I really fell in love with this place. Very nice owner..super super sweet and a camera legend;) There's a good deal of little gems in this little shop if you look/ask. Pricing is pretty reasonable in my opinion..especially given that there aren't too many film camera repair shops in our area. read more

Camera Care Center - film camera lenses - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Houston, Texas

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DO NOT COME HERE. 0 stars if possible. I dropped off my camera for repair in January, and it's now October 9 months later and I still don't have it back. From the beginning, communication has been terrible. I never received any updates and had to keep calling just to get basic information. At first, they told me they could fix it and quoted me a fee, which I agreed to. This was in February. Weeks went by with no progress, so I called again that's when I was suddenly told they couldn't fix it after all because they didn't order a part, but that I could get a replacement through them. They promised to call me back. They never did. This became a frustrating cycle of me calling, being told someone would get back to me, and then hearing nothing for weeks. I even made sure to give them some time before I called for updates. I went in person July 11 and waited 25 minutes while the owner searched for my camera, only to come up empty-handed. He told me he'd call me the next day it's been a month and I've heard nothing. When I try to voice my frustrations they come up w lies and hang up the phone on me while I'm talking. I initially chose this place because of the good reviews, but my experience has been extremely disappointing. I've been more than patient, but all I've received is poor customer and the runaround. read more

If you drop your camera off there you will never hear from them again. And you can call and leave messages show up at their door and they're not open it's very frustrating read more

The men that work there are so nice and caring. They fixed my camera and would answer anytime I called them to update me on it. I would definitely go there if you are looking to get your camera fixed! read more

Excellent support and courteous customer service the issue was solved in no time and they didn't charge us at all

Very nice Pop's owned and run business. He repairs and Sales Camera equipment. Some items are on the High side but was worth the trip.

My Canon lens cracked. The owner called Canon ordered the part fixed it and it was ready the next day! He was professional and fast.

Take your business elsewhere please!!!!! Terrible terrible terrible customer service. The owner sits at the desk and doesn't even proceed to say hello or I'll be right with you when you walk in so your experience here starts off terribly. Maybe even a wave to let me know you saw me walk in. It's a tiny whole in the wall office so it's not as if you can't see two of us come in. Then he tells us he will call us for a quote. He never does! We called (figuring maybe he was busy as we all get) and he says he will call us back. He never does. Finally WE have to call (AGAIN) after weeks of checking in and ask, are the cameras repaired. He says no. We were given a 3 day window for repairs then given the old "we're ordering parts speech"! At this point with ZERO communication, horrific work ethics, and not even completing the repair tasks, we went to pick up our products and leave. I'm not one to leave a bad review but this was over the top, so I wanted people to be aware. All businesses make mistakes or have issues. I completely understand but my patience only goes so far if you didn't even fix our cameras after MONTHS!!! On top of it all, he couldn't even find them when we arrived after we told him we were on the way to pick them up. This has gone from terrible business practices to utterly ridiculous!!! Not even an apology was given. We need these cameras to make a living and it absolutely doesn't matter to this terrible business. We will be looking elsewhere for someone who cares, wants to do business, and someone who has some professional courtesy. Just to put it into perspective, we came in November and it is now February! Stay FAR away from this business if your cameras are important to you! I hope this review has been helpful to other professionals. read more

Hello, I brought my pearl river 120mm camera to this business in the beginning of February. Was told I would get a quote soon and needed it for a wedding I'm shooting this upcoming week. It is now mid March and I have yet to receive a phone call on how much the repairs would cost or any updates at all. I've called at least twice asking for it and he pretends to not know of the camera. At this point I would like my camera back and a phone call too. read more

Camera Care Center - Pearl river 120mm camera - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Houston, Texas

The owner was very nice and he fixed my issue fast, and he was very welcoming. I will recommend this place

