In Search of a Camera Shop

Monday, December 17

We went in search of a shop that could repair my camera lens.  In its present state it was worthless so I had been resorting to taking pictures with my phone, something I really hate to do.

I identified four camera shops.  Three of them had good reviews and one was an official Sony repair shop.  Surely one of them could help us.  They were all located in the same part of Town so we visited them in order of their proximity to our apartment.

The first shop told us that they didn’t do repairs and that they didn’t carry any lenses that would fit the camera.  They did offer to order a lens for us but we hoped for better elsewhere.  The camera, a Sony A99, takes an A-Mount style lens which is proprietary to Sony cameras.  Only camera shops that specialize in Sony cameras typically stock them.

Our second stop was the official Sony repair shop.  When we entered we saw and a man and a woman bent over their desks examining some camera equipment.  We waited for a few minutes for someone to recognize that we had entered.  Soon the man came over to the counter.  We took out the camera and demonstrated the problem.  He thought about it for a minute and then exchanged a few words in Greek with the woman.  She came over to us and said that the lens needed to be opened before she could tell what the problem was and asked us how long we were going to be in Town.  This wasn’t the question we wanted to hear.

She said that we should leave the lens; she could get to it in about a week and then call us and tell us what the problem was.  Most likely it needed some parts that would then have to be ordered.  Given that it was the holiday season that would probably take some time.  She wasn’t sure that she could have it ready by the time we planned to leave town.

We explained that if we had no lens we effectively had no camera.  We asked if she could at least open it now and see what the problem was, then we could be better able to decide what to do.  That went over like a lead balloon.  She rambled on about how everyone wants everything right away, that they were busy and since it was the holidays we couldn’t expect anything to get done before sometime in January.  She was infuriating.  She had no intention of even trying to be helpful.  We left with both camera and lens in hand and started looking for the next shop on our list.

The next shop was nestled inside a labyrinth off a small side street.  We were about to give up when we found it.  It was the last shop in the alley.  They didn’t do repairs either but actually had a few lenses for sale that would fit our camera.  Unfortunately, they were not for full-frame cameras.  It would be like taking our 24 megapixel camera and turning it into a 16 megapixel format.  They were very nice people and were trying very hard to be helpful.  They even suggested that we visit the official Sony repair shop and were about to give us directions when we said that we’d already been there.  Suddenly it occurred to them that another shop might have a lens for us and they started making phone calls.  One shop had a used lens for sale that was the same model as the one we had.  It was worth taking a look.  We were told to ask for Marcos.  We thanked them for their efforts and went in search of the next shop.  It was just over half a mile away.

We found Marcos and as soon as he saw our camera he knew why we’d come.  He said that he wouldn’t normally stock that lens but he had a good customer who had exchanged theirs for another one when they had bought a new camera.  He said it was in excellent condition and encouraged us to try it out.  The price was €750.00 / $862.00.  We asked about repairing the one I had but he said that it would have to be sent out.  We excused ourselves to discuss our options.  The choices were…

1. Do Nothing.  Deborah hated that option because she was already tired of hearing me complain about the camera.
2. Have the lens repaired.  While it was out we could use our iPhones.  I hated that idea.  Also, we had no idea where we would be when it was ready.  Besides, we had no idea how much it would cost and if it would be worth spending the money.
3. Buy a decent but inexpensive camera for the short term.  There’s no such thing!
4. Buy an entirely new camera outfit.  I liked that choice but neither of us wanted to spend that kind of money.  That would likely cost well over $6,000.00.

After our little conference, in which we’d actually made no decisions, Marcos told us that he would sell us the lens for €700.00 / $805.00.  I put the lens on my camera, went outside and put it through its paces.  It really was in excellent condition and the price was very reasonable.  Used versions of this lens normally sell for about $1,000 and a new one would cost about $2,200.00.  We paid for the lens and left feeling pretty happy.  Marcos said that we should have the old one repaired and could sell it ourselves but given the hard life it’s had it’s probably not worth it.

It hadn’t been a totally wasted day.  We got to walk around parts of Town that we hadn’t seen before and had lunch in a very good place that Deborah had sussed out before.  It was called Tailor Made Microroastery and was along one of the main pedestrian ways off the main square in Monastiraki,

Deborah asked about the soup of the day.  The waiter said it was leek but suggested that she get the pumpkin instead.  He said it was his favorite.  I got a roast beef sandwich that had several sauces, some vegetables and sauerkraut.  The food was delicious.  The waiter was happy that Deborah really did like the soup.

