Do NOT trust this shop with your gear! I have taken my camera here before to get it cleaned-no issues, and quick service. Yesterday however, (confident that they were good people), I left my camera, again to get cleaned. When I went to pick it up, about 15 minutes later the guy just casually handed me my BROKEN lens and acted like it was "like that" when I brought it in. The mount is dented, there are moving parts inside the lens now, NO, it was NOT "like that" when I brought it in! His cavalier attitude and ridiculous insistence that he had not dropped my camera or lens was especially irritating, and he simply casually offered up some places that might be able to help me get it repaired. gee, thanks... Do NOT leave your equipment in these peoples' hands. This is fair warning. To take responsibility for my end, I should not have left the sight of my camera, and trust me, I will never trust anyone again. I feel violated. read more

I got a new camera! Well, not really. Not from here. My co-worker's wife bought a new one and she gave me her old Nikon Coolpix S210. She only had the old camera for only a few months and the orignal Lithium battery continously succumbing on me. I only had her camera since last week. "Man, what did she took with that camera?" Not a bad trade off. All I had to do is go to any camera store and buy a new Lithium battery. Fireside is located not far from my crib. And these au fait guys know my camera and know exactly the battery needed for my new camera. And the price for the lithium battery is $39.99+tax. And that is reasonably priced. Sure, I can go elsewhere for my camera needs. But this place is family-owned. More importantly, "you yelpers don't have to deal with my crappy snapshots on my upcoming reviews!" read more

I purchased from Fireside because I wanted to support a local company - I could have purchased online for the same price. But I definitely regret that decision. They sold me a damaged Canon 6D (which was supposed to be "new") and it ended up having to go back to manufacturer for repair before I even got a chance to shoot on it, which took two full weeks. They offered me nothing to shoot on in the meantime. But on top of that, the way they treated me during this process was unbelievable. They acted like it was something I did to the camera, didn't keep me updated during the repair process, and were unapologetic at the end. I spent over $2000 at the store between a camera body, lenses and accessories. And I wish I hadn't. Be cautious and don't expect much in terms of customer service. read more

A family-owned business that's been a Marina fixture since 1954. No doubt you'll find less expensive film in Walgreen's and cheaper processing at Safeway, but there's something to be said for supporting small business owners who know not only their craft and merchandise, but the meaning of customer service as well. On more than one occasion, they've made minor adjustments to my Minolta free of charge, and when a major repair was required, the cost was reasonable and the job was done properly . . . a blessing in an age when shoddy workmanship is the rule rather than the exception. A good source for camera bags, picture frames, and photo albums, too. read more

Fireside Camera - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am a camera / photography novice and this spot exceeded all expectations. James provided great advice which was honest and truly helpful. He even spent over 20 minutes helping me set up my camera (borrowed from Another store) so I would be ready for my trip. Highly recommend! read more

For a long time, this was my favorite neighborhood camera shop. The guys who worked there always seemed to be patient and willing to explain to buyers about the pros / cons of cameras and accessories. This is no longer the case. I have bought 3 cameras from them, including two Nikon dSLRs, three SLR lenses and host of other accessories. I went in there this past week to ask them about an expensive lens I was considering. Rather than walk me through the benefits or alternatives, they did everything possible to try make me feel stupid. Rather than answer my questions, they talked around them. And a lot of what they told me was contradictory to what I had researched and conversations I've had with other photo pros. My wife was with me and was aghast at the "service." So now I'm taking my business elsewhere. Camera gear is always cheaper online. It's worth paying more when you can support a local business that provides great customer service. That used to be the case with Fireside. No longer. It's not worth paying more to deal with attitude. read more

Fireside makes it's money by taking advantage of people that don't know better. Every item I wanted to purchase was marked up, and we aren't talking 50 dollars here. item #1: $500 item #2: $150 item #3: $90 item #4: $180 I saw what they were doing and asked them if I could get a good deal since I was going to be buying a lot of items. They argued with me saying that 'because the items are rare, they are more expensive' This is BS: Amazon, B&H, adorama; all in stock, all hundreds of dollars cheaper. The one lens above, when you factor tax into the equation (I know, unfair) was 953 dollars more at fireside than amazon, adorama, and b&h. read more