Called about a month ago to plan on when to drop off my camera and lens to get cleaned. I don't know how I got mixed up on the shop I had used in the past but I had this phone number recorded on my phone under camera repair shop so I figured it was the same guy. Anyways, he said it would take 4-5 days so I took some days off to make sure I would get it on time. Dropped off on 14th he said he couldn't give me a price until he checked them out first and he would call me next day with estimate. I just wanted a cleaning and calibration. He then said ok ok it would be around $200-$250 for camera and 50mm and I gave hime the go ahead. The 200mm he will have to open it up and see if it needs a new motor or if it just needs a cleaning and will call tomorrow to let you know estimate. It's almost new and rarely used! It makes a squeaky noise when focusing and it needs to be calibrated because it is back focusing. I'm not an expert so ok and left it to see what he would say. Never heard back from him so I just let it go and figured I wouldn't get the 200mm cleaned yet anyways. Yesterday morning 7 days later (he said he works weekends too) I said I would be picking it up. He said oh no not ready can you come at 5pm. I said NO traffic is bad at that time I will then come next morning before my shoot. Called him from 9am-11am and nothing! Took off anyways towards the shop and he called me when I was about to get there. I get there and he charges me (doesn't show me before and after of what he did) looks kinda clean but has dust on glass and smudges. Recommends for me to clean my 200mm because it has sand on the motor (never have I taken it to a beach) and estimate is $300. That if I wait it would be worse and can pay over $700... I say no and that I have not had a good experience with him. I wont be coming back. Decided to drive down Richmond to see if I see the other shop that I had used before and find it (Professional Camera Repair). Stop by and asked the guy if he could check to see if this guy actually cleaned my camera and also give me an estimate on my 200mm. He checks it out and HE DID NOT EVEN CLEAN MY CAMERA!!!!! Then says he can't work on my 200mm and recommend I send to Nikon. Then he checks it out and finds nothing wrong with it! I was so pissed at the other man that I went back to get a refund and then he says so sorry bring me your camera I can show you. Then he said give me 30min I clean for you. So he admits he didn't clean it but won't give me a refund because he can still clean it in 30min. I lost a whole week of work because of him and now he has my $259 that I paid. I'm going to have to dispute it and get my money back. Do not recommend! read more

My camera lens was damaged and I found Mr. Husain of Camera Care Center through the Houston Camera Exchange. I left my lens with Camera Care Center and it was repaired in three days. My lens is like new for a fraction of the cost of replacement. I am very happy with the quality of service and the fast turn around provided by Camera Care Center. I will highly recommend this place to anyone in need of service for any camera equipment repair. read more

This could have been a great experience but due to mistakes and pricing it became a poor one. I was shooting this weekend when my canon 5D Mark III encountered the notorious Error 30 code. I did my best to run through the ways to reset the camera hoping it was just a superficial code reading. No. My shutter had experienced a fatal error and needed to be repaired. I looked at the canon website and the repair along with shipping would be about $200. The downside is it could take 7-8 weeks to get your camera back and with COVID it could be longer. I then decided to hop on google and look for local repair shops. The one I wanted wouldn't be open until Tuesday. They had great reviews, prices and same day turn around. But to them being closed I needed this done ASAP. So I found Camera Care Center. I went Monday to get my camera in. I should have just waited the extra day. Lesson learned. Here's why. The store is located in the Sandman building near montrose. If you park on the side of the building or lot next door it's easier to get in and out. Parking right off Richmond can be tough backing out your vehicle into traffic. Anyways I brought the body in and told him what was happening. He tried it out and said "Oh it's working perfectly fine!" I told him no I tried for hours and it's giving me the error 30. As soon as he pressed the shutter a couple more times there it went. Error 30. He says "oh yes I see now!" I fill out the paper work and he tells me he'll call later with an estimate. I leave and he calls later that afternoon saying it'll be $377. That's a little more than expected but I needed my camera. So I tell him okay. He says it'll be done tomorrow or the day after he'll call me. Today I was working and get a call my camera is done and come to pick it up. I tell him I'll be in this afternoon. I arrive and he says "what did you do to your camera? Were you in Galveston! We had to replace the shutter and also the nav button?" I look at him confused. No... I had an error 30 and the nav button was fine. He says well we fixed the nav button too and with tax it's $412. Geez. So I pay and take my camera. I'm sitting in the parking lot and get a call. We gave you the wrong camera. This one belongs to someone else and you need to bring it back. Huh? What? You've got to be joking. He tells me they had two canon 5Ds and they got them mixed up. Even though they had the serial numbers on the invoice. So I bring it back and told him I'm missing work dealing with all this. He apologizes and says my camera won't be ready until tomorrow. I tell him no. You called me and told me it was ready and I left working to come. I understand mistakes. We are all human but I just paid you double for camera repairs and you gave me the wrong camera. He then says I can just take this camera body, which belongs to someone else, if I just promised to bring it back tomorrow. You are can't be serious. I tell him I need my camera. He says I can come back at 5pm to get it but I can't dally. By this time I'm pretty pissed. The ethical implications and unprofessional behavior has just made me really out of pocket. I got the call right before 5 and the camera was done. He apologized but after this experience I'm done. Definitely will use another business moving forward. This could have been a great experience but lack of organization, paying attention to the details and just doing what was right made it a poor one. read more

