Andrew at Samys camera is incredible. The service and the experience he provided changed the game. He helped me build two v flats and helped me size them to my car, as well as help me get everything else I needed for my shoot. Can't say enough about the experience... read more

Ted the assistant manager was very helpful. He was able to get a specific used camera for me from the warehouse down to their location very quickly and kept me updated throughout the process. The camera itself was in great shape and Ted helped me pick out an additional lens. Overall great experience. read more

This place sucks. No one knows what's going on. Called in to check availability of a quick release plate , they told me they had it and would hold it for me. I sent a PA to pick it up for the shoot. They returned 35 min later with THE WRONG PLATE. Called Samy's, now they tell me they don't have the plate in stock at all. SO WHY DIDN'T THEY SAY THAT THE FIRST TIME? Now I have to drive back to the store and waste more time returning it. Thanks for nothing Samy's! By the way I called with model numbers and everything. All they had to do was search the computer. read more

They're so rude!! We came in just to see about renting lenses, my bf & I have both taken photography classes, (he's much more skilled then I am) and the guy talked to us like we were idiots. He talked us OUT of renting a lens. What kind of business is that? Do you not like making money or something? Cmon Samys. Hire some nicer people. read more

Seriously some of the expectations people have on here are insane. I don't truly understand what people's expectations are when it comes to a more professionally minded store. Yes, I know that Samy's is accessible to the average consumer, but to be honest I don't think that's the target demographic they had in mind when they setup the store. Samy's is professionally minded and targeted towards individuals with specific professional needs. Yes, the prices are a bit more for consumer electronics. Yes, I personally try not to purchase unless they have a no sales tax sale going on. There are many reasons why I try not to purchase at Samy's, but when I do I know the sales reps there know what they're talking about. I am a professional photographer and i'm not looking for a whole run down on what equipment functions and what it's uses are for. I go in having specific needs and usually purchase there because of the convenience of having it then and there. Between the Fairfax location and the Pasadena location I can usually obtain anything I need for an upcoming shoot. I've purchased Hasselblad accessories there, Nikon lens, and even a lens for my Fuji X-E1 as a spur of the moment purchase. It was $100 more than I could have found used, but there's just something really gratifying about purchasing something new in-store when you're on vacation. My experiences at Samy's have been solid, not spectacular. I haven't run into any issues whether making purchases or even renting equipment. Then again, like I mentioned before, I have professional needs that they satisfy. Nothing more, nothing less. read more

For a specialty shop, the sales rep was not very helpful. I was shopping for a christmas present for a friend and was looking for some suggestions. NO LUCK from the sales rep. I came in with exactly the camera type that my friend has and a specific budget. Granted my budget was on the smaller size, but the best thing the sales rep could give was a gift card. For a store that specialized in camera and photography, the sales guy did not have a single product to recommend. To me, that says 1 of 3 things (or all 3) 1. sales rep is lazy 2. no selection 3. everything is overpriced read more

This place is so rude and thinks they're on a damn pedestal! Every time i enter the store they require you to take a number which is stupid because people just take them over when its your turn. Customer service on the phone is very very rude, I recently call them yesterday and i ask if they can find a lens for me, the person responds with "well are you going to tell me which lens or are you going to keep wasting time?" TERRIBLE PLACE read more

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER! I think every morning they take their cranky pills instead. The only real person that actually smiles at the store is the security guard! Really...! Recently bought a camera from them and recently returned it! The guy that helped me w/ my purchase was no help at all. And the guy that helped me w/ my return was the worst! Complained w/ sarcasm about everything during my return process! This place is a waste of time for the customer service they give! read more

Just brought my camera for a sensor cleaning , ended up with a giant smile , The staff was super helpful, especially the employee named Ruth . She made my experience awesome. Gave me details about promotions and coupons. Will definitely be back because of them for all my camera needs read more

I went to the Samy's in Orange County and had a terrible experience. This particular Samy's is somewhat better. They seem to be a bit less intimidating, more helpful, and somewhat more friendly. I can only review on their rental service. I have never bought anything from Samy's. But my rental experience was a pretty good experience. It was my first time renting lenses from them and so I asked a lot of questions,. They seemed to be patient, efficient, and quick. Not to mention informative. It was a painless process and I got a good quality lens to borrow for the weekend. Prices are good for rentals too! I mean I had the lens from Sat-Mon and it only cost me $30 the entire 3 days. That's not bad at all! Parking is tight but not that bad. They have a small private lot but it's better than parking on the street right? read more

