Mifsuds – something we’ll never see in Birmingham

If you’re a photographer or like me someone who occasionally pretends to be one you may already know the name. Mifsuds are a small independent photography shop, located in Brixham.

I’ve bought from them in the past and today traded some stuff in for a new lens (EF 200mm f/2.8 L if you’re interested), but the post isn’t about that. It’s more about the shop, as the title it’s something we’ll probably never see in Birmingham again.

The shop is a treat:

Stock – lots of it (although not the lens I wanted – they are ordering it and posting it to me)
2nd hand gear (some of mine now!) – plenty of options
Staff – Staff that have knowledge/interest

The closest thing we had recently was Jacobs, although a chain (now sadly gone) they had a similar setup. Previous to this, probably back in the 90’s we had the Camera House. There were some regional fairly grumpy photostudios with a small photographic sales section bolted on (thinking of one near Acocks Green). It’s a fairly sad state of affairs that a city of one million can’t support a decent photo store.

I don’t know if Birmingham could support a Midsuds – I guess the mindset of us Brummies is the cost is king, maybe we value the cost over service?

Really the point of this post is visit your local ‘Midsuds’ spend money there – when they’ve gone all we’ll be left with is Jessops and Currys/PC World/Comet.

If you’re interested Mifsuds can be found here:

27-29 Bolton St
Brixham
South Devon
TQ5 9BZ

and online here: http://www.mifsuds.com

Some links

Some ace links posted by @brendadada on twitter tonight. The links are to a 1970’s self portrait website and an recent revisit by one of the original photographers Brian Homer @homercreative

Autograph

Self Portrait

Have a look around…….

B-Stock (aka refurbs)

Tis the time of year, where the mind goes off on one. So excuse me as i’m pondering once more.

Looking back at last years Focus posts and prices, it seems I missed the rather large elephant waving to me in the room (well not so much room, it was a large hall at the NEC).

So what did said large trunk wielding beast wave at me? Not too sure about the elephant, but the price tag on Jacobs stand read……

Quite Poor Image - iPhone!

For those not used to looking at iPhone high quality imagery it reads “B-Stock” “Eos 5D MkII Show Price £1399”

So that’s £300 cheaper than the ticket price. Now, I’m fairly sure the new kit will retail around £1,550 (assuming the discounts last year are roughly the same), so hoping B-Stock maintains the same price differential I could end up with the camera costing around £1,250 + £200 grip £50 spare battery, so less than a new one. B-Stock is fully guaranteed, so not worries then.

Maybe a new bag and ND10 filter can be bagged at the same time. Chances are though B-Stock may sell out, so Sunday is probably the purchase day for me. Though based on last year the new price hardly moved.