I have no idea what to gift a guy. Guys are so hard to shop for especially if you are dating a guy who has everything. I did a quick search on Yelp for "camera" figuring I could get him something for his new camera that he just bought. He loves that thing. Almost like a chew toy. So I hopped over to Fireside and decided to buy him a camera bag. Of course I didn't know how big it was or if it would even fit. I mentioned to the sales guy that it was a Nikon D5000 and he knew right away what would fit and what wouldn't. He even had a display camera in which he let me test out the bags to see if it would fit. The place sells everything. From lenses to cameras to bags to filters to books. Moderately priced and you can even find great deals and discounts. Great place for the enthusiast or the girl who doesn't know a drop. read more

Great camera shop in a neighborhood I've apparently never been to - cute little shopping thoroughfare you got there, Marina. I came in for a new Nikon lens that is virtually impossible to find - the brick and mortar shops I called were either out or hadn't heard of it, and all the internet retailers are backordered. But Fireside had it in stock, for about 10% more than the Internet - but once you factor in shipping, the difference is really only about $10. Plus I got it right now, plus I got it at all - remember, everyone else is out of stock. They pulled the lens out of the box and let me try it out on my exact camera model, advised me on a flash purchase, and were generally helpful and nice. Nice neighborhood shop, friendly staff, good selection of stuff (they had a ton of camera bags, which is something else on my list). Highly recommended. read more

Friendly, professional and expert Camera dudes! Everyone has been very helpful with my new camera and also with printing pictures. I used the self service photo prints. I am a little disappointed in the quality of photo prints, but I will submit them differently next time. Self Service is too time consuming! read more

My digital camera battery died so the doggies of Chestnut street would not get there picture taken! So I went and they recharged the camera and remembered I had bought the camera a year and a half ago! read more

Owning and operating a brick and mortar shop of any kind in the internet age can't be easy, even more so when you are selling non-essentials such as camera and video gear. I've shopped and bought camera gear at Fireside for over ten years, and my experiences there have always been very positive. Even when I go in for some small inexpensive items, I've been treated as a valued customer, with no hard-sell, or trying to convince me that I need to buy more stuff. Just solid, expert advice when needed. The best part about dealing in-person is the chance to see and handle the actual items, and unlike most camera stores, the people at Fireside had no problem when I asked to look at a camera that I was curious about, even after I told them I didn't plan on purchasing it, but was just curious about the size and weight of the camera. Those I've dealt with there were all good people, courteous and knowledgeable, and best of all, willing to answer my sometimes dumb questions, without treating me like I was asking dumb questions. Try doing that at Best Buy and see what happens! And for those who are convinced that buying online is always cheaper, consider this: When you find a low price online, that price is from one of many dozens or even hundreds of sites, most of which usually are priced even higher than the one brick and mortar store you are comparing that one low price to. So, it can't be called a fair comparison. Add to that the fact that online returns can be a major hassle, often taking weeks to complete. It all boils down to what you think your time is worth. I'll definitely be going back to Fireside. read more

Well we finally needed to buy a new camera for our upcoming vacation, so my GF sat down with Richard T. and he gave her the scoop on the best camera for our needs: a Canon EOS Rebel XSi. After receiving my instructions on what to buy I had to do the "where" on my own. I called a few stores and the damn thing was on backorder everywhere--oh no, we leave for Aruba in 4 days. What does a girl do? She Yelps and calls Fireside Camera. I talked with Jeff and he said it was in stock and on sale--Praise Buddha. I did the trek from the MIssion to the Marina, and within the hour I was walking out with my camera, a case, lens protector, and a 4GB memory card--I figure if my GF takes more than 800 pictures before she downloads, she has a problem. I left happy and will return in another 6 years to buy a new camera, unless my GF really gets into it and starts needing special lens--YIKES! read more

