Called in today for advice and have to say the staff are so helpful and knowledgeable. They pointed…read moreme in the direction of cameras and lenses that I should purchase. Many thanks

Having broken my camera just before holidays this summer I spent days frantically running around…read moreall the so-called camera shops (like Jessops) in Edinburgh trying to fix it, but in vain. For something as trivial as the lens cover being a bit wonky they wanted £80 and for it to be sent off for a few weeks to the factory. They problem is that none of the people who work in these stores have any skill, or barely even any knowledge when it comes to cameras, they just work in a shop that happens to sell cameras. Rant over This is not the case with Camerabase; you can tell they pride themselves on their knowledge. Just looking in the window you see lenses and stands of old manual cameras that aren't even made anymore, like Olympus OM1s and OM2s, but are well known to true camera aficionados. The guys here are so helpful and you can tell they love cameras, treating each one with care, even my broken little point and shoot. And the final cost to fix my camera: a snappy 24 quid.

The last month of my life has been spent glued to my computer working on a 50th anniversary…read morephotobook for my parents. Actually, it started a bit earlier. I did LOTS of research before deciding what company to use. I wanted good software, MATT paper, and a high quality finish. Jessops came out quite high in all aspects but I still needed to be 100% sure. The one flaw in online services? You don't know for sure what you're getting til it arrives. But..... Jessops had a shop in Edinburgh! Woohoo. So, a month ago we plugged Murrayfield Sainsbury's into our GPS and ventured out into a section of Edinburgh we were unfamiliar with. Apparently, so was our GPS which wanted us to enter via the Gorgie road side, but (big tip here) the parking is on the Westfield Road side. Jessops is a small unit within Sainsburys. They carry everything you need for your camera, have instant print stations (glossy paper only) and a full photo lab with more paper options and superior quality, but you have to wait. On our first visit, we just wanted to see samples of their photobooks and we weren't disappointed. They had several different styles there so we could get a good idea of what the final product would look like. The staff were really helpful with letting us know all the options. If you just want to dump a bunch of pics (maybe all from one holiday) into a book - they have computers set up where you can make one on the spot. Or, you can use the comprehensive software that is free to download. My research informed me that the CEWE software Jessops uses is top notch. So, we liked the software, liked the matt paper options, liked the product and loved that we could collect the book in store and not worry about being away when it's delivered. One big decision made, now it was time to work on the book. The CEWE software was fairly easy to use. A few options were not easy to find, but thanks to the online help, I eventually managed to figure out how to do everything I wanted. There was also a separate download for a photo editing package - it is recommend to edit the pics before uploading to CEWE. I used my own software which I was more comfortable with. I used a lot of old photos and did my best to make them look as good as the up to date digital ones (without losing the vintage feel). It all looked 'OK' on my monitor, but wasn't sure how it would print. I was also able to add cute little touches using clip art, frames, masks which could be downloaded from CEWE's website - the selection was amazing. Well, a month later, practically blind from staring at the monitor, I pressed the submit button. Took an hour to upload! Now I had 7 to 10 days to wait. After paying online (when you submit) I went over to Jessops website to double check the delivery times. To my surprise, there was a 30% off voucher code!! Oh no! I quickly emailed Jessops with my order number and they graciously applied the offer and refunded my credit card the difference. In about 7 days I got an email to collect my book. I was nervous. I knew the pages would be matt but all the sample books had a glossy cover - would it be too shiny and cheap looking? Would the box I paid extra for be nice quality? Would my old, edited photos look nice? Well, Jessops outdid themselves on every aspect. The cover was MATT! and looked so classy. The photos that I scanned in printed out looking far better than the originals. The paper was gorgeous, the colours were true and natural. The box was black linen and had a magnetic clasp and hinged lid (I thought it was going to be a standard two part box). Now I want to turn all my photos into books! And I'm sure my parents are going to be blown away.

