Photography Season: Spring Cameras

In a digital age, to stick with using film marks you out as obstinate. Some insist that the pixel will never achieve the fine detail of the silver in film and paper. Others champion tactile, mechanical processes. Still others are faithful to vintage aesthetics.

Spring Cameras caters largely to the latter two. One long length of the small shop’s wall is packed with secondhand cameras. Variety is narrow – mainly compact point-and-shoots from the ’80s and Polaroid cameras – but within these categories, the selection is broad. Have you been looking for that pink 1997 Spice Girls special edition Polaroid? You’ll find several here for RMB 750. Alongside the cartoonish Barbie and Tasmanian Devil models, Land Cameras (RMB 700) sit elegantly with their ancient bellows and lenses extended, awaiting a buyer who can appreciate their charms. Film (instant and roll) is available in-store, as are developing, printing and camera repair services.

While cameras are the focus here, the shop offers a range of antiquated items. One tall bookcase seems to sway under the weight of old brown leather bags (RMB 200-300). Another stack of shelves is crammed with colorful rotary phones (RMB 100-200).

Spring Cameras is a welcome addition to Gulou’s teeming mass of vintage shops, not just for the film aficionado but for the collector as well.

Also try: Wukesong Camera Market, Lomography

Spring Cameras
Daily 11am-10pm. 52 Cheniandian Hutong, Dongcheng District (6729 2366)
东城区车辇店胡同52号
500m southwest of Andingmen station (Line 2)

Click here to see the June issue of the Beijinger in full.

Photo: Joey Guo