Emergency situation! My wife had a last minute shoot and we couldn't find the charger for her 5D. I called Fireside sure enough they had an aftermarket one in stock. I said great, I'll be by in ten minutes. The associate was ready for me when I arrived and he made sure the charger was working with the battery I brought. He noted that my battery was gummed up and took the time to show me how to clean it so it would properly charge. This was my first experience at Fireside and I really didn't expect that kind of service for a $30 part. It was awesome that their prices were competitive with Amazon, awesomer that they're so conveniently located, and awesomest for all the warm fuzzies I walked out the door with. read more

I bought a DSLR body here recently. The price was fair; as good as anywhere else I've seen. I could've gotten it without tax online, but sales tax is worth getting to actually handle the product before buying. The employees were very knowledgeable, and quite patient; Though nothing expensive is out on display to fiddle with, you can ask an employee to get one for you. I must have tested this camera for an hour or so; all the while, the employee behind the counter patiently answered questions. I'll be headed back the next time I make a big photography purchase. read more

I had a great experience here. They are very helpful with teaching you how to use your camera for your specific needs. The prices slightly higher than online but not by much. I decided to buy most of my equipment here so I could get the occasional help as needed when I have trouble or questions about my camera. Fireside has friendly, helpful people and better prices than I would expect. read more

This place rocks, at least as far as camera repair. I dropped my camera and it started to act up. I called some place in the Tender Nob area and he told me that w/ parts and labor, it'd cost $100+. When I called Fireside, they told me to bring it in and they'd take a look at it. If they could fix it, it'd cost $20. If they couldn't, they weren't going to charge anything. How awesome!! Guess what... camera fixed and only out $20. Go to Fireside! read more

Out of honesty as a young teenage photographer who has traveled around the world for high school, this is by far the 2nd best Camera store I have visited in my travels from Indonesia to the US. I went down here to Fireside Camera and was treated nicely to the shop. I asked if they had any 7Ds in stock and they said I'll have to wait for a month or two because of the orders and the tsunami. However, he took out the 7D on display (for three weeks), untouched, polished, clean and crisp as a gem. He handed it to me and allowed me to try it. He explained his experiences with the DSLR, and how it's really nice. The man also told me the great things about the camera and all that's good. The price was amazing, too when I bought it. I was there on the LAST DAY they had a $200 rebate, and got it for a damn good price. The shop itself has a whole bunch of goods for cameras, and I'll buy from there for now on. It's a great store, good people, plenty of camera equipment and supplies. I'm coming back... read more

LOVE THIS PLACE. Sure it's not an enormous camera super store but don't under estimate how much they have! Came in today for the second time to get some lens filters today, got a Zeiss lens (before anyone else had it in stock- the batis 25/2) the first time I came in. I just can't say enough about how friendly and helpful the staff are. If it was me, running a shop on chestnut street, I'd go nuts - but these guys LOVE to get questions and explain even the most basic to advanced concepts to you. Asked about a Leica camera - got a full tour of its features. After a decade of being an Amazon prime-fresh member, this shop makes me remember what made brick and mortars so great! :) read more

I'll start off tonight with just a mini review of Fireside. They're in the midst of renovating their old space so they're a few doors down now. The one thing you can always count on is nice guys, friendly and helpful service, even if you're just picking up a battery charger for your "new" digital camera that a friend gave you that you don't know how to use.....oh, and the staff here will help you with that too! I do love buying from a neighborhood business and that's why I'll buy my next camera from them. I'd rather buy here and pay a little more than some online store because I'm supporting the neighborhood biz and....this is the really important part...since I'm pretty klutzy with reading the directions on technical gizmos....well, it will be nice to be able to wander up the street for help. I know they won't try to sell me more than I'm ready for and that's a nice thing too. But, when my photographs start looking amazing or when I'm taking another trip to Kenya, I'll also be coming here to find the perfect camera for that. I'm even going to drag my Mum in the next time she's in town. I'm only just converting to digital. My Mum doesn't know what digital is.....she was amazed watching "The Tudors" in HD on my exciting new flat screen t.v. She's traveled the world and has boxes and boxes of slides. She's still traveling and I want to get her set up with a nice little digital camera she can take to Wengen, France and on to England this summer. Fireside will take the time to help her find just what she wants and I just know they'll be so sweet doing it too. Thanks for hooking me up with the "thingie" that holds the card that goes into my camera ;) Ah, gave myself away once again! :) Maybe you could offer private classes for those of us digitally impaired? ;) An extra point for recognizing my four legged furry companion, Oliver! ;) read more

