If you're looking for a place to test out a new lens, camera or equipment before you buy, this is the place to do so in the Valley. I've been lucky to purchase 2 cameras here and a few lenses. However each time I do so, I receive poor customer service and found myself waiting for a long time. From my experience I would not recommend selling camera equipment here as you may find yourself waiting hours for assistance. Purchasing there is good, only because they have a large stock of equipment and you can see what you buy but do be careful. I have been charged $300 extra accidentally and had to wait over an hour to have it resolved. Perhaps it was an accident but each time I go I feel like it's always a bad experience. It's become consistent. At this point I'll start buying online and looking at equipment elsewhere. read more

While it was not my first choice of camera shop to use while here in Phoenix, it was the closest and open the latest. I submitted a review a while back decrying Tempe Camera's lack of customer service and inflated prices. All that has seemed to change. I stopped in for a few quick items and was greeted by an eager and friendly sales team. The items I needed were quickly found and we were able to talk shop for a bit as well. This was a complete turnaround from the lethargic and in general disinterested salespeople I experienced a few years ago. The store seemed well stocked with a wide range of name brand and generic equivalent products that catered to all skill levels and needs. Thanks guys for the great sales experience, you are now my preferred shop for my photography needs whenever I find myself in the Phoenix area. read more

I bought some cameras and camera lenses at an auction and didn't want to sell them before I knew if they worked and how to label them professionally. I was recommended by a different camera store to Tempe camera. I will first attest that the address, hours, and phone number are correct. I went in and they were very nice. I was told to go upstairs at which a man looked through my stuff and patiently gave price estimates and answered all of my questions. They do buy cameras and lenses but were not interested in mine. I then went downstairs and gave them my lenses and cameras to repair to test if they were functioning. I paid $20 and the next day they called me and said that they were ready. I had 11 cameras and lenses to be tested! They got it all done along with written results. If I ever have a problem with a camera or lens I will come right back to this store. It was totally worth the 25-minute drive there. read more

Took my camera in after the memory card broke off into the slot. Tempe Camera had it in over the weekend and on Monday it was as good as new! They even took extra time to clean a few parts of my DSLR up. Great service! read more

I've found Tempe Camera to be the most professional and courteous out of any I've been to, including all around Los Angeles. The staff is very knowledgeable about their products and I've purchased many filters and cleaning equipment, on recommendation from their friendly staff. They've also done a great job cleaning my digital from time to time. I accidentally smashed my brand new DSLR on the tile floor a couple mos. after I bought it, lens side down. The UV filter shattered glass everywhere and jammed itself into the lens. I figured I broke my very expensive camera and lens but thankfully I brought it to Tempe Camera, where they diagnosed it on the spot and said they would be able to get it working again. Three days later, they had it back to me. The lens didn't break, and they were able to pry off the filter without damaging any parts. They also didn't charge me for it! Honestly, they're my heroes! I would have gladly paid. :) The most valuable thing I've found is they don't have an attitude, and treat all their customers the same, whether they are professional photogs, students, or amateurs. I've had bad experiences elsewhere, especially when I was a Photo student, mainly because I had the label of student. I've always been appreciative that Tempe Camera takes the time to explain their products, and never gives you the sense that you are asking "dumb questions." read more

They have an amazing repair department!

I have emailed them, they don't return emails. I have called them and had to leave a message with one of the sales people for someone in their online sales department. Never received a return call. I guess they are not interested in potential customers. Will shop elsewhere. read more

First time here, I had no idea where I was going then they sent me upstairs. Staff was very helpful, and friendly. One of the guys had no idea what I was talking about when I was trying to find a piece for my Kessler slider. Found the piece with a different individual. I would go here again just to look at items before I find a good deal online to buy. read more

Tempe Camera - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I haven't walked in to the place and not bought something... they always get my money! LOL Lots to offer... the staff is very knowledgeable... over all the place is well worth a visit. Pricing... you can't expect them to be as cheap as B&H or other online retailers... but... having a local shop to go to when you need something that day is a great asset to the community. So... go shop there... keep the business flowing. Hatch read more

