Korean Photography Blog

There was a time when there were few places around Ulsan to get camera gear that was affordable and useful for anyone beyond that of a first-time purchaser. For many years you had a few options; the internet, Nampo-Dong in Busan, or the Electronics Market in Seoul. Everyone had their favorite. Mine was alway Nampo-dong because it was close and the guys at Ilkwang Camera always gave me a fair price. Plus, the Canon dealer and office was just a block down from Ilkwang.

However, these days laziness has got the better of me and I find myself looking for places closer to home. In the past, I was alway skeptical of places like Pix-Dix as I considered them a camera store with department store prices. However, these days, they are not so bad. Here is why I would check them out if you don’t want to travel or brave the internet:

1. Good Staff – The Ulsan store has always treated me well and most of the other photographers that I have talked to. They are experienced and know what they are talking about.

2. Knowledge – This goes beyond just cameras too. The other day I enquired about getting an iPhone. I again, was skeptical because I had heard that there was a 2 year contract which is normally off limits to expats on the belief that we will leave after 1 year. The staff knew exactly what I was talking about and gave me the correct information.

3. Service – When you are an idiot and you get excited about a photo that you just took and accidentally dump a cup of coffee on top of your wacom tablet **cough cough** like me… You can sleep well know that the guys at Pix-Dix will take care of you and also not make fun of you either. The service that I have received has always been great.

4. Apple Products – Those of you that have made the switch over to Apple, especially for editing, have probably found items hard to find in Korea. In areas other than the major cities, like Ulsan, Apple products are rare. Pix-Dix carries a wide variety of Apple products and that makes me happy.

5. Gear – While most dedicated camera shops will carry more bags, tripods, filters, cards, accessories, lenses, etc. These guys carry a bit of everything and when **cough cough** you drop your lens while cleaning it and break the Canon Protector Filter… they have stock to replace it, even if it isn’t the actual Canon Brand (which are more expensive, by the way).

While most photographers will have their have their favorite shops, I pop into Pix-Dix from time to time to pick up a few things. However, for major things like lens repair and sensor cleaning, I am yet to see what they can do. For the most part, it is usually because they deal with A/S service on products that have been purchased from them. As I have a lens that is malfunctioning and a dirty sensor, I am looking at trying to find the easiest way to fix these problems. This is also older equipment that has not been purchased from them. If they can help or point me in the right direction, I will definitely tell you about it.