Camera Shop Interview: David Chan Company in Hong Kong

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Camera Shop Interview: David Chan Company in Hong Kong

Рет қаралды 130,261

Күн бұрын

If you come to Hong Kong and want to check out camera shops, you must go to Champagne Court in Tsim Sha Tsui. The biggest, baddest, cleanest store in the mall? It's the David Chan Company. Mr.Chan was gracious enough to invite us into the store and spend some time talking about camera gear. His 50 years of experience selling cameras gives him a very broad view of the photographic equipment industry that most of us can only dream about. Imagine selling the Leica M3 when it was brand new? How about when the Nikon F3 was first announced? David Chan was there for all of it. We asked Mr.Chan some important nerd questions: What's the best Leica? The best Nikon? The best Minolta? What does David Chan have to say. You'll have to watch this video to find out. Even better, visit him in his store and ask him yourself!
Please visit David Chan Company's Facebook Page:
/ davidchancamera
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lehmann.ca/
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/ johnlehmann
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/ bigheadtaco
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Check out my soon-to-be-updated website:
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Пікірлер: 274

@mattdayphoto 8 жыл бұрын

I also love how pleased he was every time he said a camera was not for sale. Haha. Love it!

@takekayo423 8 жыл бұрын

He's so awesome. Yes he was pleased :-)

@mattmaber 8 жыл бұрын

+Matt Day "Canonet? Pah No!" That was funny.

@joez7770 5 жыл бұрын

he said a camera was not for sale for a cheap price! LOL

@naduncan100 Жыл бұрын

I similarly remember the ' nit for sale' line, usually the older Leicas in the shops opposite which he kept locked.

@naduncan100 Жыл бұрын

I have known David since 1981 when I first went to Hong Kong from University in the UK. I bought my first of many cameras there A Nikon F2 that is pronounced Nikon not Ny-kon as americans mispronounce . After living there for over 20 years I still regularly go back from where I now live in Thailand and David always remembers me. Cheers David hope to see you soon.

@y2ktube 6 жыл бұрын

With all due respect to Mr. Chan: If considering the early Leica M3 units, keep in mind that the serial numbers do indicate the latest factory internal revisions that can be VERY desirable. (Single stroke, larger eyepiece optic, improved braking, curtain anchoring, better adhesive & Silvering of RF elements etc.) But one has to pay for these #919,251 and above units. If the budget allows, get one of these (There's a reason that the early units are selling for so much cheaper...). The early units of Mr. Chan's recommendation (700,000's), are having serious RF aging issues: The early 2nd image split-beams are decaying and as a result becoming VERY dim (They aren't considered economical to replace when this occurs). The later revisions previously mentioned were ALL improvements. i.e. The soft brass "Buddah Ear" strap lugs that they couldn't remember in the video, had a short lifespan & were way too difficult to replace. So Leica basically improved serviceability; as a result, now during a service, you can install 'stainless steel' lugs !

@eatenbyopium 2 ай бұрын

im not sure mr. chan cares.

@mattdayphoto 8 жыл бұрын

Such a cool interview! I love the way David thinks in terms of mechanical cameras.

@fotologo2568 7 жыл бұрын

Great guy, Mr David Chan. Truly a man whose work is his passion. He has so much to share. Thanks for this interview.

@bigheadtaco 7 жыл бұрын

Yes Mr.Chan is an amazing person and a great photography figure.

@Broodjemetbeleg 7 жыл бұрын

Amazing guy, lovely to hear that he will donate all his rare camera's to a museum

@bigheadtaco 7 жыл бұрын

yes he's a really cool dude

@randymonster4105 6 жыл бұрын

I don't know how I got here but this is the coolest video I have seen in years. Fckin amazing. The wealth of knowledge this guy has wow.

@mhsvz6735 6 жыл бұрын

24 hours after watching this video, I purchased a mint condition Nikon F Photomic FTN with 50mm f/1.4 lens on eBay from Japan. Thank you for rekindling my interest in this remarkable camera.