I've been shopping/renting here for over 10 years. The staff is helpful and very knowledgeable. Currently, they have my Hasselblad camera in for a repair. I trust they'll do a great job! read more

I stopped into Tempe Camera today for the first time to test the waters and potentially inquire about some work I needed to be done on my camera. One person poked her head out from the back to look at me, then a few minutes went by before another employee walked up and asked what I needed. I told her my shutter is sticking and I need to manually release it every exposure. She asked if I was getting an error code. I said yes. She said 'we do free estimates' and started back. I told her it was my first time at Tempe Camera and she told me what the door said: repairs on the first floor, sales on the second floor, and the lab was next door. Then she walked away. I was really frustrated by this because I'm entirely new to digital SLR cameras and was really hoping to get some background on the store and speak with someone for more than 30 seconds to find out what kind of person would potentially be working on my equipment. I got brushed off instead. I came back an hour later after I had some time to cool off with camera in hand and spoke with the same person. I asked if she was going to brush me off again. She told me she didn't think she did. I explained that I'm trying to get back into photography after a 15 year or so hiatus, I'm a local with a job in Tempe and I explained this would be the camera shop I would logically be going to through retirement, explained that the camera I have needed some TLC, and explained that I was really unhappy with the interaction I had an hour ago. She looked at my camera only long enough to take the cap off and, with the shutter facing me, she said that the shutter was "mangled" and it would be 4- 6 weeks to send the camera back to the manufacturer to do the work. I took the camera out of her hand and left. I've taken maybe 200-300 exposures with this camera and the shutter issue was a sudden problem I had after a long night of astrophotography. Before taking the camera in I had probed online at all the possible reasons why I would have this issue and nobody, even once, came to the conclusion she did without even looking at the camera. The shutter doesn't look "mangled" to me and I'm rather frankly disgusted at the interaction I had today. Update*** I just got the camera fixed by myself, with no new parts. One part of the shutter was misaligned, that was it. If the jerk at Tempe Camera had looked at it longer than just the second it took to take the cap off, she would have figured that out for herself and I might be a grateful new customer. I fully intend on telling everyone I know with a camera how awful this shop is. read more

Many of the stores in Tempe seem to me to be shadowed by better ones in larger cities. Not so Tempe Camera. I'm not a camera expert but they seem to have a huge range of items and services. The prices do seem a little high, but I've gotten good service from them many times. I would double check on some of their facts, however. A friend of mine went in recently and was told they didn't have any more Kodak 8mm film as "they don't make them anymore." A quick check on the Kodak website revealed that wasn't true. read more

I had a great experience here as a first-time visitor. My salesperson, Stephanie, was knowledgeable about the products I was inquiring about and gave me good advice. I purchased a camera for my husband for Christmas, so even though they typically have a 5-day return policy, she extended it until 5 days after Christmas so that he could exchange it if he wanted to. He did end up wanting to exchange it, but there was some confusion about whether or not the extended warranty I had purchased would transfer. Stephanie contacted the manufacturer and was great about following up with me in a timely manner. In the end, I exchanged the camera with no issues and was able to get the extended warranty issued for the new camera as well. Great local business and based on this experience, I will come here any time I need anything photo-related! read more

This is mostly for the Imaging Center. Great service; love the staff. Great rates on processing. Go shoot some film and get it done here. read more

Great customer service, staff is knowledgeable and friendly. From rentals to purchases every experience I have had has been great. I like that they are not constantly trying to upsell you on things you do not need. read more