We picked up a lens they had in stock that we have had trouble finding in other stores and even online (especially for the excellent price they were selling it for). They also allowed us to handle the lens and attach to our camera for some test photos to ensure it was what we were looking for. Hopefully we won't be needing their camera repair services, but this will be the first place we go to if/when that day arrives. read more

Somebody else said the guys here are stoics who never smile and are rather unenthusiastic, and I know where the reviewer was coming from, but I find that there are TONS of reasons to appreciate this fine store. First, I bought the best camera I've ever had at this store. Second, the people were willing to work with me if I showed evidence of better prices elsewhere (I could only find competitive prices, not better ones!). And third, I asked enough questions to eat up an afternoon and THEN came back the next morning and ate up another two hours of a salesperson's time before walking out with a new Nikon; they never stopped answering questions willingly or intelligently. These guys are knowledgable--and you'll NEVER be able to even dream of easily finding people like this at a Best Buy (for one thing, you can't even find an employee at Best Buy, let alone one who has a clue). Furthermore, they're not stiffs. They've got humor. Maybe that other reviewer just didn't see it. Go here. read more

I went there as a total novice. The employee went over the top with photography advice and didn't try to oversell me, even though he could have. I bought a screen protector and he really took his time to put it on, making sure there was no dust, and even offered to give me a new one if he couldn't have it be just perfect. read more

My meeting with Tyler was bittersweet; he told me my digi camera was DEAD, but was very nice and helpful. He showed me a few other cameras that would be very Misha-esque. Basically, I need a camera with a fast shutter, durable, and fits in my purse/pocket. Tyler was very helpful, and let me try a out a few of his different cameras. CLICK CLICK! Now I need to gather all my babysitting money to make the new purchase. read more

Fireside Camera is great! I recently stopped by to buy some film and change my battery. I'm new to film photography, and James showed me how to change the film on my camera. He also gave me some helpful tips, which ate always appreciated. Overall, a pretty great store! read more

I love Fireside Camera!! I've now bought two cameras and a lens from them. I love supporting a local business that has competitively priced products, knowledgeable staff, a great selection and sales staff who are helpful and friendly. Jack was awesome and answered all of my questions on the phone and clearly explained the various model options. It made the purchase process quick and easy when I went into the store. If you're in the market for a new camera or accessories, you should shop at Fireside as you won't find a better selection, better price or more knowledgable staff anywhere else!! read more

I bought my first DSLR there. Really knowledgeable staff (nothing like bestbuy), happy to show you the cameras, video cameras. Give good advices. Better price point than BestBuy. On the down side, I would say that their service is a bit cold, but as soon as you get over this and start talking camera, everything is fine. read more

Great camera store! Very happy to support a wonderful local business. I ordered a telephoto lens and they called me when the lens came in. They also provided a copy of the form for the mail in rebate. Excellent service! Friendly vibe in the store. Competitive prices. Highly recommend these folks. read more

I bought my first digital SLR here and they were extremely helpful. I ended up buying a used camera based on Jack Shim's advice. He was extremely patient and explained everything I should consider and what considerations I could discard. I would definitely go back there. I felt like I was in really trustworthy and knowledgeable hands. read more

Although this place didn't have what I was looking for, I was still amazed at the selection they had at this location. Customer service is outstanding and the knowledge is there for sure. Thank you so much everyone for assisting me in my endeavor looking for a new backpack for my camera tripod and my setup read more

Always helpful and they have everything you may need. Bought some used filters here for a fair price. They cleaned up my sensor in 24 hours for about $60 which is also very fair. They give good advice and don't try to give you the hard sell. read more

