It is more 18 months since Leeds camera shop West Yorkshire Cameras closed its doors for good.
The shop had been open for little more than a decade, but in that time had become one of the most popular shops in the UK for those still shooting film.
A few years before film’s second wind really kicked in, founder Howard Parker and his team decided to do something different: concentrate on entirely on analogue. To film fanatics like myself, visiting West Yorkshire Cameras’ website became a daily ritual.
Their prices were fair and their stock accurately described; I never had to send anything back because reality didn’t match the description. Boxes always came with a complimentary bag of Yorkshire Tea or a packet of sweets. Once, realising they were sending something to me, they included a cheap medal awarding me the title of “Supreme Soviet Cameras Collector”(which I still have somewhere, I promise.)
The challenges of keeping a high-street used camera store going amid Brexit, Covid and the financial effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, however, took their toll. Parker announced the shop would close its doors in November 2024, and West Yorkshire Cameras was no more.
Now, after a break of 18 months (during which time he got married), Parker has returned to camera selling … though this time it is online rather than on the high street.
Kosmo Foto got some details on the new website, Howard Parker Photographic.
When did you decide to set up the new website?
“Setting up a new photographic venture wasn’t entirely intentional. A few months after closing West Yorkshire Cameras, I had a local customer contact me regarding a very large camera collection, with all manner of equipment. Old, new, digital and analogue. Initially, I wanted to simply help him forward the kit on to the right people. After digging through the collection for a week or so – checking, testing and cataloguing it all – I found my enjoyment of the process returning. I could go at my own pace, and spend time where I might not have been able to before. Cleaning, researching, repairing, and generally having fun with the process again.
“Fast forward a couple of months, and the final count of cameras, lenses and other major accessories was in excess of a thousand. I made the customer an offer for everything, which was accepted. Subsequently, I got in touch with the friends and colleagues in the industry to help move on many of the items, and decided to set up a website to sell some of the nicer pieces myself.”
How is this different to WYC?
“It’s quite different. West Yorkshire Cameras was a much larger operation, and I’d like this to remain smaller and more sensible. Of course, the main difference is that there’s no physical shop. I’m doing all my work from home which feels very refreshing and lets me work at my own pace. In doing so, I am also able to spend more time on customers and individual items. I can provide more detailed condition reports for each item, and more personal service. Now that I have the time, I’m also getting deeper into the intricacies of camera repair. The Yorkshire Tea remains, you’ll be pleased to hear.”
What did you learn from WYC you’ve brought to this?
“First and foremost, I’ve learnt that in a niche interest like analogue photography – it’s all about trust and building connections with customers and colleagues. The support from the community was amazing, both when running West Yorkshire Cameras, and when I announced the closure. I’m in contact with so many amazing people in the photography space because of it, and everyone brings their own individual part.
“Going back to what I’ve personally brought over; quite a bit of time was spent over the years refining the process of assessing, valuing and buying collections of camera equipment. The volume and variety of equipment that the WYC team and I handled through the lifetime of the shop has given me a wide range of knowledge and experience across many camera brands. Whatever kind of system it may be, it’s probably got a plethora of accessories, common issues, collectable aspects or unusual model variations.
“Having said that, every day is absolutely a school day – and that’s part of the fun for me. Never stop learning.”
What kind of gear will you be concentrating on?
“I’d like to keep this more curated and sell a small quantity of equipment which aligns with my own interests. Of course, dealing with high-end Leica, Hasselblad, Rolleiflex etc. is nice – and they always sell well – but I’d also like to have some more esoteric, novelty and collectable items available too. My own collection is a little like that. I might also stock some digital equipment, if the mood strikes.”
How has the analogue camera market changed since you started WYC?
“Way back in 2012, it was certainly different. Both film and equipment were cheaper and more accessible. You could take more risks shooting film. You could throw a roll of AgfaPhoto Vista into your charity shop Olympus Trip 35, absolutely blast through the frames, and take it to Max Spielman for £4 Dev & CD. If there was a problem, you’d spent practically nothing. It didn’t matter as much. You could shoot on vibes. (Do you remember Poundland baskets full of film? Take me back).
“Comparing now to then, I think shooting film is becoming a little more of a refined practice. The cost of a retail roll of film has meant the ‘vibes’ crowd have moved on to digicams (even old phones, I hear) and analogue photography has evolved into a market for dedicated enthusiasts and collectors. As camera enthusiasts, we want to know our cameras are reliable, and our shots are going to come out.
‘The market is changing and I see a lot more homebrew, honest, hardworking camera retailers stepping up to meet these needs. People like Cameras By Max, JFR Film, PPP Repairs, with strong social media presences, are sharing their processes of refurbishing and repairing photographic equipment. I also see more interest in enthusiast-made tools and equipment to keep these cameras going.
“It’s a skill and a community which we will need to foster if we are to keep shooting these ageing cameras. The good news is that those communities are very active, and there are plenty of resources out there if you want to learn.
“Going back to manufacturers of new cameras and lenses, there are many high-quality offerings from independent makers such as Alfie Cameras, Smartflex, TT Artisan and other Chinese Leica clones, which goes to show that dedicated individuals are really stepping up to meet the needs of the market.”
What are some of the highlights you’re offering at the moment?
“Among the stock I have at the moment is a very clean Hasselblad 503CW kit, as well as a pair of Hasselblad Xpan cameras, several lovely black paint Leicas, and a large Portrait Petzval from the late 1800s. I’m always looking to purchase good quality equipment, and am in talks with various customers regarding more items that will hopefully be coming my way soon.”
Is it hard finding quality cameras in the UK compared to a decade ago?
“I would certainly agree with that. Quality equipment is much scarcer now. Even regular equipment – like a ‘Big 5’ SLR – isn’t that easy to find in good condition. The folks that have nice gear, tend to hold onto it. Cameras are being used, ageing and breaking – sometimes irreparably. The nature of reducing supply and increasing interest in analogue (and therefore increased demand) has meant that in general it costs more to buy a good film camera than it used to.
“As mentioned above, the good news is that manufacturers and independent enthusiasts are making new cameras and lenses, which wasn’t happening a decade ago. If anyone industrious out there is reading this, I’d love to help design and bring a new camera to market.”
I'm a New Zealander who has been living in London since the mid-1990s, shooting film seriously since the year 2000. Kosmo Foto was launched in 2012 and has since become a film brand, with the release of my first films Kosmo Foto Mono 35mm (2017) and Kosmo Foto Mono 120 (2019).
I’m doing everything I can to promote film photography in the 21st Century, and help it survive and thrive. If you want to write something for Kosmo Foto, please drop me a line at foto.dowling@gmail.com.
