Camera retailer in lk

digzy

Hi all

I'm looking for a camera shop in limerick. I'm pretty clueless so I need someone with good knowledge. It's for close up shots that need excellent detail.

steveon

The only one i Know of is Whelans in O connell street next to the the chicken hut.

30 O'Connell Street
Limerick, Ireland
Phone: 00 353 61 415 246
Email Us: whelancameras@eircom.net

http://www.whelancameras.ie/

DBIreland

Whelans are good. There is also O'Conners Cameras on William Street, between H. Samuel and Boots

SuperWoody101

DBIreland wrote: »

Whelans are good. There is also O'Conners Cameras on William Street, between H. Samuel and Boots

The staff in O'Conners are great and know what they are talking about and are very happy to help.

Hooked

digzy wrote: »

Hi all

I'm looking for a camera shop in limerick. I'm pretty clueless so I need someone with good knowledge. It's for close up shots that need excellent detail.

What kind of money are you spending? I got an 1100D a few months back (2 lens pack) as a starter camera, and recently a 'nifty fifty' 50mm f1.8 lens.

You'd be better off buying online or off amazon as the same camera and lenses in the likes of Whelans was almost a grand. I spent just over 300.

I THINK I saw it advertised in Currys/PC World on tv (with both lenses) for 499.

The Snipe

Problem with buying from Amazon/PC World etc. is support. I'd much rather spend the extra few hundred quid and know I can walk into a specialist shop where I bought it and have them know what they are talking about. (Or be able to tell them what happened without them looking at me like I have two heads).

What is your overall budget? Myself and a few other posters may be able to help you find what kind of camera you are looking for.

Are you looking for an SLR (One of the fancy cameras with detachable lenses) this would be your best bet with what would be called a macro lens for your close ups, your talking €500+ here for the basic camera and macro lens (would also include a standard kitlens for your every day shots). Short of that you are looking at whats called a bridge or a 4 thirds camera, they are smaller then SLR's and typcailly don't have interchangeable lenses, (They are essentially high powered point and shots with a lot more functionality) and would typically include your macro functions (although not as good as a dedicated macro lens for an SLR, they would do a smacking job for your every day shots and your close ups sometimes even to a better result of a entry level macro lens for an SLR). This is what I'd recommend for a midrange sorta budget and can cost in and around €300 for a decent one. Short of this, is your normal Point and Shoot digital camera, going for a higher end one around the €100-€150 mark can include a macro function that isn't as good as the above two and may not aloud for full/partial manual control.

Crea

There's a place on Cruises street on the way up to William street. I think it's called Newmans. The 2 brothers there are big into photography and know alot about cameras.

digzy

The Snipe wrote: »

Problem with buying from Amazon/PC World etc. is support. I'd much rather spend the extra few hundred quid and know I can walk into a specialist shop where I bought it and have them know what they are talking about. (Or be able to tell them what happened without them looking at me like I have two heads).

What is your overall budget? Myself and a few other posters may be able to help you find what kind of camera you are looking for.

Are you looking for an SLR (One of the fancy cameras with detachable lenses) this would be your best bet with what would be called a macro lens for your close ups, your talking €500+ here for the basic camera and macro lens (would also include a standard kitlens for your every day shots). Short of that you are looking at whats called a bridge or a 4 thirds camera, they are smaller then SLR's and typcailly don't have interchangeable lenses, (They are essentially high powered point and shots with a lot more functionality) and would typically include your macro functions (although not as good as a dedicated macro lens for an SLR, they would do a smacking job for your every day shots and your close ups sometimes even to a better result of a entry level macro lens for an SLR). This is what I'd recommend for a midrange sorta budget and can cost in and around €300 for a decent one. Short of this, is your normal Point and Shoot digital camera, going for a higher end one around the €100-€150 mark can include a macro function that isn't as good as the above two and may not aloud for full/partial manual control.

