Camera Stores in Moscow

I left my Nikon EN-EL4 Battery Charger in Mexico before coming to Moscow.  Stupid thing, I know.  Weeks of planning and then to leave a key piece behind.

Finding a well stocked camera store for professional photographers in Moscow is a challenge. Ironically however, some of the Apple stores stock Leica and you can get a M-9 or a Noctilux 0.95 ! It’s usually the other way around–try finding Leica equipment in Mexico City or Sao Paulo.

There are plenty of shops for the point-and-shoot crowd, and many of these even stock some of the higher end models like the Nikon D-5000 and the Nikon-D700 type cameras.  If you have a shipping address you can also shop online, as it is very common in Moscow to buy online and have messengers deliver the merchandise. Finding specific parts for the professional line of Nikon cameras can be a challenge nonetheless.

I looked across various Russian web-sites, and finding a physical store address was often a challenge, given the preference to shop online.  With nights that begin at 4pm and -20 degree weather, I can’t blame them.

Below I list some of the stores I visited and what you can expect:

A well stocked store for high-end models.  They carry Leica, Arca-Swiss, Hasselblad, Linhof,  Large Format Cameras and Schneider lenses.  They do not carry Nikon and Cannon equipment.  The staff is very helpful, and speaks English. They are walking distance from Studencheskaya Metro Station on the #4 Line. Address: 121165, Moscow, Kutuzovskiy Avenue, Building/House  27 .  Telephone: (499) 249-61-45 /(499) 249-63-07 eMail: kutuzov@kutuzov-photo.ru

FotoFrame:  This store is about a mile walk from the Dubrovka Metro (Line 10) or from the Avtozavodskaya (Line 2) stations.  It’s tucked around behind the residential block on Simonovskay Street.  It carries new and used Leica, Nikon, Rollei, Bronica equipment, film, photo papers, lights and books.  I got a replacement cap for my Summicron for the equivalent of $30 bucks. A bit steep, but cheaper than scratching my lens.  They didn’t have a re-charger for my Nikon battery but they checked the Internet and sent me down the road to Pleer.  Simonovskay Street 26 k3.  Tel (495) 234-9915/9916.  The website is listed as www.photosale.ru

This is a massive camera and electronics warehouse.  It’s behind the shoe market that is next to Avtozavodskaya Metro station. You go through the shoe market, out the back door, turn right (outside the back of the building) and go in the next door to the right, go up a flight of stairs, and voila — easily 200 people lined up in a tight room. The line literally covers every square foot in the store. You either made a purchase on-line and come to pick it up, or order from one of the computers in the back, pay, and then pick-up your order. It’s a nightmare, so I left.  www.pleer.ru

Finally, just around the block from my local supermarket I literally stumbled across Foto.ru

Has 23 stores in the Moscow area and has national coverage as well. Most of the stores are small.  The one I discovered was only 50m2  and in the basement of a school supply store. They carry the usual  memory cards, point-and-shoots and some of the mid-line Cannon and Nikon DSLRs. It also had Manfrotto tripods and an assortment of reflectors and lights. They have two Megastores in the Moscow area that carry computers, consumer electronics and cameras–the Moscow equivalent of BestBuy. There I found generic Enkatsu rechargers for $30.