The Classic Camera

The member of staff I spoke to was rude and unhelpful. Clearly, I wasn’t the kind of customer he wanted; I’m not clear why not. Not recommended.

Established for over eighteen years, the Classic Camera store is one of the top five biggest buyer and seller of new and second-​hand Leica equipment in the UK.
A large proportion of the Classic Camera business is mostly mail order within the UK, also, they have quite a lot of customers overseas, so the Classic Camera firm are often shipping Leica goods within the UK and around the globe on a daily basis.
At Classic Camera’s they also have the one of the best selection of decent makes such as Minox, Carl Zeiss, Voigtlander, Nikon and Lumix.

This Bloomsbury Leica dealership is a great place to come and torture your wallet. Not only do they sell a wide range of kit from Leica, but they are also a Zeiss and Voigtlander distributor; sell B+W filters and sell all manner of other accessories for the Leica fetishist, Artist and Artisan, silk cord camera strap anyone?
The manager is personable and knowledgable and as with all Leica dealerships, unless you are a hedge fund manager or a trustfunditarian, you always leave feeling a little too poor to have really enjoyed the place. If you need a new CV 35 to go on your second hand M8, this is the place to come and if you want to blow a huge wad on a new M9 you’ll probably get a discount on a used ‘cron and a marginally cheaper ludicrously expensive leather half-​case.

Just dropped in having always walked past (it’s tucked away in a yard, behind a bar) and this small shop has everything a Leica enthusiast could ask for (digital, vintage, custom camera cases etc). I was interested in his Voigtlander Bessa lenses and again, good range and he must be distributing this (and the Leica) gear. But where were the prices? Couldn’t see any so I asked only to be told «It’s all online on the website». When you’re potentially going to part with the better part of a month’s salary on a precision instrument, you expect far better service than that. He loses a few stars for showing no interest in a customer.

Like a lot of people who enjoy photography I fetishize Leica cameras. They are beautiful, they take wonderful photographs and they have an incredible history. As one might expect they are also very expensive. So whilst it may be a few years before I can afford one I come to this shop to admire them.
The Classic Camera is a Leica shop in Pied Bull Yard (by the British Museum) which stocks a range of new and vintage Leicas, lenses and accessories (including the Billingham bags). Whilst Leicas are the focus they also sell and service other camera brands. If you’re looking for inspiration they also sell books, notably some of pre-​eminent Leica user Henry Cartier Bresson.
If you are a Leica user or admirer this shop is incredible.