Many thanks for comprehensive reply. I'm a dentist so it's for close up shots of teeth, colour/shade being very important. I was on a course last sat on dental photography. It was gas to see them all with this expensive gear and not having a clue how to use it. The guy talking to us was resetting all of them.
I'm not in a specialist practice and he recommended getting the canon 1100d with the lens. I reckon it'll do for what I need, it's the flash I have to sort too and a filter to protect the lens. He buys from a spot in Dublin called conns. He also mentioned that there's a sale on this model and would represent good value for money. He wasn't in any way connected to the shop or canon just in terms of price.

Sully777

Crea wrote: »

There's a place on Cruises street on the way up to William street. I think it's called Newmans. The 2 brothers there are big into photography and know alot about cameras.

That's the last place I would go to. The owner has the manners of a pig! Doesn't even acknowledge people in or out of the shop. On the other hand his Dad who also works there is a gentleman..

Whelan's on O Connell St (also a father and Son) are excellent and very accommodating.

peckerhead

digzy wrote: »

I'm a dentist so it's for close up shots of teeth, colour/shade being very important.

One of these on something like a Canon 1100D would be my recommendation.

The Snipe

digzy wrote: »

Many thanks for comprehensive reply. I'm a dentist so it's for close up shots of teeth, colour/shade being very important. I was on a course last sat on dental photography. It was gas to see them all with this expensive gear and not having a clue how to use it. The guy talking to us was resetting all of them.
I'm not in a specialist practice and he recommended getting the canon 1100d with the lens. I reckon it'll do for what I need, it's the flash I have to sort too and a filter to protect the lens. He buys from a spot in Dublin called conns. He also mentioned that there's a sale on this model and would represent good value for money. He wasn't in any way connected to the shop or canon just in terms of price.

Ahh yes! Shane Newman in Newmans just off of Crusises St. would be the man to talk to about this so, theres a specific flash type used for macro photography that is ideal for what you are looking for.

Here is the 1100D http://www.connscameras.ie/p/canon-eos-1100d/p-8714574570044 Starting at €350 body only (Its €400, with the kit lens, which would be useful to have if your are willing to splash the extra €50 so you can use it for anything else you may need to shoot).

The Sigma 50mm 2.8 Macro seems to be the cheapest macro lens that I can find, (short of a Sigma 70-300, however I wouldn't recommend it for anyone to purchase due to low image quality and just overall cheapness). The Sigma seems to be around €379, however get onto him about getting a few bits together and he may throw a discount.

http://www.connscameras.ie/p/sigma-50mm-f28-ex-dg-macro/p-085126346270

Here is also a Canon 60mm Macro lens for €380 (Canon own brand lenses are generally much better quality then their Sigma counterparts)
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/BRAND-NEW-CANON-60MM-MACRO-LENS-IN-SCOTLAND-/390695682465?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item5af74701a1

This ebay Seller Ian Kerr, (Kerso) is a top seller and highly recommended on the photography forum, and I've even purchased from him myself. All his stuff is shipped from Scotland and are the best prices you'll find in Europe. (He doesn't seem to have any 1100D's listed, however when I purchased from him he sent me a list of things with my package that he stocks that he doesn't always list which was very comprehensive, so if you message him he often would be able to sort you with the items, and even do them all together for cheaper as they would be sorted outside of ebay so he doesn't have commissions to pay).

This is the style of flash that would be ideal, http://www.connscameras.ie/p/canon-mt-24ex-macro-twin-lite/4960999150437 however I doubt you are looking to spend €1000 on a flash :P So here is a cheaper Chinese build, don't worry, although its not the same build quality as the Canon flashes (keep in mind, I shoot using with a 580EX II which was about €600 at time of purchase and I've dropped it from 6+ feet without a scratch) the Yongnuo flashes can be just as good, I know a few people who shoot with them (I think Superwoody used one for a bit, but I know CCSL [munster images] used to use them as fill flashes and they worked grand) and most importantly they are only a fraction of the price.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/YONGNUO-YN-14EX-Macro-Ring-LITE-Flash-Light-for-Canon-EOS-DSLR-Camera-as-MR-14EX-/251336880841?pt=Digital_Camera_Flashes&hash=item3a84d872c9

This one costing only €80 and acts as its own dedicated flash unit.

