I have dropped my Nikon DSLR and shattered the glass in the lens. Body still works but I won't be able to take any pictures in Florence.
Can any one recommend a camera shop in Florence?
I have googled around and I see that Saturn stores carry some tamron lens. I will go there as a last resort but was hoping someone might know of a shop closer to the city center
Please help save my time in Florence
towen,
Your best bet is probably Fontani Camera at Viale F. Strozzi, 18 - 50129 Firenze. It's a fairly easy walk to the store from the San Lorenzo market area and also Firenze SMN (I know as I walked there last year at about this time). The store is not large but they have a great selection of camera gear, and as I recall they also have some "pre-owned" products at reasonable prices.
If you pull up Google Maps and click on Street View for "Gelateria Il Re Gelato", you'll see the Camera store (yellow awning) next to it. That will give you an idea what you're looking for. The Gelateria is an added bonus, as you can treat yourself to some Gelato and coffee after your purchase.
I also had a camera issue last year, and I was very pleased with the service at Fontani. I learned of them somewhat by accident, but that's another story.
Happy shopping!
Fontani at the Fortezza or Bongi on via por Santa Maria. I think Carnicelli at the Duomo has closed, otherwise that would be another.
Ken amazes me if he knows about Fontani. It's not even in the historical center.
Thanks Ken, also good for CANON
Bongi in via Por S. Maria.
Or take the tram from the railway station to the Ponte a Greve shopping mall - about 20 minutes, on the right side of the tram, you can recognize it for its two horn-shaped towers. There is a Media World.
A Saturn (same shop of a Media World under different brand) can be easily reached in 15 minutes with bus #22 from the Duomo area, get out at the beginning of via di Novoli.
Ken,
Thank you so much for your suggestion. The shop was even open on Sunday. Unfortunately, all they had in the focal range I needed was 900 euros. Which is outside of my souviner budget :-(
On to Roberto''s suggestions in the morning
Thanks all
towen,
Sorry to hear that you weren't able to find what you were looking for at Fontani. I assume they didn't have anything on the "pre-owned" shelves. It's likely that Nikon Lenses are going to be expensive where ever you buy them.
I can very much appreciate your predicament, as I faced a similar situation during a holiday in Greece a few years ago, but in my case it was the Camera and not the Lens that was damaged. I spent an afternoon scouring the camera stores in Athens, and finally found what I was looking for and they were willing to sell "body only". After a slight delay due to some "bureaucratic buffoonery" caused by their Bank, I walked out of the store with a shiny new DSLR. After pondering the situation for an hour or so, I decided that buying a new Camera (regardless of the cost) was preferable to not having photos of my holiday, which was just starting.
Good luck!
