A screen shot from CameraQuest. Site navigation is via the yellow box.
My friend Stephen Gandy's cameraquest.com is one of the oldest, best-established, and most fun camera sites on the web. A veteran camera collector, Stephen is widely known for his "Classic Camera Profiles"—pithy, generously-illustrated profiles of fistful upon fistful of classic cameras. A nice representative sample is the one on the Nicca 5L. He specializes in manual, mechanical cameras of roughly the 1940s to '70s (with some outliers), and he likes rangefinder cameras best (his own favorites are Nikon rangefinders, a subject about which his expertise is formidable).
Not as well known is that he's one of the U.S.A.'s biggest factory-authorized Voigtländer dealers. Definitely the guy to go to for any of Voigtländer's many "entry level Leica" products, like the new, compact, optically improved, and altogether delicioso M-mount 28mm ƒ/2 Ultron pictured below.
Photo: Courtesy CameraQuest
There's more. Stephen trades in old cameras, too—he'll often buy cameras he profiled on the site, and he's always looking for Nikon rangefinder stuff. And he sells choice collectibles, too. Plus, he's an expert on camera adaptors, many of which he has custom-made.
So many people look at CameraQuest that when Stephen profiles a classic camera it can change the market for that model overnight. But for most of us, let's face it, it's just plain fun looking. In fact, there's so much to look at on CameraQuest that it's probably unfair of me to link to it on a Monday morning!
_____________________
Mike
Featured Comment by Martin Doonan: "I've been a reader for a while. The site conforms closely (apart from the pop-up) to my ideal for a website: lots of information with limited 'design' to get in the way. It was a prime source of info when I was researching my RF purchase. I also like the way Stephen writes—slightly irreverent and cutting through the fan-boy nonsense to get to the heart of what cameras are all about."
Also fun is visiting a site that looks like it hasn't been redesigned in 10 years. It's the electronic equivalent of visiting your old dusty photo store from long ago.
Posted by: Jackson | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 06:52 AM
I love the contents of it a lot, but I "love" the design of Stephen's website so much, I once offered to help him create a new version of the site, without the popup windows and "unique" navigation structure. Maybe that is just the charm of it.
Posted by: Maarten B. | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 06:54 AM
Cameraquest is an excellent resource. When I was trying to decide whether I wanted to buy a rangefinder, that was the source of much good information for me. For a site that exists essentially to sell cameras, it offers a lot of information to help you make an educated and informed decision about whether x camera is really the one you want.
Posted by: Adam Zolkover | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 07:40 AM
"For a site that exist essentially to sell cameras..."
Adam,
Wrong-O. The "Classic Camera Profiles" came first, and were far along before Stephen ever began selling cameras. The Voigtlaender dealing came about because of Stephen's love of rangefinders, not the other way around.
Mike J.
Posted by: Mike J. | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 08:25 AM
*poof*
There went an hour of productive work time. Oh well, I'll just add it on to the hundreds that I have already spent on that site...
Best,
Adam
Posted by: mcananeya | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 08:27 AM
Stephen's camera lens adapters and service is also top notch!
Posted by: Alan Kong | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 10:02 AM
I sent Stephen an email just three days ago begging him to carry the Bessa III. I'd love to buy it from him since he's (unknowingly) been a huge asset to me over the years.
Posted by: Chad Thompson | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 10:56 AM
I have bought from Stephen many times, and found him to be a responsive, honest and reliable vendor. I would order from his site for any amount, without reservation or worry.
Posted by: Michael Allen | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 12:57 PM
I hate the guy: Just when 70´s metal cameras were completely out of fashion (AND CHEAP!) the man makes a web to vindicate them and give those marvellous pieces of mass market engineering the reputation they deserve...Should be ashamed of himself! Then everytime somebody puts up a Canonet or Petri on Ebay checks his web and discovered they were valuable... Thank God digital came up and resetted the values!
Posted by: javier | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 01:24 PM
I'll add that Stephen is a pleasure to do business with. I had some questions about what I was ordering, and he was very helpful. (Not that I'm encouraging people to call him up just to chat: he's got to make a living, too. But he did take the time to tell me what I needed to know, and didn't try to rush me, which is a far cry from the reputation some well known camera businesses have for rude phone service).
Posted by: Rick Keir | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 02:18 PM
@ Chad: Stephen is compiling a list of folks who are interested in purchasing the Fuji 667 / Bessa III. There's a thread about it here:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64253
Posted by: Andrew | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 04:21 PM
"Wrong-O. The 'Classic Camera Profiles' came first"
Huh. I suppose I came to the game late with CameraQuest. Still, along with some few other sites like this one and PhotoEthnography.com's equipment pages, I find it an invaluable resource.
Posted by: Adam Zolkover | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 04:47 PM
Excellent resource. I rather like the ancient page design - it doesn't get in the way of finding the things you really want.
Posted by: Shane Guy | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 08:54 PM
Love the content of the site, but hate the design. There's a difference between a design that gets in the way and no design or poor design. The site looks like a ransom note and the navigation is very confusing.
Posted by: ZoetMB | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 10:59 PM
I am a big fan of Stephen Gandy and his CameraQuest site. I have made multiple purchases of cameras, lenses, and accessories from him through the years and the level of service and responsiveness has been impressive. He also has arranged for service on several old rangefinder cameras for me, that would have been nearly impossible to service locally. First class guy and business.
Posted by: Steve Rosenblum | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 11:48 PM
I know some think his site is kitschy, but you can be simple and look a little more up to date. Don't get me wrong, I love the content of the site, but he should follow his own article saying sometimes you have to look the part...
http://www.cameraquest.com/NuProPhog.htm
Posted by: Jason | Tuesday, 07 October 2008 at 09:19 AM
Years ago (1999?) I bought an Olympus 35 SPn rangefinder on the basis of Stephen's review on cameraquest, man oh man was that a great purchase... I LOVED that camera. I could never afford a Leica (still can't), but the Olympus had a wonderful lens and wonderful ergonomics. The metering was odd, but it worked. Why don't I shoot film anymore, what's wrong with me? I guess I don't have the time to deal with processing film these days. Not to mention that I love that I'm not paying 15 cents every time I push the shutter button on my dSLR.
Posted by: AG | Tuesday, 07 October 2008 at 12:08 PM
In all my dealings with him Stephen has been great. His site is one of my first recommendations to anyone wanting a first impression of the world of rangefinders. I have bought quite a bit of gear from him over the years and am glad an independent dealer like him can make it in the world of big box stores. You go boy.
Ben Marks
Posted by: Benjamin Marks | Tuesday, 07 October 2008 at 02:17 PM