Bought a light meter at this Samys and Andrew Sanchez explained how to use the tool and showed me, and had me come back to show me how to use an old camera I had received as a gift. He is very knowledgeable and took the time to answer all the questions I had. read more

Manager Jason, Ruth, Ted, and Patrick with delightful smiles and spirits went above and beyond in taking care of us. They educate us on what is the best camera we need for our use and not selling us the highest price camera. ALSO I got the best price in town. Can't thank you enough college credit Sammy's Camera Family and wishing you much continued blessings. read more

Came here because I needed a lens for the Ball Is Life All American Game. The rental process is a BREEZE. The employees are knowledge. They had exactly what I need. The 70-200 e mount full frame for my Sony Alpha. Picked it up on Friday. Kept it over the weekend and returned it on Monday. Simple quick. Easy. The only thing is that they take a huge deposit for the lens. It makes sense cause I wouldn't want you running away with my life with just a $45 rental fee Will return for more camera equipment or another rental. read more

I needed a lense for my little DSLR for nice portraits and had one in mind. The manager showed me the one I was interested in and helped me choose one that fit my needs even better. The one he recommended actually cost less. He also gave me some very helpful tips on how to use the lense (I am not a professional photographer at all) and was very nice and patient. Very neat store. read more

I started doing some photography and online streaming and a friend recommended me Sammy's Camera in Pasadena. I drove down and met Clem! He was super genuine at first and I knew right away he was ready to help me out and answer all the questions I had. I wanted to buy a camera Lens for my new Sony A7IV as well as a bunch of accessories. Clem was super patient with me as well as knowledgeable. He recommended me many options when it comes to accessories and explained and showed me how they worked. My experience overall was amazing! I am sure the rest of the employees working there are as knowledgeable as him but I am definitely returning to Sammy's Camera anytime I need more camera gear. Thanks Clem! read more

Wow! This is the place to come for cameras and amazing customer service!!!! We came in not knowing anything about cameras, but my son decided to join yearbook and we wanted him to have the full experience of working with a higher quality camera. Frank came and helped us with EVERYTHING! We shared with him that we wanted our boy to have a good beginner camera, and he brought and showed us everything we would be interested in. We picked up a Fujifilm xt3. It shoots amazing! We couldn't thank Frank enough for helping us and for his patience! I hope the next person who walks into Samy's Camera, is greeting by the amazing Frank! read more

Samy's Camera - Fujifilm X-T3 - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Pasadena, California

Shout out to Jim at the Pasadena location for making me a returning customer of Samy's! For years, I used to only shop at Samy's in Los Angeles, but for the past three visits, the Canon salesman there had so much attitude. Luckily, I met Jim when I was in search for the GoPro 12, and I have to say I've returned to him three times now. Today, Jim recommended the best filter for my new Canon lens, something Samy's LA couldn't do. From now on, personally, only Samy's Pasadena exists. read more

Great experience at Samy's Camera. I had the best sales associate assisting me, Andrew Sanchez went above and beyond the call of duty to assist me with my light and lavaliere purchase. I will definitely be back and I will send all my entertainment friends/ associates to purchase from this location. Andrew was so informative and helpful during my process of selection. Thank you for your time and efforts to make sure that I purchased the correct products for my shoot for tomorrow!! Job well done keep up the awesome service. read more

Swung by the store today and Stephanie was super helpful and friendly. Brought my boss' camera in and she took the time to look at all the lenses for me. She was absolutely wonderful. Highly recommend going to this shop. There were workers everywhere in all the depts. Dog friendly - sign on door says they just need to be leashed. They have a small parking lot and plenty of street parking closeby. read more

I had brought in TWO rolls of film about a week ago for them to be scanned and developed. I filled out a physical paper form and also an electronic form with one of the representatives. Went over the resolution, the transfer links, and price. Came out to $25 ish dollars. Signed, invoiced, thanked them, and was told it would take close to 2 weeks. All sounded good until just today I was called at work and told that I only paid for one roll of film to be scanned and developed, not two... I am completely confused how the representative in person didn't think that something sounded off paying $25 for two rolls of film to be scanned and developed. It isn't my problem that they accepted the wrong amount of payment and misquoted me? We agreed on a price, I paid and that's about it. This was my first time getting film scanned and developed here and is definitely my last time too. The manager "Dana" who spoke to me on the phone also sounded completely disinterested in helping make things right. Actually, she did want to make things right. She wanted ME to make things right and to drive back to Sammys to pay for something I was basically misquoted. Interesting way of providing customer service. read more

