I left my cash in San Francisco

[P3D Jonathan Orovitz <jorovitz@xxxxxxxxx>]

In recent digests (1908-09) Paul Talbot and Bob Howard discussed camera
price inflation in San Francisco.  I just got back from a week in San
Francisco and saw the $495 Stereo Realist f/3.5 in the Kearny Street
window.  Six months from now I would expect to still find it there. 
There was nothing special about it.  

In the early 1980s I lived in San Francisco and began camera collecting
there.  I enjoyed looking in the half-dozen camera store windows on
Kearny Street.  Many of those old cameras, hunks of precision crafted
metal and glass, became my friends over the months and years.  They were
reliable.  I always knew where to find them.

Only one of those stores was serious about their used camera trade.  On
my recent visit I noticed they had reduced their store frontage and no
longer displayed vintage equipment in the window.  They maintained a
small museum upstairs.  Their pre-owned stock turned over quickly and I
still have several items, including my first Stereo Realist f/2.8, I
purchased from them at reasonable prices.

Another Kearny Street store, with an ironic name, began advertising
their sky high prices in Shutterbug a few years ago.  Within months they
quit because their prices were not competitive.

When I want stereo equipment in the San Francisco area I plan to be
there for the San Jose (semi-annual) or Hayward (monthly) trade shows. 
I bought my first Stereo Realist instruction book from David and Susan
(Reel 3D) at San Jose.  Hayward was (and maybe still is) a good place to
meet DDDalia.  Show dates are listed in Shutterbug.  Unfortunately, the
Stereo World listings are often not timely.  There was also a weekly
show in Alameda.  I bought a mint Realist 45 there.  I do not know if
that still runs.

With guitar in hand I sing, "If you go to San Francisco be sure to wear
some flowers in your hair.  Don't bring your old Realists expecting to
make a fortune there."

Jon O


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