Last September I was going to Europe on vacation and bought my replacement camera online a bit too late... late enough that all of a sudden it went from "shipped and due to arrive on time" to backordered and then cancelled a day before I was to leave! The only place that had the camera I wanted, was willing to confirm that it was in stock over the phone, and was willing to hold it for me until after work was Fireside. Once I got there the gentleman who I talked to on the phone was extremely helpful and showed me everything before I paid. I picked up a couple of extras for it as well. Only 4 stars because I am extremely price sensitive and I paid WAY more in person than any of the online stores I was looking at a week or so prior (but that's to be expected). The extras I bought were actually priced really well. read more

Awesome! Great advice, best price. Discovered this store today, this is now where I will be shopping. Talked with Ed, cool guy! He focused on what was best for me. He understood my photography level and needs, answered my questions perfectly; put himself in my shoes to explain trade-offs. I had trouble with my camera which was "bricked". Nothing was working, not even the flashcard LED. I brought the camera in. Ed worked on it right away and somehow made it work. He could have easily pushed a sale, but did not whatsoever. Yes, awesome! My old camera power was still flaky and I could no longer rely on it, so I inquired about a new camera body. That is the "best price" part of this review: Fireside Camera beat any other offer I could find online! Customer for life. read more

Friendly helpful service. They have helped me find a lens and were very helpful with other camera questions I had. I came here to get a passport photo and I often print photographs. I feel so lucky that we have a quality camera shop on Chestnut Street. This is just the kind of small business every neighborhood needs, but fewer and fewer have. I hope they stick around. read more

Hi all, I'm a tourist from AUS. I've found this camera shop is very dodgy. I phone them up for stock and a quote, 30 mins later when I arrived at the shop they told me the price is changed and increased by $60, this is ridiculous and so un professional. Please beware of this camera shop at all cost, and their price are always marked up with a larger margin when compared to other stores. read more

I live in the neighborhood, I like to support local businesses if it doesn't cost me a lot more $$$, and these guys have decent prices, so last November I bought a new Canon digital camera from them. $149 + tax with a $20 mail-in rebate. Pretty much out of the box, the camera had crappy battery life. I use rechargeables...so I just recharged a bunch of batteries and swapped them out whenever I needed to do a lot of photography. Still, it was odd...but I assumed it was my rechargeable batteries that were old and not holding a charge. Or something was wrong with my recharger. Still, a couple of months ago (4 months after I bought the camera) I began to suspect the camera so I brought it back into Fireside. Without really doing any tests (such as, putting fully charged batteries in the camera and testing it), they told me it was my batteries and charger that were the problem, not my camera. So I went out and paid something like $50 for a new charger and new batteries, and recycled all my old ones. Unfortunately the problem persisted. But it appeared intermittent, and I was super busy with work projects and didn't need to use my camera much so I put off going back to Fireside. But now I need to use the camera intensively for work. Today, I recharged a pair of NEW batteries in my NEW charger, put them in the camera and it told me to change the batteries and it shut down. So I brought the camera in to Fireside. The guy turned the camera on and immediately go the low battery icon. At my suggestion he put the same batteries into one of their store cameras, and took about 15 pictures with it, no problem. So, it was the camera after all. Was I naïve to think they would replace the camera? Apparently so. All Fireside is willing to do is send the camera in to Canon for inspection. Which could take weeks. They admitted that, based on my description, it had been bad right out of the box. But they do not stand behind the products they sell. Instead, they offer only to act as a mailing service between me and Canon as if they are not actually a party to the sale. And they force me to deal with Canon's return policy, and Canon's business practices. So why the f**k don't I just buy my camera directly from Canon, or over the internet? I don't get any better customer service buying locally, that's for sure. I didn't buy the camera from Canon, I bought it from THEM. They said that if I had ALL the original packaging, including the box, cables, manual, CD, they would send it in to Canon and Canon *might* exchange it for me. But of course, six months later I don't have the box any more. And it has to be the original box, with the serial number on it. They also said that I have to return the camera to Canon three times before they declare it a lemon and replace it. Great. So if there's a choice between them being out of pocket on this deal, or me being out of pocket on this deal - they pick me. So I guess it's "buyer beware at Fireside Camera." You buy a lemon? You're stuck with it. They didn't tell me whether Canon would charge me to repair the camera - the camera that was defective right out of the box. I'm guessing Canon will try to do that. And I am not going to pay $50 or $70 to repair a camera that cost me $129. So I'll probably just junk it. And you can bet, next time I buy a camera it won't be here. Now, of course you might say, why did I wait six months to return the camera? Well, I didn't use it much when I first got it, the problem was intermittent, I thought it might be my batteries, not the camera, and then when I did bring it back (4 months after I bought it), they told me it wasn't the camera, it was the charger and batteries. They did give me a loaner camera today. Different manufacturer. No user manual. So old, the model number was worn off. But they wrote it on the rental contract they made me sign. If I lose the loaner I'm out $80 plus tax, plus $20 for the USB device and $40 for the charger. And I have to learn how to use it - without a manual. I realize the margins on electronics are small, but the bottom line is, Fireside sold me a defective camera and won't replace it. They don't stand behind what they sell. read more