And here is a slightly lower end unit again costing €30

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/YONGNUO-MR-58-58PCS-LED-Macro-Ring-Flash-light-for-Canon-550D-600D-5D-MarkII-/261225716866?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd2441c82

Hope this all helps for you! Let me know if you need any more help!

Or, if you are stuck, lemme know and I can even meet you in town some day and go in to Shane Newman, and Martin O'Connor with you and help make sure you get what you need!

Sully777 wrote: »

That's the last place I would go to. The owner has the manners of a pig! Doesn't even acknowledge people in or out of the shop. On the other hand his Dad who also works there is a gentleman..

Whelan's on O Connell St (also a father and Son) are excellent and very accommodating.

I think you've got the two places mixed up, Whelans on O'Connell St, from my dealings the owner has always been (for lack of a better word) so far up his own arse that.. I'm gonna stop myself here before I get an infraction from Kess.

[This is all my own opinion, and is not fact. It is only from my dealings with him in my years shooting. I personally don't go there due to his ignorance and ill manners when I was looking for assistance, his staff are top notch most of the time, however I feel the other two stores can offer better prices/information on what they are doing]

wotswattage

Sully777 wrote: »

That's the last place I would go to. The owner has the manners of a pig! Doesn't even acknowledge people in or out of the shop. On the other hand his Dad who also works there is a gentleman..

Whelan's on O Connell St (also a father and Son) are excellent and very accommodating.

I had an awful experience in Newmans a few years ago. I woudln't set foot in the shop again after the way a right sow of a member of staff (no idea if she still works there + don't care) treated me.

And its not like I'm fussy its the only shop in all of the city I'll refuse to go into!!

O'Connors are good to deal with, but its awfully smelly in the shop (go in there you'll know exactly what I mean/why;). It's bad enough to the point of putting me off going in there...
Whelans are also good + hepful.

One thing I dislike about all camera shops is the staff often assume you haven't got a clue and keep trying to push a certain type of product on you for no particular reason. Its as if they are fanboys of a certain brand or something...

Alltherage

In fairness it'd be their job to assume you've not got a clue though it's true there's a skill in knowing when you've got a customer who knows what they're looking for that might be a touch underdeveloped.

Anyway I've been kicking this around since this morning when I saw the thread, depending on the detail you're hoping to resolve you may end up trying to work at minimal working distance for your chosen lens, something with a longer working distance might be good so you're not having to climb into somebodies mouth. It'd make lighting easier too.

peckerhead

I still say a ring flash is the way to go if you're looking to photograph teeth up close. It's what they were actually designed for.

My daughter's a dentist and needed a camera for this kind of case work, but also wanted a decent all-rounder (not a DSLR). My advice to her was to buy a good quality superzoom compact for general use/taking on holidays, then I tracked down a secondhand Canon compact for about €50 on eBay (a Powershot A530; I specifically picked it because it focusses down to 5cm in macro mode). Adapted an old flash bracket to support the ring flash in front of and around the lens and hey presto, pin-sharp, perfectly-lit close-ups for under €100.

She leaves it in the surgery and carries her nice Panasonic DMC-whatever in her pocket.

Sorry I can't advise about the two or three camera shops in town, because I haven't been inside any of them for nearly twenty years. I figure a good camera salesman will always try to sell you whatever it is they want you to buy. With very few exceptions, they're not there because they're enthusiasts, or want to see you make the right choice.

wingnut

The Snipe wrote: »

I think you've got the two places mixed up, Whelans on O'Connell St, from my dealings the owner has always been (for lack of a better word) so far up his own arse that.. I'm gonna stop myself here before I get an infraction from Kess.

I had a single experience at Whelans that put me off for life. Prices are obv. higher than online but I worked for a place where we had an account there so was going to pick up some gear. I was looking a mid level camera, not even high end. The salesmen very condescendingly said to me 'have you real money to spend now'. Found it very insulting.

I actually needed to get 10 of them so spend my money elsewhere and said never again.