@mikehydropneumatic2583 7 жыл бұрын

This guy knows his stuff. What a great store, it is more like a museum.

@earlsweat9727 5 жыл бұрын

I love how David goes ya ya ya ya but he’s actually listening extremely closely

@dushman888 6 жыл бұрын

This video works sooooooo much better for me than the new Peta Pixel one. It feels like I'm listening in to a private conversation between 2 kids in a candy store. Long live David Chan. A sage.

@Intensecure 8 жыл бұрын

I absolutely must go there for a visit, even if he won't actually sell me anything; or indeed if I can't afford anything that he will sell, ha! What an old-school gentlemen, and what gorgeous mechanical works of engineering art. Thanks for sharing this.

@dt2986 8 жыл бұрын

Two boys in Uncle Dave's candy store. :)

@takekayo423 8 жыл бұрын

Tasty treats...

@simonbarnes7124 3 жыл бұрын

Always love your visits to David Chan and his famous camera store even though nothing is for sale. Well anything before 1980 that is!!

@bigheadtaco 3 жыл бұрын

He wouldn’t sell me new-in-box Minolta 9xi from 1992.... or Nikon 35ti new-in-box from same era.....

@simonbarnes7124 3 жыл бұрын

bigheadtaco I know. I’ve always wondered how he makes money especially with all those cars he has. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I bought 3 Nikon’s over lockdown and a few prime lenses. FM3A, FM and FE2. I’ve got GAS really bad, but I love old mechanical cameras. I almost bought the Dynax 9xi back in 1994, but I went for the Canon Eos 1. I laughed how Mr Chan dismissed the Canon Canonet. It was my first ever camera. It was such a great and fun video. No, nothing for sale. You can look,. You can even touch, but you CANNOT BUY. I must go there one day..

@kevykev555 3 жыл бұрын

Best camera personality of all time. I watched and showed this video over 10 times.

@johntazbaz1121 4 жыл бұрын

“Not for sale” always gets a laugh out of me, but the one that happens just after 12:46 is the best one.

@waltermayr339 4 жыл бұрын

Photography in the scond half of last century, was something we could compare with the golden age of dutch painting! In this interview we got this spirit. Thank you.

@thomasmoje5926 4 жыл бұрын

I ever go to Hong Kong..will make a point of visiting this shop. The camera junkie's ultimate candy store. And Mr. Chan certainly knows his stuff and more importantly, seems to have a genuine love of quality photographic equipment.

@neiljacobs762 5 жыл бұрын

Great interview guys. IMO David Chan's the best camera shop in the world. I have spent many hours shopping in his store with David and always come from his shop happy and with exactly what I want.

@bigheadtaco 5 жыл бұрын

that's great. Mr.Chan is a great guy, especially when you can convince him to sell something rare.....

@lifetimesofamultiplemediam1003 6 жыл бұрын

I'm not really into old cameras, but after watching this, my interest is peaked.

@Inzesky1 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this great interview Take. Listening to Mr. Chan talking with such passion and knowledge about cameras was a joy. And kudos to him for mentioning the French Foca 35mm rangerfinder cameras, such an underrated gem outside of France.

@willlee2522 6 жыл бұрын

Such a wise man with great passion and knowledge to analogy cameras, respect!

@philhasacamera 6 жыл бұрын

Amazing man and an epic video. He is a dying breed of real enthusiasts and collectors. Love it

@bigheadtaco 6 жыл бұрын

I'm going to see him again in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned.

@Merseysiderful 3 жыл бұрын

I am not a camera enthusiast but this video was very interesting. Am amazed at the range of mechanical cameras that were available and the precision components that were needed to actually manufacture them. Mr. Chan’s knowledge is exceptional and I agree with him that film photos are better.

@JimVR 6 жыл бұрын

This video makes me want to jump on a plane and visit that shop

@perhauberg7385 5 жыл бұрын

So charming ! To meet this very nice gentleman in his nest.