I have been a professional photographer for over twenty years and I have taken my cameras to this location the entire time. There are occasions where they are not given the parts by Nikon for newer tech and they let me know without a charge. They are honest and do great work for a fare price. I highly recommend them. read more

Worst experience ever. Went after 10 freaking weeks to finally get my camera and lens and my camera was in pieces because he insistently that I told him I wanted to sell him the parts. Tools 6 WEEKS to hear back from him on what was wrong with the camera and the lens and then another 3.5 WEEKS to finally get it back and the freaking camera was in pieces. Then he essentially called me a liar saying he wouldn't have given me a time frame (he told me he would call me next day and have done in a week..) and that I told him I didn't want the camera. Other people were witness to how rude he was and the condition of my equipment. I would NEVER let him touch the biggest piece of crap camera I have. Ever. You may never get your stuff back. read more

I have a Sekonic light meter that had been stored in a closet for about 10 years. What I didn't realize was that I didn't remove the battery from the battery chamber all this time. One day I pulled it out and realized what I had done and the chamber was spewing all kinds of nasty stuff and all corroded. I tried cleaning it but no joy. I thought maybe I damaged the battery contacts.... So I took it to Camera Care and Mr Sayed greeted me and said he will take a look at it. He came back 3 mins later with my meter working!! I asked how much it would be and he said "no charge". I don't know what kind of JuJu he cleaned the battery chamber with but I can't thank him enough. I know where I am taking my cameras when I need sensor cleaning!!!! read more

I believe he focuses mainly on camera maintenance and repair, but he does have a small selection of used equipment for sale, and his prices are fair for a retail operation (ie a little more than online). When I was looking for a dSLR, I dropped by his place a couple times and he let me play with his cameras. He showed me the camera, put a lens on it and let me have at it. I really appreciated his no-pressure approach. In the end, I decided to buy a new camera body but I did end up buying a lens and it has worked out very out well. I could go either 3 or 4 stars, but he's a really nice guy and he's been there for twelve or thirteen years so I'll round up =) read more

These days excellent customer service and honesty are hard to find. Today I found that at Camera Care Center. I'll definitely be back!!

Great business - fixed 2 lens for me over the past few years (one fell with wind gust and another one got caught in the waves). Honest, knowledgeable, and got my lens working again. Thank you!!! read more

Great service...quick, courteous and professional. Most of all AFFORDABLE read more

I have had several cameras and lenses serviced by Camera Care Center over the last 20 years. They have always provided me with great service -- friendly, courteous, and technically knowledgeable in the areas that I needed them to be. read more

Mr. Sayed just made my day! Helped me fix a problem with my old film camera and explained how to avoid it in future without even taking a penny for that! Thank you for that! read more

I'm not a review kind of guy, but I feel obliged to share my recent experience with Camera Care Center. I recently took my favorite Nikkor 28-300 lens to a long trip on rough travel conditions where it was exposed to knocks, bangs, dust and other abuses. On the last leg of the trip the zoom ring gave up and got the lens stuck on the 40mm mark, I tried forcing it back and forth, but it barely moved so I decided to switch to my back up lens. Once I came back home I contacted Nikon for a repair estimate, they said this could set me back close to $ 400.00 plus shipping. I declined and decided to explore local options. I actually contacted a couple other local stores, I won't mention names but they are highly reviewed here on yelp, they rejected to take the lens for repair and advised to contact Nikon. Long story short, I decided to try Camera Care Center. Upon arrival I was surprised by this small, chaotic shop, with scattered lenses and cameras of all sorts. In the back shop I could hear someone at the workbench, so I yelled my hello and a moment later this gentle old man with watchmaker magnifier glasses came out to greet me. While walking towards me he was still testing the shutter mechanism on what it looked like a high end canon DSLR. This gave me an immediate sense of security knowing that my expensive lens would be in knowledgeable hands. We went to the service counter and talked business. I explained the issue and made my confession of the hard life I had given to my lens lately. He had seen this many times before, so he said that the most likely culprit would be a broken piece inside the main lens barrel, but he couldn't know for sure until he opened up the lens. In any case, he warned that if his assessment was correct, getting the piece could take up to 4 weeks. I was fine with that so we proceed to fill up the receipt papers for the lens. I was on my car, setting up my GPS to drive back home when the old guy came running out of the shop, with my lens in his hands. I thought "Oh boy, this can't be good, he must have found something else wrong with the lens". So I jumped out of the car to receive the bad news. Standing there at the parking lot he showed me a bump in the inner barrel of the lens and I thought "Yeah,that must be where I hit it, so the issue must be even worse, right? Maybe the inner barrel needs to be replaced?" I took me a whole minute to realize that what the old man was showing was that, while I was setting my GPS he managed to find the issue and correct it! , he had reduced the size of the bump and now both barrels were moving freely in and out! My immediate reaction was to reach for my wallet, my goodness I really like this lens, so how much do I owe this guy for fixing it in such an expedite manner !? Nothing, not a single dime. "I don't want to take your money, it was nothing ", the old guy said. So this review is not only about how knowledgeable about cameras and lenses the folks at Camera Care Center are. This review is mainly about their honesty and integrity. I took the time to write this review with the hope of promoting this outstanding small local business. read more

