Great experience at Dodd. I was searching for a new camera for future travel and really haven't…read morebought a camera in probably decades. Rye, the sales person that assisted me, was great. He walked me through the basics, recommended both a camera, lens, storage and accessories. I will definitely be back for anything further I need. I'm really looking forward to use my new camera and Dodd made it easy!

I went for some lens covers I saw them and grabbed two. Once I was leaving I noticed that the price…read moreon the lens and the price on the receipt didn't match. They charged me two dollars more per lens. So I go back and instead of fixing it they give me an excuse that prices were raised and if I didn't want them they could return them, Instead of fixing the problem on their end. Not happy.

I needed a repair on my Canon camera. They charge 35.00 for the initial evaluation which is applied…read moreto the final repair cost if you elect to have your camera repaired. Their repair cost seemed reasonable which also included a camera cleaning. You pay upfront for the repair and they communicate via email with updates. They have a storefront that sells a wide array of cameras and equipment for the beginner or advanced photographer. They do camera trade-ins as well. I am glad I found them.

My name is Dave P. and I've been doing all the video and film transfers for Helix Camera for the…read morepast 7 years. With no complaints by the way. For the past several months the owner, Valerie Maros has decided not to pay me. The balance due is quite considerable. Just a heads up for anyone supplying products or services to this camera store. Get your money up front. Should I go to small claims court? Still waiting for that "check's in the mail" blather.

04/17/2000 - I guess this review is a little past due. I found my old 35 mm Nikon N70 that I…read morebought 04/17/2000 @ Central Camera. At the time I was planning my first trip to Europe. In 2000 the digital format was minuscule w/2GB & 4 GB memory cards. Being an architect and planning a trip I knew I would be shooting a ton of photos & the SD cards @ the time were just too small so I decided to invest in a 35mm film camera. My wife and I spend 3 weeks in Italy (Rome (4 days), Florence (3 days), Venice (2 days), Zurich (1 day) Lake Como (1 day), Milan (1 day), Paris ( 7 days), & Versailles (1 day). What a remarkable trip. I shot 20 rolls of film & 17 rolls of slide so it's a good thing I invested in a 35mm camera. It's a good thing I did because I ended shooting 37 rolls of film. I did 20 print & 17 slide photos. While cleaning our house I found several 35mm cameras along w/the receipt of this purchase. This 35mm Nikon N70 in the original Nikon camera bag. This served me well but I haven't used it since 2000. In addition I found an Olympus 35 mm camera & a small digital Cannon Power shot Elph 150 w/2 batteries & chargers. I thought I would bring it in & see what Central Camera would offer me for the 3 cameras & bag. NOT MUCH $$$$ so I decide to keep them and see if I could sell them on Marketplace or Karrot I'm going to post the 3 cameras on this review. Any credible offers will be accepted

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this store! Patience is a virtue. I've been to used and new…read morecamera stores coast to coast -- since 1978! I went to the original B&H on 17th street. I shopped Helix in Chicago in 1996! I've been to Camera World of Oregon and Samy's in LA. Camera stores have mostly gone the way of film upon the advent of digital in the 00´s. And now that Kodak's concept of The Brownie has reached fruition with the iPhone... well, it's a wonder anyone still appreciates the richness and deliberate slowness of analog. This place remains! This place understands and values the foundation of photography. That in itself is worth a lot! I first shopped here when I first moved to Chicago to attend that small university on the south side known for its Nobels in 1982. I shopped here again yesterday and returned today -- June 2026! Why? Their selection of used gear is unique and fairly priced. They don't sell their used gear online or on eBay. It's here on Wabash or nothing. They don't even want to get involved with shipping. The insurance and risk of loss just isn't worth the expense. So, this is just another reason to visit Chicago. And I'm glad I did! And for you locals, consider yourselves lucky that Central Camera remains in business in service to the analog photographic community here in Chicagoland. Cheers! I bought a 55mm for my Pentax 67 at a very fair price. The glass was in near mint condition. Zoe was an excellent salesperson. And that's what counts. I get the impression this store focuses on relationships -- not greed. Are they computerized and QR-coded for rapid transactions? No. But if you're shooting film, why care? Enjoy the spectacle -- the shelves and displays filled with retro cameras, camera boxes, selections of darkroom tools and spare parts. The large format and esoteric gear of all shapes and sizes. When's the last time I saw a 250 exposure film back for Nikon F cameras? Maybe 1980. Maybe never. I don't remember. That is a rare piece of equipment. If you need one -- they have it here -- at least until it's gone. There was only one. Anyhow, I go on and on in defiance of the angry elf reviews here on Yelp. Ignore those naysayers. If you need good used gear or some film... Central Camera will have the film and may just have what you've been looking for in gear without resorting to Bezos or eBay. Cheers!!