I am extremely disappointed with the service at Fireside Camera. My tripod was recently stolen (who steals a tripod??) and I wanted to replace it ASAP for some upcoming photography gigs. So I went to Fireside, where I have purchased thousands of dollars of equipment - including a 5d mk II, 24-105 L, and 100-400 L - thinking for sure they could help. I could not have been more wrong. Their sparse inventory of tripods and heads left something to be desired. Recognizing the gentleman that had sold me the 5d mk II, I asked if he could give me a deal. Nope. He told me he had to "pay for lights and [his] time." Neat, you can keep your overpriced junk aluminum tripods. I'm done with Fireside. The attitude from this particular guy (he's a little older and has grey temples, I think he may own the store) is over the top. I'm sorry you're getting crushed by Amazon and I'd love to help, but you should really work on making me feel like my help means something to you. I wish I could return the $2,500 from the 5d mk II, the $1,200 from the 24-105, and the $1,800 from the 100-400 and spend my money somewhere else. Oh, and my Spring is full of gigs. I'm using that money to upgrade to a 1D mk IV. Rest assured I'll be going out of my way to get to 2nd and Howard to purchase from Gasser. You can renovate your store, but until you renovate your attitude you are destined to fail. Save your time and money people, shop local at Gasser or order online from Amazon. read more

perhaps all the "nice" service people were out to lunch when i stopped by... but the service i received was cold and unfriendly. period. i was dying to purchase a new canon camera to replace my stolen (people - you should never steal) canon SD 870IS... the "guy" took out 3 canons that sort of can be a replacement for the 870IS... i probably was asking a lot of questions, but i am picky - so deal with it - but i am also a potential customer. he was somewhat helpful in answering my questions, but boy... he had some attitude issues and made me feel like i was intruding his personal time. after checking out the canon SD 940IS (which i decided it is the one i want) - i was debating if i should get it here... but i decided no. i didn't feel welcome to the store and the "guy" was so cold - not even a smile - ok, not even a half a smile. when i told him thank you for showing me the camera and asked him for his card, he slammed the folder he had and huffed and puffed and gave me the card and said "we beat any price". needless to say - i won't be getting my camera from this place. to the service guy (i won't mention his name): if you are going to maintain your mom-n-pop neighborhood store, you need to first learn to be pleasant to your customers. i don't mean for you to jump up and down and smile like a joker, but at least smile once in a while. i promise it won't hurt a bit. read more

I had an issue with a Canon that I bought at Best Buy, and took it here to see if they could repair it. The guy didn't even look at it, declared 'most Canon's have this issue', and then said 'it'll cost you $150 to $200 for Canon to repair it - you might as well buy a new one'. Well, I called Canon and it's actually going to cost only $110 to repair it. I think the guys here new exactly how much this cost (they are in the business, no?), and were clearly trying to push us to by a new camera from them right there an then. I'll never go back here. read more

So sad to have to say this. Whenever I've walked into Fireside I have never felt welcomed in any way. As a beginner, I asked many questions & every response that I got from them was backed with a "well what do you think?" kind of expression. Making a big purchase, such as ones first DSLR, should be easy and sorry to say, but it was not. I understand that making money is an important factor to small businesses, but at least try to hide it with customer service. So disappointed. read more