My father picked up photography as a hobby after his retirement. He joined a photo club and was looking to purchase a camera for his class. He has never picked up a camera in his life and was very hesitant to talk to any professionals. I made a call to Samy's Camera just trying to require some information on a particular sony camera. Jim was nice enough to answer all my questions and more. When we got there Jim put aside all the equipments we have talked about over the phone. He explained what would work well in certain situations and if any of the lenses he had recommended was really necessary. When we are so use to purchasing things online it was nice to actually see the product in person and have someone explain how things really work and if they really need to be purchased. Sure half of the things my father will not use but he was very pleased with Jim's patience and service. Please visit the store and talk to Jim Endo you won't regret it. read more

This is strictly a revew about the rental! This place is the worst. No stars if I could. I am a business owner and rely heavily on gear / grip rentals for our product or look book shoots. My warehouse is in Boyle Heights, so the Pasadena location makes more sense to go to rather than the one on Fairfax. While we were in the middle of a shoot (paid the model for an 8 hour day through her agency -- couldn't shoot over time) as well as hair, make up, stylist, photographer, etc. Our Canon Speedlite broke! So I called ahead to let them know I was coming, and what I needed. I get there (30 minutes to get there, 30 minutes back.) After I received the Speedlite, I got to the warehouse 30 minutes after, one hour in total, and smoke starts coming out of the flash as soon as we started using it! Our photographer has been doing this for a very, very long time and I know for a fact it wasn't his fault. I called them and told them I can't afford to leave for another hour and all my other employees have other obligations. They should thoroughly check the rental items before and after every single use! I told them off on the phone, told them they need to send someone over with one that works. They then said I should wait for their manager to come in -- in TWO HOURS!!! I'm running a business here!! I'm not a student casually taking photos of my friends. AND ON TOP OF THAT, they said we were the ones who probably broke their flash and may need to pay for it!! Every minute every second counts in this industry. For a rental house, they should understand that. Terrible terrible rental house, and GOD AWFUL customer service. Sad sad people that work there. read more

Stock is exceptional. Finding what you need is not the issue. It's the customer service that's hit or miss. That's why you go to brick and mortars, right. I spent a good 20 minutes talking to a rep about a 50mm before purchasing. He was very helpful. Another time I went was to pick up a small part for my tripod. The two reps in that area were helping other customers. Since I was the only other person there at the time a quick acknowledgement or, "I'll be right with you after helping this client," would be nice. Nope, I stood there for about 15 minutes without even a glance. My whole transaction took all of 2 minutes. read more

Very rude people. They expect everyone that walks in the door to be a professional photographer. The manager is horrible, the sales staff are arrogant A-Holes. I'll just buy from B&H from now on. read more

I got a new point and shoot camera and went in to get some film. Chris was super helpful explaining different film types and situations to use them in. I'll definitely be coming back for more film in the future! read more

As a Chinese woman, my photography skills rival my driving ability...EXPERT. ;-) I was looking for a tripod for my camera and needed something more lightweight and compact when I travel. Overwhelmed and confused was apparently written all over my face when Ken approached me asking if I needed any help. He talked me through a few he recommended and dumbed it down far enough for me to understand!! He was so patient with all of my questions and answered honestly. He didn't try to push the more expensive with capabilities I would never use. I ended up getting a Mefoto Roadtrip and it's everything I wanted, and more!!! Ken also got me an additional student discount which made my experience even better!! Thanks for your help, Ken!! I can't wait to take this guy on all of my adventures! I went into Samy's yesterday (Saturday) and yes, if you have somewhere to be, do NOT go in on the weekends. It's a mad house!!! read more

Samy camera is the place to go!!! Jeff was great and knowledgeable. Easy service no pressure. A lot of awesome things to play with.