(Pumpkin Soup)

We had coffee and dessert at a chain called Melilotos.  Like all of the bakeries in Town they make a large variety of pastries and cookies on site.  They’re always fresh and delicious.  We tried a couple of the typical Christmas cookies: Melomakarona (Greek honey cookies) and Kourabiedes (Greek butter cookies covered in powdered sugar).  Yeah, we’re going to get sooooo fat.

(Christmas Cookies)

After we got home I downloaded the new pictures from the camera and noticed that they all had two spots on them in the same place.  I cleaned the lens and retested with the same result.  I tried the long lens and found the same thing.  I was going to have to go back to the camera store and see if they could help me again.😝

Distance walked: 9.2 miles

Wednesday, December 19

We took Tuesday off and since Deborah wanted to rest for another I ventured out on my own.  We’d been in Athens for almost a week and felt like we hadn’t done much at all.  I had a few places in mind that I wanted to explore.

The day started with a trip back to Hadrian’s Arch.  The light was good so I was hoping for some decent pictures but the traffic wouldn’t cooperate.  All the pictures had cars wizzing by.  I did managed to put my new lens to good use by taking some high quality pictures of the Temple of Zeus that is in the same park.  It’s an amazing sight.  The temple was constructed by the Romans who wanted to build something even grander than the Parthenon.  The columns are almost three times as tall and the temple was even larger.  It was destroyed and looted after the fall of the Roman Empire.  The columns you see today have not been restored; they’ve been standing that way for almost 2,000 years.  I had intended to go inside the park and get a closer look but there was a €3.00 / $3.45 charge.  I decided to wait until we could both see it together.

Next up was Kallimarmaro Stadium.  It’s a horseshoe shaped stadium that was built on top of several other previous stadiums dating all the way back to 330 BC.  The present version dates from the 6th century and can hold over 60,000 people.  It was completely restored and used for the first modern Olympic games in 1896.  Entry costs €5.00 / $5.75.

From there I walked across the National Garden.  It has wide boulevards lined with orange trees.  It must be a lovely sight in the spring time.

Now I was heading for the camera shop.  Along the way I came across Constitution Square where they had a lovely Christmas Tree on display.  Nearby I passed several large neo-classical buildings that looked interesting but by now I no longer had the patience to investigate.

Finally I arrived at the camera shop and found Marcos.  He said that the problem had nothing to do with the lens.  He said that the camera sensor needed to be cleaned.  It made sense to me but I’ve owned the camera for nine years and this is the first time I’ve ever had this problem.  I just don’t believe in coincidences.  Marcos said that if I left the camera he could have the sensor cleaned.  He suggested that I return 1.5 hours later at 2:00 pm.  Given our experience with the Sony people I was amazed he could do it so quickly.

I wandered aimlessly for a while and happened on the market.  It’s a very large building with stalls all around the outside where you can buy nuts and various confections.  On the inside is a huge fresh fish market with just about any kind of fish you can imagine.  There’s also an enormous, sprawling meat market with pork, goat, lamb, chicken, duck and goose for sale.  I was surprised at how much pork was available and how little lamb.  That seems to be the trend all over Town.  When I think of Greece I think of lamb.

I killed some time at a bakery in Monastiraki Square.  I got two little pastries that were made from phyllo dough soaked in honey syrup, stuffed with cream and covered in powdered sugar (take your insulin now).  The cream was nothing to get excited about but the pastry was crisp and delicious.  How do they keep the dough so crisp?  I would definitely have them again.

(Delicious Pastries)

By now it was time to pick up the camera.  The service cost €20.00 / $23.00.  I took a few test shots and confirmed that the spots were gone.  This camera shop had done right by me.  If you’re ever in Athens and are in need of a camera shop I can recommend All About Digital Photo at 28is Oktovriou 19.

I took the scenic road back home and found some nice churches and the TOMS Flagship store (shoes!).  I texted the address to Deborah; I knew that it would come back to bite me 😎.

I picked up a few groceries before heading home.  Hopefully all of the camera issues were now behind us for good.

Distance walked: 10.1 miles