I've been to Tempe Camera about a dozen times and have utilized all their services (bought gear, rented equipment, processed film, etc). The other reviewers are right - they do have a great selection of professional equipment for sale/rent, and the guys there do know their shit. But hey guess what - so does any other professional camera store. And come to think of it, so does the internet (along with much, much lower prices). Local shops' true distinction come down to things like customer service and attitude. And unfortunately, Tempe Camera really blows in this regard. I'm by no means an uber-photographer, but I know my way around film/digital SLRs and studio equipment. Which is a good thing, because TC treats first-time and novice photographers like they're idiots. It's as if they're elitists, spewing condescension to make themselves feel more awesome. Shining example from today: against my better judgment, I came here with two friends of mine that were in the market for their first digital SLR. They had decided on the Olympus E-PL1, which is a very respectable camera, and I had expected that TC would have it in stock. My friend waited her turn and then: Friend: I came by to check out the Olympus E-PL1; do you guys have it? TC: We don't carry Olympus. No one comes in here asking about them really; they're going down the tubes. If you're looking for Olympus, go to Cosco. Friend: Oh...ok... ...go to Cosco? Really? Apparently if you're not looking for a $5K Canon or $10K Hasselblad, these guys just can't be bothered to help you any further than making you feel stupid for your choice in gear. Great way to help grow the hobby, guys. Luckily for me and my friends (and you too, dear reader), there is a much more awesome place for photography equipment - Photomark, which is up on 22nd Street and McDowell. Talk about friendly, super-helpful folks! Not only did they have it in stock - but John Sullivan over there talked with them for nearly 20 minutes, explaining the camera's features and how it compares to other SLRs. They walked out with a new camera. The lesson I learned today was this: never go back to Tempe Camera, even if it's just down the block. Make the slightly longer trip to Photomark, where you won't have to deal with jerks. read more

Back in the days of celluloid (you know, film, the stuff we used to put in cameras), I came to Tempe Camera all the time. Their processing was fairly priced and I could rest assured my negatives would not be scratched. Though I now shoot digital and don't have a need for these services, I imagine not much has changed. Equipment sales are another strong point from my perspective. The salespeople are always among the friendliest I've ever dealt with and helpful to boot. Sure, the prices are a little higher than some of the mail-order shops (I spent $80 on a filter I could have ordered for $60), but the smiles and helpfulness make the price difference negligible. I've never brought a camera in for repair, but have been told that they know what they're doing. If the other components of their business are any indication, I believe it. read more

This place is almost as bad for me as The Apple Store. The friendliest of staff, a great selection and some of the best prices I've seen. As long as I'm pretending to be a photographer I'll keep coming back to this awesome store. read more

Awful. Dropped my camera for a cleaning 4 weeks ago. They initially misplaced my camera and could not find it. Went to pick up today and nothing was done to it since I had turned down an expensive firmware update. No update no cleaning? Waste of time. The left hand doesn't communicate with the right and the customer service ladies act like I'm an inconvenience. Never coming here again. read more

My husband took in a OM1 for a "free" estimate to fix it. When the estimate came back higher then expected he wanted to think it over to see if it was worth it for a older camera. When he went to pick it up they tried to bully him into leaving it for them to repair. Making comments like "if you bring it back, the estimate will be higher". Evidently the estimate is free.... but you better let us fix it. Nobody likes a bully.....and, no thanks. read more

Very nice and helpful on the phone, and same in the store. I needed a mid-range ($1100) lense for my Sony camera, which they had in stock. They let me put it on my camera and shoot quite a few shots until I was comfortable with it, never pressured me to buy it. They took the time to explain a few things and help me find a couple filters I like to use. Amused at the guy below - you called and sent them on a 10-minute wild goose chase, and they actually found what you wanted, then you dissed their fair price, said you were done with the phone call, they hung up, and you call that a problem? That's awesome customer service dude, you're the dickhead. "I guess I'll go somewhere else" IS the end of the phone call, dumbass. read more

I have used Tempe Camera's Lab services mostly on line. I worked with an extremely nice lady "Deb" who helped me get started and worked with me when "I" messed up an order. She is a real pleasure to work with. Patient, helpful and always stays in communication regarding my orders. I have been extremely pleased with the product from this lab. I use Lightroom to process my images, I have a "Spyder" calibrated monitor. The color quality of my prints from Tempe Camera Lab are spot on with the colors from the monitor. I'm sure I could find a cheaper priced lab on line somewhere, but I know I will not find better customer service or quality. read more