They moved to a new location on Colorado: 1759 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91106 My grandfather recommended me to Samy's a couple of years ago when I started getting into photography. When I used to work for a wedding photography company I rented lenses from here all the time, and done the same for my own work as well. They are easy to work with and affordable, which is the most important part. Renting lenses is simple, and they even have a weekend deal where you rent on Friday evening and return on Sunday for the smaller cost. I gave my camera in recently for a sensor cleaning and it was the cheapest in town (General Camera was charging $65!) I got it at Samy's for $35! They did a great job and their procedures are impeccable. Great service and reasonable prices, a must go to if you are in need of camera repair/supplies. read more

I cannot believe all the negative reviews on Yelp for the Samy's Camera Pasadena location. I've been shopping here for quite a number of years, and I have never encountered any of the problems that previous reviewers describe here. The staff is extremely knowledgeable about cameras and photography here. Don't expect to find kids hanging out behind the counter, trying to help customers and sell cameras. The staff here knows what they're talking about. I've purchased a lot of camera equipment from Samy's, and they always take the time to help me make a good decision, and answer any questions that I may have. They do so in a very friendly, non-threatening, non-pushy manner. As an example- When I had to purchase a tripod, the salesperson spent quite a bit of time with me explaining why I should go with a carbon-fiber tripod, and even helping me compare the different brands and price levels. Upon paying for my tripod, she even opened up the boxes and helped me assemble the tripod and head. Another example- back in the camera sales department. I recently went shopping for wide-angle lenses. At that time, I was just doing research... not looking to buy anything yet. I brought in my camera and the salesperson let me try on various lenses and take pictures with each. He answered all my questions, and I came out of the store having learned something. Even though I didn't buy anything on that visit, I didn't feel looked down upon. I later ended up buying a fish-eye lens, and again, before putting down the cash for it, the salesperson took it out of the box for me, and tried it on my camera. We took a few test shots. He took the time to explain to me the difference between a full-frame digital sensor and a half-frame digital sensor - a very basic concept. That being said, I do have favorite salespeople that I like to deal with. Tim (the guy with the British accent) is extremely friendly, helpful, and knows what he's talking about. I've learned a thing or two about photography just by talking to him. Like another reviewer said before me - just be cool, and they'll be cool. On a side note - Samy's location in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles is quite a sight to behold - multiple floors of camera equipment - the best and most complete camera store in L.A. hands down. read more

They aren't great on deals. Their service staff is knowledgeable, YET stuck up..all my questions are usually answered with two word answers. I did have one guy that was cool and talkative, but I think he's the only one. Anyway, if you desperately need a lens or product immediately, call up, make sure they have it, then go there. Otherwise just ask questions in online forums and buy online or eBay. Bottomline: Not the most helpful, but they do have the products. Oh, and parking sucks around there. read more

Tried my luck calling Samy's in Pasadena to see if they had any DJi Osmos in stock, and was forwarded to Jim from the video department. He let me know there was none in stock at the movement, but a shipment would be arriving later that day. I gave him my information and sure enough, within the hour, he called me back and I was able to pick up the Gimbal. Thank you Jim! You were very courteous and friendly. I had an awesome consumer experience at Samy's. read more

Samy's Camera - Thanks Samy's! DJI Osmo for the win - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Pasadena, California

I wanted to like Samy's camera. I really did. So ... we rolled over to the Pasadena store on a HOT Sunday afternoon and you would think that they were giving away $100 dollar bills. Parking lot is a joke ... eight spots maybe and a huge loading zone and handicap spots (surprised they even added these). Take a number is like beetlejuice .... now serving #3 .... my number 1,000,000. Also, you would think that we were invisible, as nobody from Samy's as much as nods an acknowledgement that you are even in their store. Long story *(not so ) short is .... If you want to pay top price for equipment , and deal with a pretentious clientele, and receive lousy customer service (if any at all) .... then Samy's is the place for you. No thanks. read more

I want to express my appreciation about Juan at Pasadena store, he spent time and effort to help me out to connect Canon camera to my cell phone, he is very patient and courteous, I am highly satisfied and will recommend to any one read more

Came in to Samy's the other day, and dealt with a gentleman named Chris (I believe that was his name). Upon arrival he was very tentative to my questions and needs and pointed me in the right direction for my current camera based needs. I really appreciate the customer service based attention he gave me I will most certainly be back. Thanks a ton Chris! read more

I really liked this place. I'm brand new to photography and needed to find a great starter DSLR. Jason Lyman was especially helpful and elevated the place from a solid 3 (which I consider "basically what I expected") to a 4. What made it a 5 was that he happily welcomed me back a few days after Black Friday to give me a discount on the camera I'd purchased earlier in November because its price dropped for the shopping season. Good show. I'll happily return to Samy's and Jason when I need new camera gear. BTW - I ended up with a Canon T5i. I love it so far. read more