Kodak place -south clerk street .....3.5 stars really…read more _______________________________ Great Internet place. Really need this as I don't have a computer/printer at home. They have great facilities. Passport photos and uploading iphone photos onto a disc. No doubt more things available. Until today I've had nothing but great things to say. The owner is charming and Gavin Hill Graphics downstairs is superb. He did a menu for us a Himalaya Cafe. Tell you more about his fabulousness in a review of his business. Back to kodak place. Careful of the new staff member -Zain - a extremely unhappy back chatting unthinking robotic individual. I simply wanted to pay for my prints whilst staying logged on. As I thought I might have done them wrongly and not knowing if I had more to do online. As a customer I feel I don't need to explain all this. Dare I say a hugely annoying man! I will definitely go again as it is the only internet place at the top of Newington. I'll not speak to him ever again. Enjoy everyone!!

Visited the South Clerk Street Shop - totally disappointed as I wanted a vintage cassette turning…read moreinto a CD - Why did nobody tell me you broke the tape - I had to wait longer because your staff did not ask last Saturday for my telephone number when this obviously happened - I was rung up today and instead of a polite customer friendly person you got someone coughing down the mobile stating my cd was ready. The previous week I went in and was asked why I had not left a number - err reason your staff never asked " - I wasn't expecting alot as your disinterest in customers is pretty legendary but I want to make sure everyone knows that the cd I got for for an half an hours running and I got a 16.57 - even basic maths tells me something is missing. The cassette tape was not broken and was still able to be turned it in the spools. I sang on this CD when I was 12 and since my birthday was next week and I am 54 its pretty vintage but I will now have to get the cassette fixed and spliced. Thanks for being so rubbish. I will be contacting your Kodak office

Brief review as was served quickly…read more Any phone issues then seems like the place to come as they deal with Samsungs and Nokias. A few people were in store when I arrived but I got served quickly. I was in about a laptop charger. Staff didn't have it in stock and checked online. They advised me (after checking themselves) for me to replace from Amazon rather than ordering from Samsung as I'd save at least £20. They helpfully pointed out what product code to search for. So, good service and being helpful so I can save some cash. I'd pop in again if I thought they could help :-)

CUSTOMERS BEWARE…read more Just had a very bad experience with these "guys". Took my wife's 7month old S6 in to get the charging port repaired. Whilst I was happy with the timescale (4pm the same day), they proceeded to tell me that the damage was down to my wife "jamming" in the power cable. Not withstanding this, they refused to deal with this under the warranty and a bit of an argument broke out. Nevertheless, as it was to be fixed that day, we reluctantly agreed to the price (very reasonable). When I went back to pick the phone up (3.45pm), I was told that there was a "problem"; even though they said they would phone in that eventuality. It turned out that the screen was not powering up. Now this is where the fun really starts. 1st off, the "Manager" asked if anyone had done anything to the phone before they got their hands on it... I informed them that no one had opened it at all as it was brand new. Furthermore, the only other people to look at it was the Carphone Warehouse Geek Squad who recommended them in this first place as they didn't want to touch it. After the Manager was told in no uncertain terms that information, he started to get "het up" and developed an "attitude". After being advised to calm down, he agreed that he/they would foot the cost of replacing the screen... just as well as he/they damaged it as it was working perfectly well when we arrived; after all they had to get the PUK code from the phone by dialing in the relevant number! Though I wasn't happy at leaving the phone as my wife has MS and needs it, I had no choice. Again I was advised that they would phone and let me know when it was done. I also voiced my displeasure at having to come back into Edinburgh, incurring further expense. Tuesday came and no call. I called that afternoon and was told the part was on order and awaiting it coming in. Nothing else but to wait Wednesday came and again no call. I called mid morning and was advised that the part had arrived and they were fitting it as we spoke. I was asked to call back after 2pm. I called back after 2pm and was told the repair was still ongoing. I called back twice more and on the 2nd one (5.45pm) I was told it was ready for pick up. As they close at 6 and I live nearly 30miles away, that day was impossible. And so to today. I arrived just after 1pm and pickup the phone. I am please to report they did fix it and everything is fine. However the "attitude" soon returned when I asked for compensation for the inconvenience caused to myself and wife, along with the extra traveling expenses. The Manager took over from the shop assistant and proceeded to tell me that the only reason he replaced the screen was out of courtesy to me as the warranty had expired. Again he was reminded that the phone was only 7 months old. He then told me they had found superglue inside the case and that "obviously" someone had been in before him/them to repair it. Again it was pointed out to them that the phone was brand new from the Carphone Warehouse and when told that, he said it was obviously a refurbished phone. Again he was informed that it was not the case and he was welcome to check with them and Samsung! Eventually he relented and gave me a reduction in the cost, to cover my traveling expenses, nothing else. Grudgingly he took my money telling that he had learned a lesson today. When I asked he what that was, he replied, "never give a customer a freebie". I told him the lesson he should have learned was "not to break customer phones". Ultimately Samsung need to do a better job of licensing these sorts of franchises to do their work for them... if you go to them, watch them like hawks and don't take any old rubbish from them!

