Camera shops in Boston and recommendations on lens

DamoKen

Hi, I'll be heading over to Boston at Christmas and was thinking this would be the perfect time to upgrade my kit a bit. Currently have a D50 with the 18-55mm kit lens plus the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6D.

First new lens I was looking at is the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D AF which is really cheap and going from the reviews a very good buy at that price. I'd like a fast lens for indoor shots as I don't really like flash and this would seem like a good choice. It's meant to be quite good for portraits as well.

Second new lens I would like to get would be more for macro, I've tried with the 70-300mm but it's very cumbersome and slow. I'd really like to get something that is designed with macro uppermost in mind.
Macro is an area I'm not too familiar with though so any suggestions welcome.

So firstly, is it worth waiting until I get over to the states before buying these?

Secondly any recommendations on camera stores in Boston?

My budget by the way is unknown, basically whatever I have in my left in my pocket after weddings, pressies, flights etc. Lower cost good, higher bad

cheers

bovril

DamoKen wrote:

Secondly any recommendations on camera stores in Boston?

I was over there last year in November and camera shops were thin on the ground. I did find these guys in the end http://www.calumetphoto.com/and bought 2 lenses off them for my canon. They are located in an industrial estate near the cambridgeside galleria mall. If you can't figure out where they are from their website PM me.

I couldn't find any in the city itself worth recommending.

trishw78

Same country different City I'm going to Chicago in just over 2 weeks any recommendations for shops in Chicago.

bovril

trishw78 wrote:

Same country different City I'm going to Chicago in just over 2 weeks any recommendations for shops in Chicago.

was there 2 years ago and was in this shop http://www.centralcamera.com and bought a lens there. Again couldn't find many and certainly nothing along the lines of B&H in NYC. Maybe check out the calumet website above and see if they have a store in Chicago. Make sure you take lots of nice shots of the bean while you're there. The reflections you can get from it are fabulous

DamoKen

cheers Bovril, had a quick look, will do a price comparison tonight. Anymore recommendations welcome, on lens as well.

btw trishw78, no offence but would you mind asking that in a new thread?

Yosserh

I know there is a very good camera shop called State Street Camera on State Street close to Faneuil Hall.

trishw78

DamoKen sorry didn't think there was any point in starting a new thread on more or less the same topic. I wasn't trying to hijack yours.

bovril

by all means check that state street camera place out. I know I thought the lenses were extremely overpriced. Its also nice to have a website to compare prices before you go. They don't have one iirc.

DamoKen

no worries Trish, just that it can get a bit confusing. Case in point, Yosserh is that in Boston or Chicago? Sorry, haven't been before so not that familiar with landmarks.

trishw78

State Street is in Chicago unless there's one in Boston never been to Boston

Fenster

As a general rule of thumb if their camea lineup features more digital compacts than their combined SLR and lens range, run, don't walk, from the store.

DamoKen

just looked up Faneuil Hall, it's in Boston. That was what I meant Trish, unless people are explicit in their answers neither of us will know straight off which question is being answered. Hence a seperate thread is always a good idea

Yosserh

Sorry the State Street i was referring to is in Boston and I'd agree with an earlier poster - they seem to be quite expensive, however they know their stuff. I have purchased their quite a few times.

DamoKen

no worries Yosserh, good to know all the same

cheers

henryp

In Boston, there's Hunt's Photo. Several locations.

In Chicago, Helix has a great rep among pros.