I think this store likely stocks just about anything you would need as a photographer. The horrible review is based soley on the horrendous customer service. Really? The way in which these employees speak to the customers is AMAZING. The level of disrespect and their attitudes are second to none. Honestly, I have never seen anything like it. They think they are the camera Gods (they may be mind you) and they treat you like a meaningless little devil. If you like being abused, talked down to, or just disrespected, this place is for you. Masochists apply now. Alternatively, just stop by this place to see what I mean as it is truly incredible! Never again, not me! -C read more

Samy's camera is where I go to look at the camera gear, then I buy my stuff from www.bhphotovideo.com. Reason being, besides price, is that Samy's staff and customer service is crap! Their staff makes you feel stupid for asking questions and one of the ladies there actually grabbed a camera from my hand, while it was being demonstrated to me, to show her customer instead. Excuse me lady, but I was going to buy that camera! She didn't care, since I wasn't her commission sale. Needless to say, I didn't let go of the camera until I was done trying it out. I waited in line for like 30 minutes to see it. When it was finally time for me to buy it, they told me it was out of stock and I couldn't get the fathers day sale price on the item. Why couldn't they have told me that sooner? Waste of time! In the end, it worked in my favor, because the day after the "Father's Day Sale," Samy's dropped the camera price by another $100! Wow! Gotta love how their sale isn't really a sale... B&H all the way- why? Great customer service and no sales tax. Beat that Samy's! read more

Great place for camera needs. The staff is very helpful and attentive. Great customer service.Lots of parking in the parking lot. Definitely a place for photogs. Prices were reasonable. I saw a rental counter for equipment, looked interesting. Maybe I ll check it out next time. I recommend this place for your camera needs. read more

This store and its staff are incredible and I'd love to extend a huge thank you! This past weekend, my Mom visited, bringing hundreds of photos from our family vacation. With her little tech savvy, one staff member in particular was not only incredibly helpful, but also kind and patient, sitting down at the machine with my mom walking her through the entire process of selecting photos and editing in real time. Toby M. was attentive, highly knowledgeable, and never once seemed annoyed, answering endless questions and reviewing each photo with her one-by-one. We're so excited to pick up our developed photos this week and will gladly return in the future. Customer service can really make an experience and this location not only has quality products, but an A++ staff. read more

They have a very knowledgeable willing to answer all your questions and a large selection of accessories! I especially love their selection of Helgas and other giftable cameras. read more

I don't know what people said there's private parking which there's none that i can find, but there's some sport you can park near school. The place is very small, they don't had any display model you can play with, and you must line up in order to try out camera. I don't like use the camera in front is too much pressure especialyl the long line behind me. Just about everything is in retail price. They had some sales but you can easily beat that if you wait purchased online. read more

I go here for film processing and the staff of the film department has always been so nice to me. They answer all of my questions. No negative feedback. I would think it'd be fun if they did some sort of punch card program for small prizes like processing and scanning on the next roll. This could be in tandem with a weekly film photography trivia based question and a spinning wheel of small prizes such as more punches on the card and other larger prizes for at a smaller chance of landing. Just an idea!!! I know I have a punch card to a few other places and it keeps me wanting to come back in even if I'm working toward a free scoop of ice cream read more

I can definitely see why many complain about the salespeople. I am going to guess that because they live on commission, I'm not at all surprised by their behavior. BUT, when we asked them to let us take a look at some flashes, they just gave us the flashes.. no attitude here. I also rented a lens here before, I called in may be a week before and told them my name and ID number, the worker then reserved the lens I wanted. Quick and simple. When I went in Friday afternoon to pick up the lens, everything was ready to go. As someone has mentioned, their weekend deal is nice, around $30 bucks for a 3 day rental. Prices vary depending on the lens you're renting.. of course. Their prints.. mm, well we needed to print something bigger than 5x7 and most drug stores nearby my house don't print anything bigger. We printed out an 8x12 and the quality was decent. It's quite hard to judge since it was only ONE photo and I haven't printed something this big elsewhere, so I have nothing to compare it to. But, we went in at 3pm and asked if they could squeeze in our order and let us pick it up by 5pm and they said yes! Overall, I think their customer service (minus people who are trying to sell you cameras) is great, they seem to be friendly and helpful. I have also called in a couple times to ask a few simple questions, workers were patient. I was never put on hold or anything. Being a bargain shopper, I probably wouldn't buy my camera or any accessories here because they pretty much go by their "suggested retail price". But if you don't care so much about the couple buck difference, you should come check it out. I am a fan because there aren't many camera store around.. I can just browse around and enjoy the atmosphere. I only wish their selection (or the store itself) was bigger. read more