I took my camera in to get it fixed (a pin in my camera was bent so it wasn't able to record the pictures) and he was able to fix it in a timely manner. He was extremely nice. It was a very pleasant experience and I would recommend this place to anyone that has any camera problems. I want to come again because he was so nice, sadly I only have one camera and that one is now working perfectly ;) read more

This is Jessica, I need to pick up my camera. Your phone isn't working. I tried calling and emailing you. Please call me asap?

I arrived hoping to hear good news about repairs concerning my k3ii, but learned that the best course of action would be to send it in due to proper weather sealing. Customer service was amazing, he even went the extra mile and brain stormed with me after he knew that I was not bringing him any business at that moment. read more

DONT GO! BROKE MY CAMERA AFTER NOT DECIDING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WITH THEM Thought this was a great place considering the diagnosis is free. Yet theses people turned out to be incredibly rude and unprofessional. After diagnosing the problem rather quickly (one good) they found am issue with the circuit board and were going to charge 280 $ 70 was for service. KEEP IN MIND THIS WAS THE ONLY ISSUE MENTIONED..Given the camera was only 400 it made no sense to spend that kinda of money and they understood telling me to pick up the camera, the following day. I arrived a few days later after they had called twice that my camera was ready. Upon arrival the lady at the front deal was incredibly rude she instantly attacked me for not choosing to get it fixed and insisted other people pay more, she even questioned the price of the camera and under her breathe said fine your decision as she walked away. Come to find out my camera was still in a million pieces! After harassing me to get the camera and it wasn't even ready! On top of that I found a deal on-line that fixes the same issue for 90$ just proving how much of a rip off this place was to start with. Thinking everything was finally settled and the new company would fix the dead circuit board i recieve a phone call asking if I had taking the camera apart myself. Apparently Camera Care center had not only incorrectly put my camera back together but they managed to break 3 other devices within it! If it wasnt for there understanding and having constumers who had had previously dealt with them I would of had to pay an addition 200 for the damage that the camera care center had done! I have yet to contact them again but have no doubt this is extremely unlawful and in no way should they continue to rip of and misstreat customers the way they did. dont to mention the store is no more than a shack and looks like the door is about to fall of any min. ohh and for the uses a visa thats an additional 35$ so be prepared to fork it out read more

This is the best place in Houston to have your camera worked on, be it cleaning, repair, etc. I have been using the Camera Care Center for about fifteen years, and have never gotten anything but excellent service. A number of times I brought in old Nikons that I had been using for 30+ years, and the owner told me he thought it might be difficult to find the part that needed to be replared, BUT he always did, and though I have switched to digital for most of my work, I still am using the Nikons that had parts replaced or where just tuned-up in regards to the exposure meter. I do not know of another repair place in Houston that does not charge a bench charge, which if you decide to not have the work done, must still be paid. I taught photography at Kingwood College for over ten years, and sent my students to Camera Care Center. Never did a student tell me they were dissatisfied with either the price they paid or the work that was done. Nor did they or I have any problem understanding the owners language or find him impolite. He is the dictionary definition of the word. In my 45 years as a professional photographer and 32 years of teaching such, at the college and university level, have I dealt with a better camera repair professional. read more

Brought my camera to get the sensor cleaned. Told me it would be done the next day. Show up the next day, camera was not ready. Come back again the next day, camera ready. I get home after work and start taking pictures and video and see that there are still marks on the sensor!!! I would stay away. UPDATE 05/05/2016 I went back with the camera and was offered to get the whole sensor changed at no cost. I picket it up today and everything looks fine. It was a nice professional gesture. read more

I called to ask about a very specific service, buffing a small scratch out of the lens. Was told to come in to have camera evaluated. I very specifically asked, TWICE, if that was a service that is even possible before I made the trip. Was told yes. I get there on a Friday and the owner is gone. Leave camera. One week later I am told to come get camera. When i get there the owner tells me you can't polish a scratch out of a lens. THIS WAS MY SPECIFIC QUESTION THAT I HAD ANSWERED OVER THE PHONE. read more

