'll go again in January when the "Camera Gypsies" come back through town. I'm working on getting an FA and an FT3 from a local seller.
Take care!
Mark
I took my daughter to the Metroplex Camera Show this weekend in Grapevine, TX and really enjoyed it but it certainly wasn't what I thought it was going to be.
We thought there would be formal displays of antique / classic cameras with history, background, etc... like a museum exhibit. Instead, it was a bazaar-like free-for-all with EVERYTHING for sale. I know this as a Swap Meet! Either way, it was fun!
There were three types of exhibitors here:
1.) Local camera shops selling their used / trade-in gear for top prices. Typical retailers needing to turn a profit.
2.) Local individuals selling their personal collections and there to just talk cameras - this was my favorite part. And there were deals a-plenty.
3.) ...and this was the most interesting part: a group of people who do nothing in life but buy up old camera gear for the sole purpose of selling it at these shows. One guy had about 100 camera bodies and 200 lenses. He told me that his next stop was Washington, DC and that he goes through his entire stock about twice a year selling on the CAMERA SHOW CIRCUIT (?). In his home time, he searches ads for cameras, combs estate sales and the classifieds in search of stock. Apparently there is an entire "underworld" circuit of traveling camera conventions that occur all across the US and Canada. Yet, I have been unable to locate any formal schedule. Working on this and will try to post it.
Any of you privy to this convention circuit?
Pretty fun weekend altogether and I'll go again in January when the "Camera Gypsies" come back through town. I'm working on getting an FA and an FT3 from a local seller.
Take care!
Mark
