Great range of product. Miserable staff (but actually quite charming). Hardcore sales tactics "You are wrong, we are right. Seriously, forget what your professional photographer friend said about Canon, it's the Practika you need". Let you get hands-on with stuff, so you can see it working - which is a huge bonus. But, after all that, then you have the pricing. Good web sites beat John Lewis by around 30%. John Lewis beats most high street stores by around 10% - and often give a better warranty. Other high street stores are probably 10-20% cheaper than Spectrum. When you add it all up, the real cost of buying here is phenominal. read more

Spectrum - Spectrum:So miserable and expensive that it's (almost) funny - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - London, XGL

Had a passport photo taken here. It was only after the photo was taken I was told it was the '£12.99 special' which is more than double the price you would pay anywhere else in London. Nigel who took the photos was very friendly however I was not shown the photos or given an option before printing. The photos provided were unusable and rejected by the passport office as they were taken against a dark grey background. I went back in to the store the next day where I was offered a replacement however as the photo printer was broken I would need to wait 20 mins. In fairness the background was much improved but instead of receiving a set of 8 different photos (as with the first attempt) I was given 4 photos - of what I assume was the worst shot. This is not a photo I will be using in my passport. I have since given up and gone two doors down where the cost came in at £6. It also turns out this is where Nigel had gone to print out the photos charging a considerable markup. To cut a long story short - avoid at all costs. Rip off merchants. read more

Needed a new UV Filter for my Lens and didn't want to wait for delivery. Staff where helpful and polite. Not a bad price for a branded filter and they have a great selection. Will visit again if i need something. read more

I popped in to this shop looking for some sound advice, only to be met with the most arrogant, condescending and snotty comments. I knew what I was after, and had done my research, yet all my comments and points were scoffed at. Another member of staff made some embarrassing attempt to salvage what was obviously a ridiculous display of customer service, but only served to make things worse by telling me a load of nonsense. I was asking about compact system cameras, and from my research believe some of the Sony ones to be the best. I was then told that they definitely wouldn't recommend these, they wouldn't tell me why though. I'd imagine it's because they don't sell them. And then, in the same "I know everything, you know nothing" tone as the first staff member, I was told that I had to buy Olympus, as they invented the system so must be the best. Absolute rubbish. Even when I asked about the Olympus brand out of curiosity, I had to prompt him to even give me some model numbers, but no offer to show me anything, either actual product or in a catalogue. Absolutely would not even think about going here again. I didn't even see what their prices were like, I couldn't care less. With such appalling customer service, it's a wonder how they do any trade at all. I guess they can easily prey on vulnerable customers, bombard them with jargon and information, until they give in and hand their cash over. Having run my own shop for several years, I know a thing or two about customer service...now, I'm not saying I'm any sort of customer service guru, but the fact that I walked out mid conversation says a lot. It's been a while since a retail experience has left me so disheartened. Seriously, this place is awful. For some proper, sound advice on cameras, I'd suggest heading to Camera World on Wells St in Fitzrovia, the place where I'll be heading to spend my money. read more

I wandered in here this week in curiosity mode as they had a fine selection of cameras in the window. I got talking to the most informative sales assistant I have ever come across in a photography store to date. He was a professional photographer himself from Poland and has totally weaned me in the direction of Pentax as I had formally been a Canon lady although in saying that my very first SLR was a Pentax. I learnt that Pentax digital SLR's are actually right up there with Nikon and Canon at a much more affordable price. I tried several different lenses with different bodies which was interesting and informative. I didn't feel under pressure to buy which is how I feel at a lot of camera stores in London which was refreshing. The last words my lovely sales assistant said to me was "When you are ready I will still be here" ahhhh! read more

The location is inaccurate, been walking for over half an hour just looking for the shop, couldn't find it. I even asked the people working close by but none of them have heard of this shop. Such a pity and loss of time. read more

Looking for expert no-nonsense advice about buying the right photo gear? This tiny Tottenham Court Road camera and photography shop is superb. I was there yesterday with a friend who's thinking about buying a new digital camera and was really impressed with the knowledge the salesman (Nigel - cool guy) shared with us and the time he took to make sure my friend understood what her options were given her price range. It was kinda a hard sell he was dishing out, but hey he ain't there providing a public service. Still when my friend explained she was still in "just looking" mode, he wasn't pushy or disrespectful. I hung back, not letting on that I dabble in photography, and got impression that his spiel was BS free. I also felt that if based in London, this would be a great place for budding photographers to build a relationship. Friendly/hassle-free service and great advice! Prices are at least in line with those at PC World across the street and the rest of the TCR lot - there might even be some haggling wiggle room. The real difference between Spectrum and the nearby competition is the attentive, knowledgable and attentive staff. read more