@hofnaar 8 жыл бұрын

Great nerd-talk. Thank you for that. I would watch it also if it went 2 hours or longer. Wakes up my G.A.S. :D Greetings from berlin germany to HK

@somsaks2001 4 жыл бұрын

Wow, I finally found the man who really knows the camera! I thought the film cameras have long gone and taken by computer cameras. I can see clearly now how the film camera can produce a photograph far more superior to any modern camera now a day.

@maxxsmaxx1901 4 жыл бұрын

I am a proud owner of Nikon F which I repaired and brought to life from junk.I agree it's THE camera 😀 David you are amazing like the Nikon F !

@usadarylwilson 5 жыл бұрын

Damn, this guy KNOWS HIS CAMERAS. Awesome interview. Thank you. Very much enjoyed this. I just purchased a near mint condition Nikon F5 with MB-28 data back from a store in Japan. I expect it to arrive in about 2 or 3 weeks. Still might get my hands on a 50th Anniversary Limited Edition F5, brand new in the never-opened original box, but the seller keeps backing out for various reasons.

@bigheadtaco 5 жыл бұрын

Mr.Chan is an interesting character for sure. He also collects cars :-)

@UNNAMEDHUMANXX 5 жыл бұрын

the lovely thing in this video is that whenever anyone is not talking, they must be toying with the camera TRUE CAMERA LOVER

@alanjackson4067 8 жыл бұрын

Great video Take, as always. What a wonderful guy...Mr Chan. And it would be so cheap shopping in his store, where nothing is for sale..

@edykim 8 жыл бұрын

You look like the kid in Disney Land! The interview is very fun and also very inspirational. Thanks for your interview.

@JP1050x 8 жыл бұрын

Nice line up of cameras. It's worth mentioning adding the Nikon F2as, which was a great bridge between the F and F3. Love the shrink wrap... they wrap up everything you can imagine in China/HK/Taiwan!

@k.m.alaminbaqee 2 жыл бұрын

After long time I am seen David. I am just speech less. He is still Alive.. I had ever meet him 1996 in his Shop and buy a Nikon FM2 full manuals camera. He is absulate nice Man.

@noonsound4894 7 жыл бұрын

I'm late to the party but I love these store videos.

@brentbrown51 Жыл бұрын

Amazing. Thank you, David Chan!

@PointandShooters 8 жыл бұрын

This was probably my favorite interview thus far, he seemed very wise. He needs to sell those cameras tho haha.

@kiwipics 6 жыл бұрын

Lovely to hear David Leung mentioned by Mr Chan at the start of the video. I bought my Canon 35-350mm L from David Leung, and he was such a gent ...

@xjoexedge 8 жыл бұрын

Seriously amazing. David is a fountain of knowledge

@chrispenhol6323 8 жыл бұрын

I have watched this video several times already and love it....Wonderful.

@whittiercheech5659 Жыл бұрын

that was awesome to see. Great great video. You can see Davids passion for cameras. He's very lucky.

@ianhand5006 4 жыл бұрын

What a wonderful and knowledgable gentleman David is.

@villegas24 8 жыл бұрын

He is a great man. Like the Einstein of photography. Would love to visit his shop when I have some money :p

@arndsan 8 жыл бұрын

wow - such a wonderful and unique masterpiece. thank you for sharing this with us.

@sandyyazier28 6 жыл бұрын

Respect! Respect! Respect! To Mr. David Chan!

@anhhytrinh4791 8 жыл бұрын

i likes the way David said digital like mascass

@MikeWood 8 жыл бұрын

He is quite a character, and that is some store. All those cameras :)

@richardb.1414 6 жыл бұрын

..."today...money for me not important" ..... unbelievable, can see the gentleman has so much fun

@0311ohrah 2 жыл бұрын

HK government should build a camera museum, and David should donate all those "not for sale" for exhibition..., well he said it ! Bravo !

