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    16 years ago

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    Premier Imaging - Grandpas old camera

    Premier Imaging

    4.2(11 reviews)
    91.0 mi

    Hidden away between a Kuhns and a Burlington, through a dim hallway that doesn't quite seem open,…read morelies the best photography store in Pittsburgh. Truly a hidden gem, it used to be located in Northway Mall (RIP) and long ago was a Ritz Camera location. Shedding both of those origins and focusing heavily on service has created a leaner, stronger, enthusiast and professional photography store than Pittsburgh has had for decades. Walking towards the entrance, just outside the inner doors, you're greeted by a table full of vintage SLR lenses, lens cases, film point and shoots, rangefinders, and all sorts of other small dollar, vintage, and interesting photography items. If you're into lo-fi photography, this is where the bargains are. Skip searching endless thrift stores, it's all right there. Prices are both fair and negotiable, and the average quality is "shootable if you're not fussy". Occasionally something magical pops up; a Zeiss Jena lens that needs a mount, or a very clean 50mm f/1.8 or f/2, and of course the filters and storage cases are must haves at a few dollars a piece. Inside the store proper though is where things get truly special. The cases of lenses and camera bodies are a curated selection of the best vintage glass and film backs they can get; I've checked out dozens of lenses and a few bodies and every single one is no issues, travel ready, perfectly clean and serviced, and the best part: priced to sell. Other stores in the area will try and charge $400 for lenses that're $30 on eBay, or cater exclusively to wannabe Ansel Adams' and collectors, and hawk Rolleis and Hassleblads as if us mortals can afford the film for them, but Premier Imaging has no such pretentiousness. They sell what people will actually go out and shoot with. You'll find Canon A1s and AE1s, Nikon F-series, and a few Minolta and Pentax bodies too. There's rangefinders and point and shoots that're ready for film right away. They have Canon 50mm f/1.4 FD/FL lenses, and they have 500mm f/8 mirrors, and Nikkor-PC perspective control lenses, and all kinds of other uniquely special or uniquely clean normal lenses. Their digital selection is occasionally more limited, but they'll also order you in and set up and service anything you can think of; their dealer and manufacturer network is extensive, and they've partnered with most major new and used distributors as well. Lighting and supports and bags are a wide range of new and used, sizes and purposes; you can get a new carbon-fibre Promaster travel tripod or a studio grade Bogen, small flashes or full strobe systems, every imaginable filter, bags for one camera and lens or trunks for a half ton of glass and steel. Phil is a kind and patient man; whether he's buying or selling, he's willing to make you a fair deal on quality equipment, tell you what something is, the story behind it, why it's worth what he says, and why you want it. The staff there ranges in age and experience, but everyone shoots, and everyone knows their niche well. I've brought in cameras of all kinds that I had a range of knowledge about, but the staff there and especially Phil always seem to know at least one more thing about it. There's truly no reason to bother going anywhere else, except to also hit up their Monroeville location! If you're a photographer or any level, from "family snapshots" to "this is my job and my life", this is the place to go in Pittsburgh.

    It's a cool film store, yes. Slightly hard to find. Unfortunately they delivered my film a few…read moreweeks late as they had the wrong email on file. After calling them numerous times to update my email- they still couldn't spell it right! This meant I had to go into the store to actually get them to send the scans to the correct email, two weeks after due date and three phone calls later. The scans were fine, nothing to write home about. There were numerous scratch marks on the negs, degrading image quality. Despite all of this, the staff was rather accommodating and the $10 film and scan deals on Tuesday are fantastic. Couldn't be a more middle of the road film lab imo.

    Photos
    Premier Imaging - Film haul. 3 for $20 Kodak color plus, porta 800, ilford 400, and jazzy blues specialty film!

    Film haul. 3 for $20 Kodak color plus, porta 800, ilford 400, and jazzy blues specialty film!

    Premier Imaging
    Premier Imaging

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    Cliffe's - drugstores - Updated May 2026

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