Traveling around the UK and Europe from my cozy SF home... and, of course, I forget my camera charger. After looking around online and considering having something delivered express I stumbled on this little shop a few blocks away from my rental. The gentleman that helped me was incredibly thorough. Offered the Sony brand charger and an "all-in-one" type deal which was half the price. He went as far as opening the all-in-one and testing it to reassure me that it would work with my particular battery. It had adapters for US, UK, Europe... and a car charger. Anyhow - friendly service, incredibly thorough, decently priced. read more

At last someone who knows their stuff, provides straight talking, honest and excellent advice. After traipsing through all the department stores in search of a new camera I decided to look up a proper camera shop and headed to Spectrum. I went in planning to break the bank on a new camera and came out with a good quality and much less expensive lens. These guys know their business and will not sell you anything for the sake of a sale. The next time I want some camera hardware I will be travelling to London to use Spectrum which will be well worth the 1000km round trip read more

I visited this store to get my passport photos done. Firstly I rang up and they were very helpful on the phone. When I arrived, Nigel was very helpful, knowledgable and efficient in doing the passport photos. He even checked that they would be accepted on the online passport application which was very helpful. I highly recommend this store and both members of staff are friendly and helpful. Thanks for all your help. read more

Very nice guys. I had a U.S. battery for my Nikon lithiums and instead of trying to sell me a whole new UK charger, they offered a few, cheaper options. I'll definitely return for any future camer/video/telescope needs. read more

My sense is that all the places on Tottenham Court Road offer approximately the same prices for cameras (note: some places do offer cheaper deals, but then you are buying Asian models, not UK models, which means if they break you'll be out of warranty). I checked out a number of stores in street, but found Spectrum to have by the biggest range, and also by far the most informative staff. I originally went in looking for a wide-angle lens to compliment my 50mm, and after a long conversation with two of the assistants, became convinced that my original 50mm was a piece of sh*t that needed to be replaced with a beautiful 50mm Sigma lens (v. nice that they didn't try to sell me the more expensive Canon lens). I also ended up buying a really beautiful Tokina wide-angle lens. Several months later I am still extremely happy with the purchase and advice I got. These guys know what I they are talking about. The second time I came into the store the guy I talked to was a professional photographer who had actually been shot in Bosnia while working; and while these guys clearly know a great deal, you don't get the feeling you are being condescended to (while I was there they were happily giving advice on cheap point-and-shot cameras as well). Bottom-line: Come here if you want the widest selection and are open to having honest advice about the best camera for your needs. read more

was looking for a basic tripod and took a short trip to this store I've read some positive reviews on. as I got in, the nice two gentlemen offered their help, showing me what i was looking for and stuff that was a bit more expensive but they thought would worth the expense. these guys are professionals, they give honest and reliable service and as a matter of fact, I ended up staying in the store for about 20 minutes after i finished my purchase because i enjoyed our conversations. a wonderland for every camera-man- very keen service, loads and loads of gear of all kinds and even more knowledge to share. super!! read more

I was looking to spend quite a lot of money on my first full frame camera and really benefited from the knowledge and experience that Phil offered. It took me 3 visits to finally take the plunge and after each one, my own research served to confirm what Phil had told me. I'm really pleased with my purchase. Not all camera salesmen know their products like Phil does and it was immensely helpful to talk to him about the options. As well as knowing his products, he's also a really decent fellow. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this shop. read more

AVOID. Overpriced and reassuringly RUDE every time. The good reviews here astonish me and are probably paid by the owners. The staff in this dark, cramped shop is the worst combination of sleazy and lazy. I know it well, as I had to buy equipment from them three different times as a emergency (different years) and now - even thought they are the closest to our offices - I'll make a point of never setting foot inside ever again. read more

Spectrum do indeed know their stuff and that's fantastic. However, two of my clients reported walking out feeling really upset and angry as did I when I went to investigate my clients' report that specifically one of the men in there had been really angry, rude and condescending and wouldn't even give them a general price... I also needed to buy a nice 85mm 1.2... which I went elsewhere for. I often recommend friendly, knowledgeable places for photography clients of mine to go. To me, long term relationship and friendliness is as important as knowledge and I will definitely not recommend going here when there are gorgeous photography stores close by. read more