@t-money561 2 жыл бұрын

Great shop and memories. Love how he relays the don mccullin story at 19:00 and misappropriates it to an american photographer. Thank you mr. chan for your knowledge.

@woodrowclose 8 жыл бұрын

Fascinating interview. I think that David should write a book on the subject.

@bendelandesful 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks M. Chan for talking about the FOCA coupled range finder cameras with bayonet mount and easy film loading, all this making them far more advanced than Leica's in the 50's, before the M3 came out. I'm thinking about the superb Foca Universel, Universel R and the very rare and beautiful Universel RC that came later in the early 60's. It had a 1:1 magnification coupled range finder, whereas the M3's only 0.85.

@Noeman2009 7 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Single stroke, double strokes, and shutter lock is the film advance lever itself. Push toward the camera body, the shutter is locked.

@lucerne33 4 жыл бұрын

Can’t wait to return to David Chan’s shop. What a great atmospheric experience. I understand that champagne court is going to be redeveloped in the next couple of years.

@andrewfrost8866 8 жыл бұрын

Wow! So impressive. What a lovely gentleman, so knowledge too.

@62smarty 7 жыл бұрын

Will be in HK next week and visit Mr.Chang again! Got my Canon FTb from his store :-). He's a wonderful Person!

@bigheadtaco 7 жыл бұрын

Awesome, I'll be in HK from April 23-May 9th. I'm going to drop by and say hello to Mr.Chan as well :-)

@oaklandtobangkok 7 жыл бұрын

I could have watched all day long. I would have asked him "What IS for sale?" Great video!

@bigheadtaco 7 жыл бұрын

majority of the things in his shop is for sale. Because I asked to show me his very best, obviously he's going to show me stuff he won't sell.... :-)

@dennislam8102 5 жыл бұрын

can't believe he donated the cameras. feel more admired of him as a film camera collector:)

@aic262 5 жыл бұрын

Wow! Review of diff film cameras in a single interview! Thank you so much for this! Great to watch!

@GarethDanks 5 жыл бұрын

Wow. I loved this video. That place looks like paradise! I’d cry leaving haha. Such a nice guy too. I’m with him on the mechanically built cameras. I’ve just got an FM2. Always wanted one. They truest don’t make em like they used to! I do think the will tho. I can see Leica bringing out a legacy camera! £1000000000 tho 😂❤️

@ShootStreetTV 8 жыл бұрын

His store is a Museum in itself already, almost every camera featured is not for sale. LoL! I think Mr. Chan is trolling Take. "How much is this camera?" No.. no.. Not for sale.. Haha! love it! I hope one day I get to go to Mr. Chan's store in HK! Great Job Take! This interview is really awesome! Now I am hoping you guys take one of the featured cameras on a test drive in the streets of Hong Kong. That would be really super awesome! Cheers! Happy Shooting!

@takekayo423 8 жыл бұрын

Next time.

@ShootStreetTV 8 жыл бұрын

Nice!

@genxl86 8 жыл бұрын

its like a museum. I wanna go to HK now!

@carlosecabezas 8 жыл бұрын

Mr. David is an awesome guy!! great talk!!

@timheubeckphoto 8 жыл бұрын

Just came across your channel, thanks for the videos and keep up the good work! :)

@bigheadtaco 8 жыл бұрын

+Tim Heubeck thanks!

@adventureguy4119 8 жыл бұрын

The owner seems so passionate about his career, so much knowledge i will never get =(

@manniarevalo1045 3 жыл бұрын

I love his passion.

@jackhunter248 6 жыл бұрын

That's just lovely!

@25258721 8 жыл бұрын

What a great video interview! Really enjoyed it.

@goncalonorberto5593 8 жыл бұрын

this is probably your best vdeo Take! such a good energy keep going

@hayderassam 5 жыл бұрын

Great video and I wish I can visit Mr Chan one day as he seems to be such a nice man and so knowledgable with cameras

@bobkids009 5 жыл бұрын

Very well interviewed and presented but is a pity that most of the Best cameras in store were not for Sales.........! David Chan is just GREAT.........!