Just went here to fix my Linux shutter.Mr syed analyzed it and fixed on the spot..and didn't charge me anything. Very honest businessman! I would recommend camera care center to my best friends! I will be using this store for all my camera care needs going forward.. read more

I took my wife's camera in today to have the battery door replaced. I explained to the Gentleman there that I wanted it as soon as possible! He asked me to go have lunch, it was around lunch time, and it would be ready in about 30 minutes. I came back from lunch and he was waiting for me! What an honest efficient Owner!! Super service! Very pleasant experience! read more

We have an old 35 mm that my son uses for school. The winder knob broke so we went and purchased just the knob while we were running errands. We did not have the camera and showed the owner a picture of the camera. The part was about $30. When we got home, we realized that the problem was more than the knob. A couple of weeks later, we went back to this place and brought the camera and knob to be repaired. He fixed it for free. This place seems very honest to us. read more

Looking for a school photo manual camera Small selection however the quality of the equipment was good Found what I was looking for at a fair price read more

Sayed was exceptional and I'm so happy there's a great camera shop that's close to my work that I can rely on.

Friendly, fast and knowledgeable. Most of all, trustworthy. Best in Houston.

Parking is poor but otherwise I found the service they provided on 3 cameras was excellent. They cleaned the censors and serviced the bodies on Fuji, Canon EOS 40D and Canon Rebel XSI 450. Additionally they cleaned the lenses and camera bag. I found their pricing to be comparable to other centers, The staff was at all tiimes very professional, polite and personable. While their main focus is on servicing and repair they do have a small selection of used cameras for sale. They have over 40 years experience with more than 10 years at this location, I give them a 5 star rating. read more

Got SCREWED! THIS has NOT been responded to: Dear Mr Sayed, Dear Mr Sayed, After picking up my Nikon 800E, that I entrusted to your care Saturday afternoon, I immediately noticed the ""nick", that you told me about but it was NOT a "nick" that I am responsible for, as the time and dated photographs on the card taken before and after our visit attest, showing the last photos taken with the Nikon 800E camera along with the time that they were taken before entrusting it to your care and those, also time and dated taken after I picked it up showing the big "nick" that you put on my sensor, that you were engaged to professionally clean. I hope that you are insured for such a disaster because since I use it every day for a variety of projects, I NEED to have my camera fixed, forthwith. I need to know your plan for the replacement of my sensor ASAP, so that we can proceed. Yours very truly, gojjr. read more

Do not take you equipment to this man. HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX NEW TECHNOLOGY! He broke my camera while taking it in for a cleaning and blamed me. He scratched my sensor with a massive gash told me that I did it. Now I have an expensive paper weight. Take the time and send it back to NIKON!!!! read more

AVOID AT ALL COST!!!!! If you want to get ripped off go there. I'm some what new in photography and bought a second hand Canon 17-55 f2.8 lens. Right away I had focus problems so I took it to Professional Camera Repair down the street from them. The owner was so nice he even check out my lens with me and found no problems. So I took it home and tried again, still had a lot of out of focus shots. I decided to get a second opinion and took it to Camera Care center. They said they would call me in two hours. 5 and a half hours later I called them to check on my lens (not a big deal). They acted as they didn't know what lens I was talking about and then a lady got on the phone and in a panicked voice ask me when and I dropped it off and what kind of lens it was.Then she basically just hung up on me, a few minutes later she called me back and started telling me that it need a complete new motor, seals, rebuild kit, calibrating...... The only number I remember hearing was around 500 bucks, I paid 875 for the lens that is basically in new condition from what Professional Camera Repair had told me. Not only did they not check my lens out they LIED and said it needed major repairs just to take my money, You might be wondering how I know this for sure, well I took the time to mark the back plate screws that must be removed in order to disassemble the lens before I dropped it off. I can say with 100% certainty that the screws were never touched or removed. To make sure this was how they tested it, I ask how they tested it and the owner said they took the back lens plate off and went inside. LIE LIE LIE! I took my lens home and with guidance from others I tested it again. Like the owner at Professional Camera Repair told me, it was user error on my part. The lens works fine once I learned how to use it correctly (remember I'm new at this). So if you want to get ripped off take your equipment there, these people are very dishonest. For me, if I ever need any repairs done again I will take my equipment to Professional Camera Repair where the owner choose to not make dishonest money off of me and give me a honest diagnostics of my lens. read more