Dear Mr. KIA, I just started dating this new guy, Dream Man. He’s super hot and way out of my league, so in order to seal the deal I told some small white lies. I said I can ski backwards on one leg (I’ve never seen snow in my life), speak nine languages (I do speak two!), can touch myear with my elbow, and collect vintage cameras that I fix up myself and love to haul around on my climbs to the Everest. I’m screwed on just about every count except maybe if I can lay my hands on a couple old cameras. So, my dear Mr. KIA, where in Bangkok can I get myself a usedcamera!—Cam Scam Pam

Dear CSP, Mr. KIA gets a lot of photography questions. But usually, the people who write in actually enjoy taking pictures; they’re not trying to scam someone. How can I be an accessory to your evil plans and live with myself? Oh well, we have a few resident camera freaks here ready to help you out for the heck of it, so here goes:

Pirom Plaza (Mahachai Rd., Wangburapa, opposite Merry King Hotel) is one strange little mall. Its three stories are crammed with shops that sell either stuff for 14-year-old male geeks (highly realistic action fi gure dolls, Magic The Gathering cards, video games) or for 20 to 99-year-old male geeks—that is, second hand cameras. The best is to just walk around but if you know what you’re looking for, you might want to call in. Panida Photoshop (08-4013-4140) has some fun-looking vintage cameras. Or try Chusak Camera (08-1934-5654, 08-6513-4760) for yet more oldies, from Europe, China and Russia. The biggest, most complete shop, is Camera Takeshi (02-623-7602 ext 0, 02-222-8700 ext 241). Some of their stuff has taken a serious beating, and even better for you little scammers, doesn’t even work! That’s right, some of these cameras are for rental only, to be used as props in movies.

Foto File (1/F MBK Center, Patumwan Rd., 02-620-9200. www.fotofile.net). Like its sister shop two fl oors above, this shop carries new gear, but they also have second-hand cameras. Some are recent digitals but if you go in the back, feast your eyes on old Leica,
Hasselblad and Pentax treasures.

Fotoguffy is a minimalist white box of a shop stocked with every Polaroid or Lomo toy-camera you could possibly desire. Some of their stuff is new but there are some cute oldies in there as well.

Camera Collection is the classiest second-hand camera store in town—and the prices show it. But if you’re looking for a rare gem—and you don’t want it to be half rotten for having sat on a shelf for ages, this is where to go.