Knee-deep in the smartphone age it’s easy to forget the joy of considering what you’re taking a photo of. Manchester isn’t backwards at coming forwards with breathtaking shots, whether you want to focus on the city’s most spectacular historic piles, the uniform modernity of its fresh glass and steel makeover, or myriad cultures and communities that can be captured in a single photo of a street scene in full flow. All of which can be immortalised perfectly on the latest mobile, but never in quite the same way as with a ‘real’ DSLR, compact system, or film camera. Camera Crib’s mission is essentially increasing access and support to those who want to get involved, while also serving the region’s professional industry.
First up, this is a go-to shop for anyone looking to take baby steps into photography. Pre-owned digital and film models from the likes of Canon, Nikon, Leica and Fujifilm are stocked, with second-hand equipment – definitely the way to go if you want to get as much bang for your buck as possible, so to speak. You can also pick up brand new film, lenses and other accessories with a variety of film stock/lens types available. And the staff here are genuinely knowledgeable, passionate and enthusiastic about sharing tips, advice and thoughts on what constitutes a smart purchase. It’s a case of being in safe hands.
Camera Crib goes well beyond entry-level chit chat, and offers everything full time professionals need and want, too. Retail aside, one of the things setting the store aside from other camera specialists is the strong sense of community the team are intent on building. There’s an online blog filled with interesting articles, explainers, and guides, introducing people to new technologies and techniques, regular photowalks, print swaps and workshops, and the operation uses local photo labs, contributing to the creative ecosystem.