Jessops

There would always be LCE. I much prefer LCE, given the choice of these two main retailers. If Jessops went, maybe they could extend their reach a bit.

Pentax obviously must still have a good hold on you Amin if you cant type the word Canon yet.

At least I presume it is Canon

I agree, when looking for a new D-SLR about 3 years ago (I was considering both Pentax and Olympus) I visited both LCE and Jessops in Guildford.
Even then Jessops were stocking hardly anything other than Canon and Nikon. Their reaction to Pentax and Olympus was quite dismissive and there was nothing for me to handle. I didn't spend long in Jessops
LCE were quite the opposite, they had demonstration units of both cameras which I was able to take my time and handle. They didn't push either brand just politely putting forward the benefits of both. A chalk and cheese experience that I remember well.

In reading this thread, I am reminded of a similar chain in the US, Ritz Camera. A few pet brands they pushed, and very little knowledge to go along with anything they were recommending. If it was not Canon or Nikon, then you were told that you were dealing with a poor choice of equipment.

Well, a funny thing started happening two years ago, all their shops started folding up with little notice. They still have an online presence, but from what I hear they are either about to go bankrupt or are in bankruptcy proceedings. Apparently their sell only a couple brands with little knowledge or service philosophy has done them in.

They were OK, when I had to get some paper or something like that, but as a place I would rely on for my photo needs, never. So they are a memory, but not really missed.

The Photomonk

Corks

Jessops took over the independents and for a while they seemed to ok, they had the old staff from the old shops who knew what they were on about.
The Shrewsbury branch was typical, the old Shrewsbury Camera Exchange was a delight with a wide range of gear and genuinely knowledgeable staff. And Jessops seemed to be happy to carryo on that tradition.

And then the bean counters took control, and it was downhill from that point on.

I won't go in anymore, the poorly trained and unenthusiastic kids just make me angry.
And the prices are mad, my wife wanted a can of compressed air the other day and the child at Jessops, after a lengthy explanation and help from another youth, told her that they "cost about £10 and take up to two weeks to arrive"
I don't think there's any chance that Jessops will survive for much longer, and I won't miss them.

The Hereford branch had a bargain bin area just before Xmas, so I picked up a 5m flash sync cable for about £5. I don't think the teenager behind the till had the faintest idea what it was!

Two weeks to order a can of compressed air will just drive people to the internet. Or Staples - I think they sell it?

Local Tesco's, £4 and on the shelf. My old man uses tons of it to blow his hearing aid tubes out. My wife just happened to be passing Jessops, which she will keep on doing in future!

It is amazing what they charge for a can of compressed air, but then wait a minute. Have you seen what they are charging for a bottle of water?

The Photomonk

And to think at one time people used to get drinking water for free out of a TAP... how quaint

Be very careful with cans of compressed air, as some non-photographic ones contain other things apart from air that can coat surfaces. You need the proper products to be safe.

Drinking water out of a tap is still available, but it was never free and certainly isn't now! It was originally paid for by a part of the local Rates, but was taken out of the rates and charged separately. After all, it was only a few pounds...

I'm with you on that Greytop - I also live near Guildford and I also bought my K-7 through LCE there

or you could just use a rocket blower......

Agree on the compressed air though, if you are going to buy it in a can, make sure it's the good stuff or you could end up with all sorts of oily gunk on your sensor.

Can I use my 10 bar compressor that I use for nail guns &c?

Or maybe the cylinder from one of my air rifles at around 200 bar?

After all, they contain just air ...

Just make sure the air rifle is unloaded before discharging it at your sensor