This delivers on all fronts of what you need a camera store to be. It's large but not an overwhelming labyrinth and the staff are personable, patient and helpful. Great store. They deserve your business and you will probably find what you need here. read more

Phenomenal team at Pasadena! Their brainstorming helped me save one of my film rolls. I first purchased one of their single use cameras (film stock for what I wanted that day was out, no big deal), broke it open, and loaded into my lomography fisheye camera. They helped out with a re-loadable film canister to re-shoot my roll and I am forever grateful to Andrew, Dana, and Adrian for providing good counsel and resources. Thanks a ton! read more

Samy's Camera - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Everyone here is so nice and helpful. Art is my hero!!! Fixed my camera in like 2 seconds, after I had tried for hours. Magical read more

Samys always has what you need and the prices are fair. If you have questions just ask for help!

I want to give a huge thank you to the guys at Samy's in Pasadena, Art in particular! He was incredibly helpful and patient with the repair of my tripod that was missing a small part. Thanks again Art for making my experience so easy and quick! read more

This review is specifically of the Pasadena camera department. Samy's camera department is a top-shelf, old-school, professional retail experience. I worked with Frank, who is exceptional, but everyone I interfaced with in the camera department was knowledgeable and helpful. They know and use the products, have everything there for you to look at, can discuss trade-offs, remember who you are, don't try to up-sell you, etc. Most retailers today know nothing and basically say "go to the internet and figure out exactly what you want and then come buy it from me". Which of course, is why most real retail is long gone. This is quite different. People who remember the world when retailers did more than sit around watching TikTok all day will think they just stepped out of a time machine into 1965. read more

I have been to this location twice (so far) and I am in awe of the service I have received from Ruth. I purchased a 35 mm Nikon FG and I went in to purchase some film. I haven't shot film in over 8 years, so I had no idea what was what. In came my superhero, Ruth. I had so many questions (some very, very dumb) and Ruth answered all of them so kindly. She is SO patient and never made me feel stupid (even when asking how to load the film ‍). A few days later, I had to come to this location again because the shutter wasn't opening. She fixed it in 5 minutes. A serious lifesaver! Ruth is absolutely phenomenal! As long as she is at this location, I will be coming here for all of my film needs! Ruth is an absolute gem of a human & such a wealth of knowledge! read more

I live in Tucson, but I needed a lens for a new Canon R5. I had talked to the service center in Costa Mesa. Recommended Samy's Camera. Was coming to LA area and lived at one time in Pasadena area. Lookup up the Canon RF 28-70 mm F2.0 lens. Web site said it was in stock so just after Palm Springs I stopped and called, Frank answered I asked about this lens he said indeed it was in stock asked about a UV, and Polo filters. I arrived 1.5 hours later and everything was ready. I enjoy this lens and wanted to give a shout out about the great customer service. Thanks again Frank. read more

I had an incredibly good experience today trading in some used gear with the help of Andrew and Jason. Both of them were patient, generous, and fun to chat with about the history of our gear. We were able to get an incredible amount of store credit and turn it into a few brand new lenses. Andrew stayed with us through the whole process and made it super easy. He definitely went the extra mile. Even living in central LA, the Pasadena location is my favorite with now on top of it they are. read more

Best place to buy a camera and also get advice on what gear to buy! They also make repairs super easy!