International Camera has an incredibly honest and helpful attitude. Alice, the office manager is…read morefriendly, organized, and sympathetic. I brought in my friend's Zoom Q8 camera due to busting the USB port while we were filming together. I understood this might be a complex job despite the standard nature of mini USB on account of the super compact form factor on the Q8. They quoted me at $105, took the time after the holiday to give me a price breakdown that clarified the charge had to do with labor and not parts (I can get USB ports no problem). At that point, I explained how I need to consider finding a used Q8 to replace my friends and consequently keep the otherwise perfectly functional one I checked in. Sure enough, I found a great deal and took that route, to at least end up with another camera out of the mix... Alice offered nothing but empathy and positive feedback about my decision, patiently awaited me to come retrieve the camera they diagnosed, and even went into a detailed discussion with me about choosing a Canon body for some Canon lenses we have lying around at our space. She even volunteered to keep an eye out for any customers trying to sell a Canon body that fits our production goals--so she could call me if one turns up. Blessings to your global spirit and local charm, International Camera! ********

Brought an old point-and-shoot camera to them. They got back to me in the original estimated time…read moreframe and were extremely kind throughout the whole process. While I did not go ahead with the repair (old camera, wasn't worth it), the proposed pricing was fair. Overall a great experience!

Highly knowledgeable folks who do a good job for their customers…read more Excellent products/inventory. Dan knows what he is doing. Located in upstairs in a very cool, beautifully renovated 1880's building -- in a nice area of Chicago.

I have bought 4 or 5 new Leicas from Dan. Great advice, great service and nice selection of…read moreaccessories as well. The only place to go for Leica! He also has beautiful leather bags!

These guys are amazing. Fast, extremely honest and reliable. They have saved my butt on several…read moreoccasions when I needed my gear for shoots the following day. I personally am a Canon guy and they always have had parts on hand to fix my camera and lenses. I've had some strange problems with my gear and i did not know where to start trouble shooting. Bill is a wizard with the cameras. He amazes me every time I need him. I'm headed back in tomorrow to have him fix a lens of mine. I know I will get a great price and Bill will take care of me like he always does. No one else in Chicago can get your gear fixed as fast as they can. 5 stars all the way!!!!

In November 2024, I paid $350 to repair my Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens (valued at $2,500). Bill…read moredemonstrated it working in his shop, but it broke again within days with the same issue. I returned the lens on November 25, 2024. Bill acknowledged the failed repair and promised to fix it at no charge. Over the next year, Bill kept my lens and never returned a single call. I visited the shop at least five times and called periodically, too. Each time he seemed anxious and irritated by my persistence, promised to call, and then didn't. On October 29, 2025, I delivered a demand letter with the building's security guard as a witness. Bill tried to make me sign a receipt stating I'd received cash before actually handing me any money and after I declined his offer of writing me a personal check. After I finally received the $350, he forgot he was still holding my lens and had to search for it. He appeared confused throughout the interaction. Multiple recent reviews describe nearly identical experiences: repairs failing immediately, equipment held for months with no communication, one customer calling police after seven months, another told "I gave up" after four months. Bill was once regarded as the best in the city, in fact, he repaired my equipment perfectly back in 2005. But now it's clear he can no longer handle repairs or manage his business. TL;DR: Repair failed immediately, took one year and a legal threat to get my money and lens back. Bill forgot he had my lens during the final exchange. Check the other recent 1 and 2 star reviews showing the same pattern. Find another repair shop.

