Gadget Finder

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Best camera shop in Kuala Lumpur

This is the best camera shop in Kuala Lumpur in my opinion. It's Called YL Cameras and it's located inside Pudu Plaza. Here's how Pudu Plaza looks like.





What makes them special is that they buy, sell and trade all kinds of camera stuff. They also carry a huge range of new cameras, lenses and accessories. Here's how the shop looks like. Just look at all that lovely stuff in the front glass display. See those huge white beasts at the bottom there?









How do you get there? If you visit Malaysia, you're definitely gonna visit Kuala Lumpur which is the capital city of Malaysia. While in Kuala Lumpur a place you'll invariably see is Sungai Wang Plaza. It's about the most popular mall in the city center. There are lotsa camera shops in Sg Wang too. A really good shop to visit in Sungai Wang is called Boeing Cameras. You will be able to get just about anything for any brand at Boeing. Only thing is that they don't have used equipment and they don't buy, sell and trade like YL Cameras.


To get to YL Cameras, just take a cab from Sungai Wang and it should only take 5-10 minutes(if there's no traffic jam) to get to a mall called Pudu Plaza. YL Cameras is inside Pudu Plaza so just get in there and do some exploring. It's a pretty scary place to go to if you're a tourist. It's kinda dark and dirty in there. Very seedy too as it's a place swarming with prostitutes. It's sorta like a red light district there. So, make sure you don't wear any expensive jewellery or carry anything flashy like your lovely EOS 1Ds mkIII. I'd recommend you to keep the camera in a bag and only take it out of the bag once you're inside YL Camera. Better to be safe than sorry eh.


Don't let that scare you off though. You really must visit this shop if you're in KL. You may even score some rare 2nd hand equipment while you're there. Put this on your "Must See" list while you're in Kuala Lumpur if you're a photographer.



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22 comments:

Roger said...

Do you know if they sell Nikon D40 at these two shopping malls? Thanks.

Ian Ho said...

I didn't notice any D40. Mebe u can call YL and find out. Here's their website. www.ylcamera.com.my

Photography Unlimited said...

I used to think that they are the best too. Until last week. I guess they give excellent service to only those who frequently buy from them.

My experience.

Called them up a day before I turned up for a second-hand tokina 12-24mm. Said that there is one available at RM1400. When I turned up, not only did they not apologise, but told me in my face that there is no way that someone could have quoted me the lens, as they only have one, booked by a Leow for ages.

Not only that, they just did not bother to serve. Instead, chatted with their, i guess, high end buyers.

I, bought a new lens, instead, at Keat Photo. I understand at a premium, but at the very least, they give some service.

Ian Ho said...

Wow sounds like a really sucky experience eh? Well, I guess it happens to everyone in some way or other. I call it karma with the shop. Some people just dont click with certain shops. Some people click like they're the shopkeeper's brother. LOL. It's unavoidable I guess, can't please everybody. I understand how you feel though.

The Muscle Girl said...

can i ask do there accept Olympus camera? i wanna trade in my camera.

Ian Ho said...

They accept all kinds of brands n stuff. Just depends on the price that u guys can agree on.

I saw a signboard at 1 of the shops I frequent in Singapore and it said this- "Buying, Selling and Trading, all depends on the mood of the buyer and seller on that particular time and day." It's quite true isn't it? Hehe.

Maisarah Azami said...

hye...i wanna ask u...do u know where can i buy nikon D7000 via installment payment and WITHOUT credit card??

Ian Ho said...

I think your best bet would be Courts or Jusco where they have in house financing.

Susanto said...

Hi, can you recommend good online store. so I can check photography equipment prices in kuala lumpur

Thanks

Ian Ho said...

Susanto, u can check YL cameras website. That will give u an idea of the pricing in K.L.

Anonymous said...

do they selling 2nd hand cameras? im looking for Canon 450D.

Kisty said...

Will be going to KL next week and this is swell, because I want to get rid of my 18-200mm lens. Though I'm a tourist and I'm a girl... so, maybe someday!

Ian Ho said...

Kisty,

Don't worry too much. Just don't flash your expensive camera or anything n just act like an el cheapo shoestring budget tourist n u should be alright.

Anonymous said...

Hello
I am new here. I intend to sell my Nikon D80 with or w/o the 18-135mm lens at YL. Can anyone tell me the current market price (2nd.hand) so that I dont get ripped off?
Thanks guys for keeping this blog alive.

Ian Ho said...

You should check out the local camera forums where they have the buy n sell sections for current market price. Don't expect the shops to buy from you at those prices though. They need to buy at lower prices n sell to make a profit. Don't forget they have to take a risk, buying over your stuff and not knowing how long it will sit on the shelves.

Anonymous said...

I just called YL Camera to ask for quick quotation for my client. The guy said, you send email to me. Since I only require about 4 items only for Sony Nex7 then I ask for quick verbal quote. The the guy said, "you call me in the evening, I am busy right now".

How come you already busy when I call you early in the morning during beginning of business hour at 10.30am?

By reading this blog I understand YL Camera don't have good business culture when communicating with customer, especially new customer like me.

So I also not interested in dealing with them..

Ian Ho said...

Well, most shops are not interested in giving quotations over the phone. It's simply not viable. They will be too busy answering phone calls that yield very little actual sales. Retail shops always prefer that you turn up for actual negotiations before they offer up their best pricing.

Anonymous said...

I heard about this YL Camera store and actually went there when I was in Kuala Lumpur recently. I agree with the posts that they are rather arrogant and I had to ask to be assisted. Certainly not a store I would frequent or buy from as there are so many other stores in Kuala Lumpur itself or elsewhere. I travel frequently and I can tell you that B&H in New York is outstanding. Avoid buying gear in Australia as equipment there is ridiculously expensive but there is a store in Melbourne called Michaels's that has their own camera museum in their store. Amazing. There are many good stores in Japan, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Why anyone would go to this YL store when there are so many other options in Kuala Lumpur as I found out later is beyond me,particularly if their staff is rude. It's not about "karma with the shop" as Mr.Ian Ho suggested. It's about customer service and a business sense. Period.

Ian Ho said...

If you read my article again, you will see that I did mention there are some other nice shops in KL. BUT none of them do Buy, Sell n Trade like YL does. Anyway, I do agree that if they don't serve you well, you should walk out.

Anonymous said...

I'm going there this coming Oct. I have checked the YL price then stop the plan to buy I could look for cheaper stuffs in Bangkok

K.Yut

Anonymous said...

I would want to sell my canon eos 600d body and also efs 55-250mm lense..do you know where can I get a good deal on it..

Ian Ho said...

Try YL. The pricing may not be the best but they r the only ones in KL who do buy, sell and trade. If you happen to be in Singapore, you can try the shops in Peninsula Hotel. There are a lot of good shops in there that do buy, sell and trade.