Went in today to get a lens hood and some lens cleaner for the first time to this store. I highly doubt I will return. I was exited to go since I heard they have everything but crashed and burned. All because of the BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE I received. I wasn't the only one. There was a heated debate between another customer and one of the employees. The customer was being very polite but the employee sounded as if he was arguing in the street with a friend. In my case two workers approached me to ask how they could help me and I almost wish they wouldn't have asked. They acted weird about me shopping around their inventory on my own that is on the stands. After they helped me locate what I wanted the lady that helped me look for what I needed very rudely said are you going to buy or you going to keep thinking? The man behind the counter was almost scary to approach. Sounds like you need to rush in to the counter, ask for what you want by model # and pay in lightning speed if not they want you OUT. Sorry Sammy but you let me down. I honestly do not think you guys care for customer service. PS: I had called in 2 weeks ago for information on lens cleaning service and another woman answered the phone just as rudely. They seem to be too much in a rush. Apparently they like to stress themselves out into a fast pace environment which doesn't really demand that and if it did then your workers are not capable of handling the stress of such an environment. DISAPPOINTING. read more

Samy's is great. Everything you need and things you didn't even know you needed are available at Samy's. Bought seamless backdrops. Price is unbeatable. Thank you from your friends at Picstation.com read more

Hi my name john I need to say thank you Ted sell man and Jason manager both of you let me exchange my canon r5 today they did a good job and knowledge everthing about the camera you are the best service I appreciate that if any customer looking for any camera in the future please go to samy's Pasadena alway the best read more

Compared to the Fairfax store, this store is a walk in the park. This location is about 5 minutes from my house and when I need printing supplies or film, it's the logical place to go. I dropped by yesterday during one of their sales because my 17 year-old niece wants a digi cam for X-mas. The crowds weren't too bad and I was able to get a spot in their eensy-weensy parking lot. I mentioned the camera and the model and the guy says with all of the condescension he could muster, "The $99 camera?" If it was just for the product selection, I would love Samy's, but except for a few people that work there, the staff kicks major attitude to the customers. (Don't even get me started on the Fairfax location.) I would recommend anyone shopping in Samy's to simply ask for what they're looking for, if you're a student, mention it, so you get your discount and don't engage in small talk. Outside of the security guard and a couple of people that work there, the staff is just...creepy. A person would have to go out of their way to be that miserable and unfriendly. The young guy that helped me with my film (Kodak Portra) my new Diana camera (!!!!!!!!!!) was helpful enough. Product selection ***** Customer service * read more

How can I describe the experience I had at Samy's Camera in Pasadena? Let me start by saying this is the first online store review I have ever posted, and since the experience was so DISGUSTING, people need to know what type of DOUCHE HOLE they are walking into. I was ready to purchase a camera but was treated rudely by a disgruntled sales clerk who was more than apparently discrimintating against customers, picking and choosing the most likely "customers of color." Unfortunately for him I was the next... My skin color was not to his liking so I received one word BS answers by the bastard who treated me like a browser when in fact I was a willing customer ready to drop 2 grand on one of their over priced cameras. BOO Samy's Camera in Pasadena. I call Boo. Your one "sales clerk" was a disgusting representation of your business. Better deals online. Only go here for the ULTIMATE DOUCHE BAG EXPERIENCE. Disgusting. read more

They have a wide selection of items, and the store is very organized. There's a counter for digital, one for analog, and another one that has drones and GoPros. Staff are friendly, and are very patient about newbie questions. They sell a wide variety of film, but they don't have chemicals for color developing. They have B&W chemicals, though. They might not have everything, but they have a lot of stuff, and unless you're looking for something obscure and very specific, chances are, they have it. read more

My wife just purchased her own personal camera. After a month long trip to India she found her IPhone X to be seriously lacking. Upon her return, she decided to get a real camera. As a complete novice, she new nothing about cameras. Her primary necessity was a long zoom. She decided to visit Samy's camera in Pasadena. It was a fact finding mission to see what options there were. She didn't want to spend too much since it just a vacation camera. We were lucky enough to have Juan at Samy's help us out. He figured out what options there were according to what our needs were. After comparing comparable models we decided to go with the camera that appeared to be a no brainer. It was half the price we were willing to spend and had more functions than we knew what to do with. My wife is very happy with the camera. We highly recommend going to a local camera shop who can give you assistance and support. Don't buy it from Amazon! Support your local merchants. read more