I've now bought two cameras from this store over the last few years. Juan has helped me with both purchases. He is so knowledgeable and helpful as you would expect from a camera store. He listened to my needs and made sure I got what I wanted without trying to sell me ......If you want to know you are in good hands and deal with honest people who have great follow-through, this is your store and Juan is your guy. Thank you Juan for the great service. Juan is a great asset to your company Samy's. I hope you take good care of him! read more

I went to this story after doing some research for a Sony camera battery. My camera was not working and thought it could be the battery since I had not used this camera in over two years. I told the guy what was going on and he agreed that it is the battery. I ask the price for the battery and he said 59.90 wow!!! Because I suspected also that it was the batter I check prices on both ebay and amazon the battery by its self is 9.00 with no chargers with charger it came out to 11 dollars at amazon. Samy's is wrong for charging 5-6 times over the prices of the battery. I suggest you shop else where this place is a ripoff. I just got a charger and battery for 11 at amazon Shame on you Samy's for taking advantage of your customers read more

I bought a camera for my boyfriends birthday around this time last year and could not be happier. The lady saleswoman really won me over, and the owner/manager was super kind. They had the best deal and a year about the EOS R is going strong. I recco everyone to come to this store for purchase. read more

Samy's Camera - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Pasadena, California

Samys is my Go to always!!! They never hesitate to help and always got my back with anything! I recently had a problem with my camera and Eric immediately fixed it right there in front of me. Needed the film badly so was glad he was able to assist me. HIGHLY recommend going there! read more

Samy's Camera - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Pasadena, California

I had "soft focus" issue with my camera/lens combination. I spoke to Patrick the day before and said to bring it in. I came in to the store and Patrick helped me. He took his time and made the adjustments to sharpen my photos. He showed me which menus to go into to make adjustments on my other lenses. I'll definitely be back! read more

Let's be clear: I don't work for, or have any personal interest attached with this retailer. I'm a long time customer and I'm baffled by the overall rating of Samy's Pasadena. I've been coming here since I started to pursue photography as an enthusiast, about 6 years now. And everyone knows photography enthusiasts have GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). When I'm interested in a particular piece of equipment, I do my research online first. Sure, online MIGHT be cheaper (even then, not as much as you think) and when each piece of equipment is at least $1,000 you'd want to actually touch and feel it before dropping that kind of cash. That being said, I think it's fair to buy from the retailer who did more than post some pictures and the manufacturer's blurb online. When you go to Samy's you're actually physically speaking with real live EXPERTS who know EXACTLY what they're talking about with people who have a pretty good idea of what they need. Those comparing big box stores to Samy's just don't understand why Samy's exists. As my great-grandpappy's college roommate used to say: "If you have to ask why, it's probably not for you." read more

I went there back in October for a new Canon small digital WiFi camera and the staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. A couple weeks ago I went back to see why my memory card didn't upload in my computer and they once again was helpful then bought a new one and I had excellent experience! read more

I was very rusty with my photography skills and knowledge but staff member Andrew didn't make me feel dumb, which I appreciate. The light boxes I ended up getting along with a travel pack and light stands were great for the photo gig I had. I look forward to taking their classes and returning if additional equipment is needed! High quality service and almost any photo equipment you may fancy. read more

I purchased a camera for my husband at Samy's. Frank made us feel very welcomed and comfortable at Samy's. He was very patient with us, and provided a lot of knowledge to us to pick the best camera. Thank you so much for helping us! It was such a good feeling to know that we made a great purchase and we had a wonderful experience at Samy's! read more

This is the second time I've been to this location within the past week and much of that is due to the incredible customer service here. I believe, Jackie, was one that helped me out last week and answered many questions I had over lighting and was so sweet. Today, I had the pleasure of being greeted and helped by, Frank. He picked out a backdrop stand for me and grabbed the colors necessary for the stand. He even showed me how to make more space in my Chrysler to fit the 9 foot backdrops! Haha Such a wonderful group of people here in Pasadena and I highly recommend this place to anyone who needs camera equipment and advice. read more

If you're looking for expert advice I strongly suggest you go to Samy's Pasadena. Jason and Clem were MORE than helpful and provided much needed advice on which camera/lens to go with. I was initially headed to best buy but luckily I stopped by Samy's first. Jason went into great detail about the models I was interested in and Clem helped me decide on my ultimate purchase. I was able to walk out with the exact pairing that I needed and I'm very grateful for that. Again, if you're looking for great advice I strongly suggest that you stop by Samy's Pasadena and ask for Jason and Clem. They'll make sure to take care of you. Exceptional service guys! I'll be back for a few things soon! read more

