Vendor Directory
In general, try to support the smaller companies when you can over big box stores !!
4Wall - Big AVL rental house and integrator. Global. Decent rates. Good folks.
Adafruit - Like Digi-Key or Mouser but much more accessible and is a great resource when it comes to making electronic things (education, best practices, etc). They also make some parts. They sell all things Arduino and Pi. They are based in NYC, but they do not have a storefront and they don’t allow pickups. I have tried many times. Better to call around other Creative Tech companies or your homies and ask if someone can hook you up from their stock if you need something day-of or last minute.
Adoroma - NYC based film/photo/video/grip/lighting company. Same holiday schedule as B&H. Smaller, less inventory, but better sales engineers. Good to get to know folks here. All great people. Used dept will take pretty much anything and is a great place to get good deals on things. For example: I got an open box B+W 72mm UV filter for $5 (value is close to $100). Good to support these guys. Located in Chelsea. Pro-tip: they have a membership you can pay for (think it’s called Adoroma pro or something). With this membership, every item you purchase is automatically enrolled in an unlimited 1 year warranty. If you’re buying a lot from these guys, get this membership. It has saved me a couple of times.
B&H - NYC based film/photo/video/grip/lighting company. Strictly follows Jewish Orthodox calendar. So they’re closed for high holidays, all Saturdays and early on Fridays. Bigger, huge inventory, but better corporate sales dept. Pro-tip: set up a biz account and do “quotes” and you’ll get a steeper discount the bigger your order is and whatever margin flexibility they have on the specific items. Ditto on the used prices, but they don’t accept as many things as Ado does. Has a significant projector, mount, CCTV, and display inventory, too. Shipping times are incredible. Midtown 😵💫
Boxx - Online retailer that produces powerful Windows servers that can be used as media servers or as high-end VFX and creative software machines. Desktop or rack mount. They also produce laptops but have never bought or used one. From 2018 to 2023, I’ve purchased about 18 rack models. Different builds. Always satisfied and have never had a problem (!!)
Brytesoft - Online retailer of Windows licenses. I think I can thank Kurt Lorey for this find, but have been using it for years. On the surface it seems very suspicious: Windows licenses at <%20 of retail. All my research has led me to - yes they are legit. Also: there’s no way they’d be able to operate this long (at least since 2017). You need to consume licenses within 30 days of purchase. Can recommend.
Canal Sound & Light - A small NYC store that doesn’t publish an online inventory but has a lot of the things you might need in a pinch. Cables. Lights. Displays. Speakers. Their return policy is, without exception: no. Surprising discounts that make you a little suspect. I’m not saying their gear fell off of a truck, but it is a confusing situation. Canal SoHo / Chinatown
Digi-Key - Online-only retailer of electronic parts, sensors, switches, and micro-controllers. More blue-collar than Adafruit; very utilitarian. Shipping is never free, so order in batches when possible!
Fotocare - NYC based film/photo/video/grip/lighting company. Smaller. Weekdays only but follows general corporate calendars so is open when Ado and B&H are not. They get stock of new products faster than the big boys. They also do photo printing / processing and carry all kinds of film. Quick turn around on in-house repairs. Have had sensors cleaned here and can recommend. Staff is fantastic. Try to support these guys over the big ones. Chelsea.
FullCompass - Online only A/V retailer. Like Sweetwater but with more of an emphasis on video and corporate installation gear. Also decent projector and display inventory,. Fun fact: I bought my first projector from FullCompass in 2006. Believe it was a BenQ. Time flies and then you die!
K&M Camera - NYc film/photo store that’s like Fotocare, but with hardware store vibes. Some would call it “the set shop of Fotocare.” Has helped me with rando grip over the years. Downtown. Moved in the last couple years to one of the Villages. Can’t remember which!
Miyar Adventures - West coast retailer of outdoor gear with very competitive pricing. Kind of like REI but carries a lot more photo things for gearheads. Best pricing on Peak Design gear by a significant margin. Can recommend.
Mouser - What’s the difference between these guys and Digi-Key? Marginal pricing, I guess. Shipping is never free, so order in batches.
Rentex - AVL rental house.
Sam Ash - Like guitar center but quieter and not as many locations. Speakers, instruments, audio things in general. They carry some video things as well but limited to cables and there is a premium. Helpful and knowledgeable staff. Great place to get cabling. They also stock a decent selection of lighting, though mostly of the ADJ variety.
Set Shop - NYC based grip and (I think former) scenic fab company. They’ve got the gels, the paper, the clamps and a very NYC hardware store vibe. Chelsea.
SimplyNuc - Online retailer of NUCs. Wide variety of specs and chassis to choose from. Great pricing. Lots of upgradeable options that have been well thought out. Have purchased about 30 from them in 2022-2023. Great build quality. Particularly like their fanless units.
Sweetwater - Mostly audio online-only retailer. Some video things but not as much as FullCompass. Great sales engineers that will drop candy on your grave when you die.