This is a traditional camera shop, packed with stock and run by knowledgeable salesmen who know their products. I was after a Pentax kit and knowing that Spectrum were Pentax dealers who appreciate the quality of their DSLRs, headed for their shop. They gave me good advice on the options, demonstrating alternative lenses and camera handling. They also stock a good range of other brands and I noticed a good selection of binoculars on display. I was also pleasantly surprised by their prices, which are very competitive. In an era of impersonal internet sales, this is a refreshing change, with good advice being given, plenty of stock and competitive pricing. read more

I was taken to school on cameras today. The Spectrum guys must do Spock training camps or simply have Vulcan blood because they know everything one needs to know about the noble are of photography. Like Martina I was seduced in by the plethora of top-of-the range cameras in the window. I've been flirting with buying a zoom lens for a while. One in the window is the size of a small child. You would need guns like Hulk Hogan to hold the thing without a tripod. My schooling began when I discussed wanting a zoom lens. I was immediately told for the project I had in mind required a macro lens and if I wanted decent shots, I'd be looking at spending £400. I feel there clear love, and phenomenal knowledge of the craft of the camera led to their looks of disdain when I stumbled over the lingo. I always allow for a touch of surly service from tech heads as long as they can back it up with expertise. These guys clearly know there stuff. Plus, their store is crammed with product. read more

Please avoid this store! I've never had a worse shopping experience in my life. The staff were rude, lied to me, told me I didn't know what I was talking about and knew next to nothing about the photography equipment they were selling. They also quoted me prices way over the RRP of the products, and then had the cheek to tell me they were giving me a special price! I wanted a Carbon Fibre tripod and asked what they had to offer. After trying hard to tell me I didn't want a carbon fibre one but instead some cheap plastic rubbish for £100, he actually asked me what was so good about a carbon fibre tripod anyway... I had to explain to him the benefits. Then he quoted me a price of £200 for a Camlink Carbon Fibre tripod which has an rrp of £160 and a normal high street price of £130. I left the shop feeling angry and feeling sorry for the other customers being swindled in there. I wanted to stand outside the store and warn people not to go inside. I ended up buying the tripod online for £80! Stay well clear of this shop!!! PS: Don't believe the positive reviews for this store on yelp, Reading through them I suspect they are fake. Take a look at the Google reviews for confirmation of how truly awful this shop is. read more

Awful telephone manner. Phoned for a price on a camera/lens package and they refused to give me one unless I could quote a rival within 5 miles. Explained I wasn't from the area and it was mail order. Mike was very rude. Hung up on me. If this is the attitude before you buy, imagine if you need help or advice after. Personally I'd avoid at all costs. read more

I mave been using this store for many years. They are extremely knowledgable and helpful and give excellent after sales service. Highly recommended. read more

The reviews on this site aren't consistent with reviews on other websites where people have acknowledged the terrible customer service at this shop. At first I felt bad for the guy despite him making me feel uncomfortable, he was desperate for my custom, I understand that the market isn't great with online shops. But then he turned from just being pushy to very rude, insulting and patronising that I decided to cancel the transaction and take my custom elsewhere. Contrastingly the people at West End Cameras across the road are lovely. (and offered services for half the price) read more

Absolutely stay away from these shysters. You got Fat Phil who is ostensibly the manager, so if you arrange something with one of the other salesman he has to "authorise" it; he himself is very difficult to deal with. No prices are marked - it's all a matter of " we don't publish prices - let's discuss the item you want" and the prices these guys give you are incredibly high - not just compared to the Internet. The prices at Jessops, Jacobs, PC World - reputable shops which all have prices that are not cheap compared to the internet - look like flea market prices compared to this place. Reason I say shysters - the price of a Kood uv filter should be £10-15 but the price I was quoted was in excess of £30! Same applied to other things I asked about. I ended up paying for a camera body I wanted and then finding out that the same could be purchased at Jessops etc for £200 less. My mistake I realize, but the fact they say "unbeatable prices " and all that , and then shaft you when you are not in know says it all. Learn from my mistake and be forewarned. read more

If you want to see bad customer service try this shop. They do not offer refunds as I found out after buying an incorrect lens filter which I returned after 20 minutes. The sales staff are pushy and don't listen to customers requirements. read more

Asked to have a look at a lens that I was considering purchasing, but still wanted more time to think about whether I wanted to get it. They refused to get it out and wanted to discuss price, and when I said that I didn't know how much they were currently going for was called a liar. I was then called an internet shopper and told how immoral internal shoppers were coming in to look at equipment and then buying online. The rant went on for quite a while and they were incredibly obnoxious. The last thing they said was to come back when I'm ready to buy. When I'm ready to buy I won't be buying this lens online, but I won't be buying from this shop either. read more