@n506higo 4 жыл бұрын

I was thinking of the idea of selling all of my film cameras (1980s - 1990s Nikon and Contax, etc.) to buy some digital, but I changed my mind. Thank you for uploading the interview.

@TheShanahg 6 жыл бұрын

He is amazing, I wish to visit his store and chat with him in Hong Kong.

@jonesr101 5 жыл бұрын

Respect for saying Angenieux made the best lenses ever. Not well known but some of those things are legendary.

@bigheadtaco 5 жыл бұрын

In Hong Kong, they love the French and British lenses. Many convert to M Mount and use on their Leica’s

@CamMead 8 жыл бұрын

wow guys such an epic video, ive heard about this shop but so glad you interviewed him. Such a funny guy too i would definitely spend a lot of time there if i visit some day!! might be worth the plane ticket alone but i have a feeling he wont sell me a camera if i find one i really want haha

@takekayo423 8 жыл бұрын

Exactly!!

@neiljacobs762 6 жыл бұрын

Best camera shop in Hong Kong! I always get my gear there.

@rydock 8 жыл бұрын

Awesome video! Please do more like this

@koi1957 8 жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed that great great video

@HajiTerikatKetat 8 жыл бұрын

thank you DAVID

@fredericvasquez316 8 жыл бұрын

Awesome video

@happyguy4525 3 жыл бұрын

Wow my friends. I just watched the newest video that was released yesterday about this David Chan. And now this one pops up on my feed right now. And David speaks English too

@jofx4051 3 жыл бұрын

I don't expect him can speak English

@jofx4051 3 жыл бұрын

Considering he sold Cameras to America foreigners no wonder he can speak good English

@ronstar7027 5 жыл бұрын

Fun to watch this fellow. Not for sale.

@ropersix 8 жыл бұрын

Kodak's not gone now. It still sells great film for all those film cameras!

@kylemccourt663 5 жыл бұрын

Nikon F2as Olympus OM1 Minox 35 GT Kodak Retina with Schneider glass rolleiflex sl35m is also a super underrated machine with some sweet glass

@ilyPenn23 8 жыл бұрын

Awesome video.

@mirrah08 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful story...love it...

@Zone41 8 жыл бұрын

Great moment!

@ToddB987 8 жыл бұрын

Awesome video!! Interesting the old schooler like David doesn't like digital. I've always thought that myself and it's confirmed by a guy that has seen thousands of camera's and technology over the years. I feel lucky too to 2 Leica M3's that I shoot with.ToddB

@mhsvz6735 6 жыл бұрын

Amazing camera store! Please go back and review more of his cameras. Thank you.

@K9malinois_dog_love 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome 😎 I definitely enjoy the history behind it.

@JanoUrda 5 жыл бұрын

In case you want to know about Nikon F which got shot it is Don McCullin Nikon F.

@illyaswan 6 жыл бұрын

So cool to hear such knowledgeable guys chat about cameras. This is great! P.S. You reminded me again that I also need an M3 in addition to my 0.56x M6TTL. lol

@artistandcamera3245 3 жыл бұрын

this makes me happy

@bigheadtaco 3 жыл бұрын

me too...

@geraldgeneroso1681 8 жыл бұрын

I thoroughly enjoyed this video 😄

@fodiographer 5 жыл бұрын

love to see this man's love for camera's :)

@bigheadtaco 5 жыл бұрын

exactly, and so I understand why won't sell some cameras...... they're like his children....

@nikonman3971 4 жыл бұрын

Beautiful show

@jeffreyaustin603 5 жыл бұрын

I enjoy my Nikons, FA and F3. I had been somewhat concerned if Kodak would start making 35mm film again but those fears have been dispersed.

@mbenavides 8 жыл бұрын

Went to his store back in september, very nice collection, altough I was looking to repair a rewind button from my bessa r3m, they kindly send me to a repair store, wich i never found lol, great experience visiting the champagen court.