GIVE ME A QUICK FLASH ANYTIME (Jessops)

Member Name: snappy

Product:	Jessops
Date:	07/05/01 (818 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good stock, excellent prices, usually helpul and knowledgeable staff

Disadvantages: inconsistent in-house D&P

As a Professional photographer, I use the whole range of services that Jessops branches offer, but I would not wholeheartedly recommend their photo processing as it appears to be down to the individual shop as to how good it is.

Several of the larger Jessops stores offer on the premises One Hour film developing and processing, plus enlargements. I’ve not used this facility often, but I’m told by my friend – a Jessops Manager – it’s very good, and told by a few other people that it’s ‘hit or miss’! Pricewise, it’s on a par with Boots and they do offer Digital printing and free uploading to ‘bootsphoto.com’ – so that would look to be the winner, rather than try Jessops', so far, inconsistent service.

But Jessops stores are much better for other things. I am always buying consumables (film, batteries etc) plus I also need to update equipment or add to my existing stuff. I must say I always find the Jessops branches in my area and elsewhere, when I'm travelling, to be perfect for my needs.

All branches seem to nowadays carry both Still photographic equipment – film based as well as digital – plus a burgeoning range of video equipment. Most medium size branches will carry a broad range of hobbyist cameras, from top of the range 35mm SLRs (Canon Eos Iv - £1450, plus the Nikon F5 £1475) to a much more affordable range of Minolta, Olympus etc. Similarly you can spend over £300 on a really top quality 35mm compact, or just around £25 on a ‘bog standard’, but still acceptable model. All these items are usually available in stores from stock – or at most, next day from their central warehouse facility.

Digital equipment is also stocked and whereas around a year ago the range in stock may have encompassed half a dozen models, now you will actually see the shelves in store brimming with the latest megapixel digicams. Around £450 wil
l buy you a brilliant Fuji Finepix 40i – all 4.3 megapixels of it! But you can pick up a budget priced model fior under £100 and they also stock webcams too.

On the Video front, they are the ‘biz’, no doubt about it. Some stores will have section that specialises in Video equipment, from cameras of the budget VHS ‘C’ series through to the latest digital technology. As I am not a video photographer, I’m afraid I cannot go into this with very much detail as it is outside of both my interest and expertise. But, be sure that the expertise usually evident in the store from their assistants is excellent – certainly if you have a query, ask for the Manager and he will be able to identify the member of staff who is an expert in whatever field you are interested in.

Some more specialised aspects of photography. Like, say, large format cameras and accessories are only carried by the big City stores or in some cases at Head Office in Leicester or the major ‘mega’ London store. But that should not be a problem for the vast majority of people because it’s not that kind of thing that you would make as a ‘spur of the moment’ purchase.

You can build yourself a Home Studio or buy the equipment for a portable one. Lights, stands, brollies and all kinds of softboxes, snoots and the like can be found available from stick. They have kits already made up, starting from around £100 – or you can buy the items you need individually. Very useful and for the advanced or even intermediate photographer, it’s surprising easy to set up a studio in a small space

Obviously, it goes without saying that all branches of Jessops will offer a huge array of Film, - both still camera and Video – batteries, photo albums and frames – in fact everything under the sun for picture takers of all kinds.

Jessops stocks a wide range of items as ‘own brand’, s
ome of which I have used myself. They are always cheaper than the ‘marque’ brands and often pretty much indistinguishable from the ‘real thing’.

Those of you looking for computer equipment could also do worse that take a look at Jessops. True, they don’t stick PCs, but they have a range of most of the leading Inkjet Printers, plus flatbed scanners and negative/slide scanners for any of you wanting to go the digital route, but still - like me – trusting film based photography. They also stock all kinds of acesories, conection leads, print cartridges, paper (from basic injket reams to quality ‘photo paper’, for those near lifelike prints) and re-writeable disks.

Staying on the price front, I find that if I can get what I want cheaper that Jessops' price - then I've got a good deal! If you want a major purchase they also offer a price match scheme. If you can find it in stock locally (but how local is ‘local’?) at a cheaper price than Jessops they will match it – or if you ‘haggle’ ,may be drop it a bit more – in my experience, at least. I have gotten some good deals in Jessops on both 35mm SLR Cameras I have bought and lenses.

I must say that I can wholeheartedly recommend Jessops as THE place to look at first if you are in the market for absolutely anything on the Photo/Video front. Plus they have a vast catalogue of Second Hand items, which can be sent from the central warehouse to your local store. AND you can also shop online at www.jessops.com (or just check out the prices for future reference)...Believe me when I tell you - They are THE BEST.

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