Waste of time. Called to get estimate for sensor cleaning and told 2-3 days. Dropped camera off and told 2-3 days. 5 days later go in to pickup and nothing done and told since I didn't specify a date it can take week. read more

Brought a Nikon in for repair because a card had broken in card slot. They would not fix it and wanted to send it directly to Nikon. I was going to proceed but after giving them my credit card I was not given any information on how to check on the camera, no order #. I felt uncomfortable with follow up and picked camera up. Found United Camera on line and they were a dream to work with. Reasonable (told me max price right away) arranged for a box with pre-paid shipping and was assigned a direct point person. Camera was sent and back within the week. No part was needed, just some care to remove the broken card piece. read more

Been here twice. Second time, I showed my Canon AE-1 program film camera to the repair guy. He said it had so much mold and fungus in the body and lens that it most likely would not be worth repairing. He also quoted me a price for light seal replacement, should I need that service. So, you can't beat that, honesty, and not knowingly trying to take my money. Then, I went upstairs and talked to the counter guy about Leica's, and he was very friendly and accommodating. I bought some black and white film and left. Great service, friendly employees, and decent film prices. I will come back again, even though it's 25 minutes from the house. Thanks guys and girl! read more

I rented a canon lens here . They charged reasonably. Staff are very friendly . But only thing is i wish they had another branch too. Its quite far from the place i stay. read more

Such a great experience thanks to Mike. I went in to grab some 35mm film ended up realizing I had grabbed my so I thought broken camera. I live in Austin and both camera stores I take my film to get developed said they couldn't fix it and I needed to take it somewhere else. Well Mike helped me right away got it all fixed up and even cleaned it up for me. Thank you so much made my trip seriously so much more memorable. Thank you! read more

As a professional photographer I have spent many thousands of dollars at this place. They used to have excellent customer service with a knowledgeable sales staff but my last experience at Tempe Camera left me stunned. As I was waiting for a technician to evaluate some lenses I brought in for trade, a man came in and asked a salesperson what the difference is between the original Canon 24-105 f/4L and the newer Mark II version. Her response was, "I don't know, let's Google it!" So much for expert advice and knowledgeable sales staff... Then I was given a written quote on the lenses I was trading in and all the paperwork was started. They were about to close for the day so they asked me to come back Monday to complete the transaction. They kept my lenses, took my fingerprint, copy of drivers license, and set aside the new lens I planned to buy. Monday when my wife came in to complete the transaction, they asked for $500 more than originally agreed upon Saturday. They did not honor their written agreement, did not apologize, did not do anything to right the wrong. So much for honesty and acting in good faith.... Because I have had a many years long relationship with this company and this was only one experience that I felt uncharacteristic of my previous experiences, I decided to write a letter of complaint to the owner with a request to resolve the matter. No response whatsoever. So much for professionalism.... Three strikes and they are out. read more

If you have questions on features of your cameras or need supplies this is the place a smart staff. They have good sale items and a nice choice of used as well. read more

Terrible customer service. I was in the sales store today and after a 10 plus minute wait was able to speak with a sales representative. Asked him if they had an Arca-swiss type clamp assembly, in a huff he responded they carry no Arca products. I tried to clarify I was looking for an Arca-swiss type assembly and he became impatient with me and said he had no assemblies, just plates but didn't offer to show me any. After he walked away I spent a few minutes looking around the store and found exactly what I was looking for locked in a display case. Waited at the display counter for another 15 minutes but could not get a "sales rep" to come over. We wonder why brick and mortar stores are closing; I'll be calling B&H from now on. read more