I love this place! Christy was so helpful! All of the staff is always super helpful and welcoming. I love this place. The customer service is always so exceptional. Thank you guys for being awesome! read more

Art helped me with a lens that went through a small mishap. He's repaired and cleaned my camera and lenses before and he's always great! I really appreciate how ready he is to get my gear working and he's clearly great at what he does. Thanks Art :) read more

Hi Jason, thanks for your reply. I'm sorry I could not replicate the problem at your store under very different lighting conditions. I offered to email sample images of the glowing pixels to your sales associate but he said it wasn't needed. If it was in the viewfinder only, no big deal but I can't give clients images with rogue glowing pixels in them. I know your job can be pretty challenging especially with malicious returns and so forth mixed in with customers that have legitimate problems. Unfortunately, your response made me feel like I was one of the malicious customers. I just wish we could have had better communication with each other in your store. Sometimes you have to put yourself in your customer's shoes and imagine yourself in my situation. The purchase in your store was to test out the new R series of bodies and lenses before transitioning over. I know we did not have much dialogue in your store and I appreciate you clearing up your perspective after the fact but that did not help me having to walk out worrying about the big "what if question." So that leads me to the still unanswered question...what if my second camera had the same exact issue and my raw files had bright glowing pixels in them under certain lighting conditions? Would I be left holding the bag and have to deal with the manufacturer myself? In the end, the answer to this question is the only thing that matters to me going forward. Thanks again for reaching out and I hope this clears up my perspective as well. Sincerely, Ron Reynolds ***NEW UPDATE*** Jason was kind enough to reach out and clear up any concerns I had regarding any future purchases. I am very relieved since I will always try to support brick and morter establishments prior to shopping online. Thank you Jason! read more

Stephanie at this location was beyond helpful. I had an issue with my camera and she walked me through the process of having it repaired and even went above and beyond to give me additional resources to have it repaired quicker. I was having a bad day due to my camera issues and Stephanie's customer service exceeded my expectations! Thank you again. I love Samy's. read more

Excellent personalized service that beats all big box stores! Loved their attention to the customer first instead of sales first. No pressure, just great advice, plethora of gear to try out. Ended up getting the new Canon SL2 (200D) and a great 11-16mm macro lens for vlogging. Excellent return policy, and better exchange terms. Got free lessons for the month from their Canon rep! Worth the drive to get equipment you will be happy with! read more

WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. For camera battery order form Amazon if you're not in a hurry . Spent almost $120 on 3 small things 2 batteries and a charging port for the camera . Like wow . read more

I might take a thousand pics and get one I actually like. That being said that one sale I made of a landscape shot, allowed me to do some upgrades, a tripod, an eye mount that is more comfortable to use on my Digital SLR, a good case, sun shade piece, some filters I needed. Samy's has it all and the people behind the counter know their stuff. Someday I hope to make it a career, to travel, take pictures, make money traveling wouldn't that be cool? Anyway for now, Samy's is my go place for photography. read more

Art and Andrew were both amazing. Art helped me fix my lens that wasn't focusing due to a couple loose screws that I didn't notice, I would have sent it to the manufacturer or even bought a new lens had I not stopped by to see if it was fixable, very grateful that Art worked his magic with his hands in mere seconds. Andrew helped me pick out some light modifiers, lens filters and a few other essentials and kept making sure that I got everything I needed and was very attentive in answering all my questions. Thanks Samy's! read more

I've been buying my camera equipment from Samy's Camera for at least 20 years (mostly at their Pasadena store) because of their helpful and knowledge staff, their excellent prices, AND I believe in supporting local businesses. I'm a college professor, and when I used to teach at the art college nearby, my students would buy their equipment from Samy's Camera (they all had positive experiences there). Recently I've been buying a lot of video and audio equipment in order to keep up on the technology while teaching my students modern workflows. Jim Endo from Video and Camera Sales has been a wealth of information for me, especially when it comes to me making the most informed purchasing decisions (as was Ken Dethloff when he was at the Pasadena location). I highly recommend the Pasadena store location as everyone I've dealt with there has been above and beyond professional. Their manager, Jason, is top notch! read more