Nestled inconspicuously beside a beauty product wholesaler, in a corner of an industrial estate off…read moreBonnington Road, Calumet is one of the best places in Edinburgh for photographic kit and advice. The range is excellent, with a good selection in-store and a much wider lineup available for quick delivery. It's primarily aimed at pros (which I am most certainly not) so there's a lot of high-end names on show, covering cameras, lenses, studio kit, lighting, stands and other accessories. But Calumet's own-brand stuff is very decent and affordable, and is my primary reason for going there. For example, I needed a set of wireless flash triggers and didn't fancy laying out £300+ for an all-singing PocketWizard setup. Calumet's basic own-brand? £40. Now the downside: It can be a little intimidating. I've never once been in there when the customers have outnumbered the staff - most often it's just me. A couple of times, they've actually seemed quite confused to see someone not wearing a Calumet polo shirt. That said, once they get their bearings, the staff are exceptionally clued up, friendly and helpful. They're patient with my dumb questions and very candid about things like value for money. You really get the feeling they're personally passionate about photography and have used the kit in anger, not just in training. They also run courses on various aspects of photography, from landscapes to lighting and portraiture. There's even one called 'boudoir', which I can only assume is for aspiring property photographers. The net result is that, unlike Jessops, there are good reasons for coming here rather than just buying kit online. In the Age of Amazon, that counts as praise.

There are few things more annoying for a passionate photographer than going on a photo trip abroad…read morewith broken gear. Just a couple of hours before driving into the Highlands, the ball head on my tripod broke down and almost rendered the whole thing useless. The staff at Calumet helped me out by getting rid of the broken ballhead (which required a good amount of brute force) and replacing it with a new one. The store may be somewhat hidden between Bonnington road and Leith Walk, but the friendly and helpful staff and the selection in-store make up for it. I had a chat with one of the staff memebers and they definitely know their way around photography.

Half of my graduating class were self-proclaimed photographers, angstfully capturing the "essence…read morethat is life" with ridiculously expensive cameras, so you can't blame me for being a tad sceptical about photography. I finally made it in to the gallery after walking past it quite a few times, and I wasn't disappointed at all. There's a pretty cool exhibition on show at the moment, which should last throughout the whole festival, called the Pursuit of Fidelity (very deep name ofcourse....). I won't say I'm a convert, but it was definitely a good way to pass time! What's even more interesting about Stills is the opportunity to get quite involved if this is your sort of thing; they have impressive darkrooms we were lucky enough to check out, and actually offer professional training for would-be photographers! I fleetingly considered it... as it would probably be a nice break from university for a while.

If you happen to just be wandering up or down Cockburn Street, trying to avoid all the uber…read moreexpensive shops that seem to just stare you down, in a vigorous attempt to get you to give into purchasing pretty unnecessary items, stop by Stills instead. Why? 1) Because you don't have to pay anything to go in and ogle some hit-or-miss photography and 2) Because checking out someone's photographs beats ogling ridiculously expensive clothes any day. And though the people who work there might seem disaffected and indifferent to your presence, it's probably just because they've been sitting in the same place for a few hours with nothing to do. If you have any questions, though, they tend to perk up and become willing to give you a hand. Stills isn't just a gallery, though. There they have digital labs and darkrooms and all sort of delicious photographic facilities that you can use (at a price, of course). They also hold workshops from time to time. Once you've been to Stills once, it becomes a bit of an addiction. The huge windows that give you a peek of whatever exhibition is in there at the moment, beckon to you with open arms. And they're not even trying to take your money. Who woulda figured!

I just went there for passport photos so I can't comment on anything else. They have the electronic…read moreset up for any country you want. £4.99 for 4 photos. They take the photo, put it into the computer, set it up for what you need and print however many you like. Friendly staff, quick and easy. Recommended!