I had excellent service by doorstep-digital ; from the timely response to my initial inquiry to the…read moretwo very professional technicians who came to my home and transferred thousands of slides to digital images. I highly recommend them, and will use them again.

From the owner: Photo Scanning, Slides Scanning,…read moreNegatives Scanning, Album Archiving, Film Transfer, Tape Transfer, Mobile, Convenient on-site scanning available, Data Backup Services, Digital Organization, Photography Lessons, Photo Organizing Software Lessons with Lightroom, Apple Photos, Apple and PC Computer Optimization, Home Media Server and Private Cloud Install, Home Networking -- wired and wireless install and upgrades

So, I am new at this professional camera thing. I took a class which was supposed to help me…read moreunderstand the whole concept of appeture, F-stop and ISO. Well, i stopped in today. I kept swearing that w There was something wrong w/ my camera. I brought it in, explained "the problem" and the young guy took the time to explain how and why there was nothing wrong with it. Had I taken the camera to Best Buy I would have paid at least $160 ( like I had done before). Then after I was told there was nothing wrong w/ my camera I wanted to get it cleaned. Once again the young guy took the time to check it out, he told me there was nothing to clean. Thanks guys for the honesty and not just trying to take the money of people that as just starting!

Not a fan of their camera repair process. Received a price range for the repair, but not an exact…read morecost from an outsourced camera repair service. Overall, a disappointing experience.

A great resource for the expert lensman, novice or if you want to know what it feels like to get…read moreyour hands on some pro gear. Right, that's why they call it ProGear. We come into town to shoot technical and installation videos. We land at O'Hare, grab a car, and then make a bee line to ProGear where Peter takes great care of us. They are expert in their suggestions and run an incredible organized shop. They'll even load up your car. Do you need sandbags? Ask for a couple, you'll need them in the windy city. Great place.

I made a call to inquire about selling my equipment and although they're not doing that Brian took…read morehis time to guide me to business that might be doing that. Awesome customer servi, would definitely recommend.

It seems like all at once and out of nowhere I started receiving ads from a bunch of different film…read moredevelopment companies and those rolls sitting in the back of a drawer started screaming out to me to solve their mysteries. When I found that there was a shop right here in Chicago offering a first roll development and scan free I figured I would give the local option the first crack. So I signed up for the offer and placed some old rolls in a sandwich bag in my jacket pocket but then weeks passed by and it just kept slipping my mind. This was where Bellows first impressed me. I received direct messages from the shop saying that my offer would be expiring soon and asking if I'd like to extend the redemption date which was nice. I finally dropped in the day of that really bad snowstorm back in November and my first impression of the shop was positive. I liked the laidback and clean feel of the place. There is just about every type of contemporary film as well as some cameras and accessories available to buy and they had a good number of people at the counter for taking film development orders. There was also a tintype photographer doing a pop up event which is always cool to witness. I realized while I was there that my already amateurish photography knowledge was pretty rusty so I appreciated the staff going over things with me while I was filling out my development order form without being condescending. I also liked that they said that if the rolls came out blank or with no usable photos they would contact me about price adjusting. I went with the take your time option for development and scans for 3 rolls and the scans were ready for me in 3 days. The development came out about as well as they could with such expired film but nothing some color correction can't fix. They actually turned out a lot better than I expected they would and I am happy that I now have had some of the mysteries revealed. Bellows staff contacted me about picking up my negatives as I was traveling but a quick message and they assured me that they would hold onto the negatives for a little while longer. Although it's very much a shop for serious film photographers I think Bellows is a great local option for film development and I'll probably be returning with some more film to develop soon.

I love the concept of this place and was excited to come here after they moved from their Damen…read morelocation. I came in to get a disposable camera developed. Had I not been here before or knew the process of how it works though, I think I would have had a little difficulty. The person working wasn't too friendly or keen on explaining the form to me, so I took a few guesses and looked at the sign they had on the counter. She was more interested in talking to her coworker and not really paying attention to me so I just filled it out and went on my way. Not the best customer service experience. I felt too inconvenienced to ask about any of the other items they had in the store. My photos however turned out alright but seemed to turn out a lot more muted than my previous prints, This experience has me wondering if I should just do mail in through Darkroom next time.