Stepping into Cameraland was a bit like travelling back in time to the 80's...But with digital…read morecameras. The shop has that oldish used to be white but is cream feel to it. I needed to get a new SD card for my digital camera (please don't ask why, it's still too painful to talk about my last card). I was fairly desperate and was walking past so decided whatever they had, it'll do. I have been back since though to get my digital prints from them as you can get them done in an hour if you pay a little more. They are good quality and I'm not sure if you get them that quickly elsewhere? Correct me if I'm wrong on that though. There's quite an extensive catolgue hear from Old skool camera's ( you know, the ones where you have to print the picture etc...No I don't remember either) to the expensive Digital SLR's. They also supply accesoories very well and anything from cards, camera bags, tripods etc can be bought here. It kind of felt a little more expensive being an independent shop and all. I defiantly could've of got my 2GB card cheaper online. I was well served by the member of staff though and did spend a bit of time just wandering around ogling at all the pretty technology on display.

As a photographer enthusiast, I like to shop in a place that offers everything in the world…read morephotography and has a staff with the best knowledge of all products. This does sound like a lot to want but imagine my surprise when I stumbled across this store in the Royal Arcade: Cameraland This shop has film processing and digital printing. They offer a 1-hour express printing. I have taken my films and digital prints there for a few times now and they are always on time. The store may be a little small but that doesn't mean it hasn't got all the latest technology in cameras. This is definitely a shop for the pros. When I purchased my first digital SLR camera from there I must admit I was a little clueless about what to get. That is until the shop assistant asked me what I wanted it for and chose the best option for me. This was a while ago but I was still blown away by the customer service he gave and the extra effort he made to secure the sale. I walked away not just with a camera but an entire range of accessories to go with it including a digital memory card, tripod and a camera case. What makes this shop so appealing are the offers that are available. They sell cameras, camera bags and digital memory cards all in one package to help you save on money. I saved £20 when purchasing all those items together. Listen up photographer of Cardiff. You should go here for the fantastic quality of the products along with the excellent level of service you'll receive. Once you go to Cameraland it will be the only camera shop you will want to go back to.

Never get your photos developed here. I come in and am made…read moreto wait almost 30 minutes for someone to acknowledge my presence for what was literally a 2 minute job (take my film and my phone number). Then they won't even email your photos - you just come in when they're done to pick up them up on a CD or they can transfer them on to a USB (if you don't have one - you pay for one). Even when I went in to pick up my photos, once again another 2 minute job, I was left waiting after someone had told me '5 minutes' for another 30 minutes! Not until some worker came out from the back and was free did I ask again and finally get my photos. Awful place to get photos developed - are we in the dark ages where you're unable to email some photos across? And for £14.99 I have to make two trips?? Better off going to ExpressImaging on City Road - they will develop and email your photos on the same day for £11.

Maybe I'm just used to *good* customer service, but I am not a fan of Camera Centre. I came in…read morebecause their selection of film was supposed to be amazing. (I'll save you the trouble of going down yourself: it's not and the prices are awful.) The shop wasn't even crowded when I went in, but I wasn't greeted. To be fair, both clerks were helping people in the front. That's no problem. I could find the film section myself. It's a pretty tiny shop, though the film section is pretty tiny too, it's easy enough to spot. I looked through the film selection quickly. I queued at the till because I wanted to get a roll of film developed. Both of them are just chatting away. I kid you not, I spent over 20 minutes waiting (I know because I had somewhere to be). And not once was I acknowledged. Both workers (older individuals) were chatting away with the customers about completely unrelated things. Finally, I got so fed up that I left. I can't even imagine what that kind of experience would be like for a budding analog photographer. Their snobby would've turned me off of cameras for good. I will never set foot in there again. I'm usually all for supporting local, so it really takes a lot for me to say this: buy online and save yourself a terrible experience. (Or, if you want cheap and fast 35mm film developing, check out Express Imaging!)

I bought a fairly expensive camera last year and knowing my past record with all things…read moretechnological, I needed protection and I needed it quick. Finding nothing in Jessops that fitted my awkwardly shaped picture capturer I decided to try Jacobs on the high street. The shop covers a lot of photography's demographic. From the point and capture cameras to four figured professional equipment. The layout is very much to my likening, everything thing is against a wall and there's isn't many free standing...erm stands to clog the shop and make it feel claustrophobic. Back to my plight, I needed a case to save myself from myself. Line up one very lovely young lady, not like that! Letting her know about my clumsiness and my need for something that can handle a nuclear holocaust she spent the next ten minutes opening packaging etc to see if my camera fitted properly. She was very helpful and friendly. Eventually I got one, and I have to say the price stung a little. It was was about £20, but I have had it over a year now and is still in perfect condition so can't complain to much. Can't complain about the shop either, it's a good place for hobbyists and pros alike.

Venture Photography, is a company that has acquired an increasingly sullied reputation since the…read morefinancial markets began to suffer. I work in the photographic market as a freelance marketing professional, and am privy to a fair amount of feedback about Venture. I can honestly say that I have only ever heard positive things about the Cardiff franchise of this UK business, but other Venture studios that are not too far away have been brandished with the name "Vulture Photography' for their excessive use of pressure when attempting to coerce customers into buying their extremely expensively priced images. I have heard the rumours too often to dismiss it all as hearsay, and besides which, a quick search on Google will reveal the extent of the problem. Venture is expensive! It is not uncommon to be asked to pay £800 to £900 for a framed family portrait. This would obviously be a reasonably large framed portrait, but all the same, who has got that kind of money to spend on a photo these days? For this reason I always advocate keeping away from the franchises and sticking with a local firm. There is a great independent photographers at the other end of Albany Road called Photo Mitchell, if you are looking for someone local. They also offer a broader range of services than Venture.

Yes, thats good advise. Wherever you live do some RESEARCH. You will easily find a great local…read morephotographer who can do something personal and not like a sausage meat in a sausage machine style of photography. I am soooo bored with the Vulture style images. My partner does amazing PORTRAIT PAINTINGS, for 3-400 quid, and they are amazing things and obviously unique You DO NOT have to pay 800 pounds for a framed mass produced photograph. PERLEASEEEEEE If you like the art idea, google 'marina skaya art', and have a chat.

When I was studying at the local art college, I, like every other student constantly migrated back…read moreand forth to this place, like little working ants we were. We all needed slide film to show our work and this was just about the only place in Cardiff to get it developed. Many moons ago I went for a job interview at Davies Colour and behind the modest front of house, complete with pot plant and light box, there was room after room of busy oompa loompas at work! This is a print machine that services schools, local businesses and professional photographers. Davies Colour offers both pro large format printing and your business basics such as flyers and posters. No I didn't take the job in the end - too many hours for my needs at the time. But I've been back to print slide film for an album cover and I was as ever very happy with the results. This business has been going for 20 years and is a well respected Cardiff staple. Highly recommended.

Davies Colour is a speciality photo printing centre that offers a wide selection of services, from…read morefinishing and re-touching to exhibition and display printing. I took a Ffotogallery course last year, and a colleague of mine who took the class the year before recommended their photo services. I was a bit unsure how I wanted my images to be presented, but thankfully the helpful gentleman behind the desk talked me and my mate (who was also taking the class) through a range of options, always explaining everything in great detail. If you can't stop by the store, Davies Colour also offer an FTP service, where you can upload your images, ensuring a faster turnaround time. Be aware the prices aren't Asda Photo Centre cheap, but I find with processes like this, you often get what you pay for. My series of six black and white photos looked spectacular, and I'd definitely come back here if I need any specialty printing carried out.