Before I get down and dirty I took the time to read a few pages of reviews to get a handle on things before I made my review. I see mostly novice photographers happy Tempe Camera was able to do some simple procedure for them and things worked out for the best. Giving a single star rating on my behalf took some thinking before I came to write this review and is well worth it. In February I had just moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles for a job promotion for a TV Network, I have a film degree and have a good amount of DSLR education and time behind the lens. I have a D100 and a D2X. A few weeks passed from getting settled in, and my best friend from high school who lives out in Scottsdale invited me out for a weekend visit. Mouth watering of the beautiful desert I could be taking I brought along my D100 with 12-25 sigma and 75-250. I took some test shots in my apartment Friday afternoon as I always do before any proposed shoot and came to find a few specks that had found their way to the CMOS. So I decided to call Tempe Camera before they closed on Friday and they told me to come in Saturday Morning and they could have a CMOS cleaning done by 2pm which was fine. I drove out to Scottsdale friday night, Saturday I dropped it off, and I arrived to pick it up at 2pm. They had a special for CMOS cleaning, an extra $10 got a lens cleaning so I got my 75-250 cleaned. So Saturday we go on a planned 2 day hiking trip in the Tonto National forrest. When I am setting up for my first shoot my lens just falls off. It seems the collar of the attachment ring had been broken and just enough was there to hold it on for a small amount of time. Also the CMOS seemed even more dirty than when I first took it in. None-the-less I wasn;t happy since a majority of the trip was for photography in a very well reviewed area for just that. So on Monday morning I came in to Tempe Camera, explained that after I setup my camera, I found the lens ring was broken and that the CMOS cleaning was horribly done. Right from the start they were on the defense, saying it "couldn't have been their fault cause their people don;t make mistakes" which sounded quite ridiculous since we all make mistakes as humans do. Then the woman at the counter said that their CMOS cleanings aren't guaranteed and brought out my sales receipt to point out some insane super small print acknowledgement, which I didn't have to sign, just on the sales sheet copy to retrieve my equipment and pay for. Then I asked about the collar ring, and she said "oh no its impossible for it to be broken here. i don't know how it could have been broken". I understand some people think Tempe Camera is the greatest thing since whatever, Just cause sales people "know what they are talking about and help you" does't mean they are 5 star quality. When you get repairs and upgrades to your equipment then you know if they know their stuff which this place does not. In the long run, they did absolutely nothing for me. They were rude and actually had the audacity to say they could fix the problem they cause if I paid them. I have spoke with many other camera shops and they laughed when they said they weren't responsible for breaking my equipment or a quality CMOS cleaning. Of course they are responsible, I PAID them in an agreement to do something for a payment, which they either did not do or did do with VERY poor quality. They also broke my lens while in their custody. Long story short, if you want to get screwed over by a company who has no intention of taking any responsibility then go to Tempe Camera. They will be there for a long time cause they are basically on AU campus and there are tons of novice photography students they will continue to prey upon. I have also contacted the State Attorney general office of Arizona, the BBB, the Tempe business league, and a few photographic associations so others can be aware of Tempe Camera's horrible tactics. read more

The worst service I have ever had. I brought my camera in on a Tuesday because there were fibers and dust on the view finder, I showed this to the clerk and he saw them as well and said "OK we need a cleaning which will cost about $65". I said do it. I came in on Saturday got home and the view finder still had the dust, it was better but still quite visible just below the center focus point. I brought it in and the salesman blew around and only broke the larger piece of dust into smaller pieces. I left it for the tech to clean. Later a gal called and said she was refunding the money because they cleaned the sensor and not the view finder. I never asked for the sensor to be cleaned, yet the view finder did look better but not good enough. I went back picked up the camera got home and they took the 32 gb disk out of the camera and didn't put it back in. So here we are at 3:30 on our way back down to Tempe camera to pick up the 32 GB disk. If the disk wasn't a $25 disk I would lave left it to them as a gift. They really blew it that I didn't want the money back I wanted a camera cleaned and in this day and age of social media - an apology for work that was not done correctly by expensive trained technicians is not a good idea. Never the less I will watch on youtube a tutorial how to clean the mirror. I already know how to clean the image sensor (takes one swab with some fast drying solution on it and that is it!). Sorry Tempe camera, I waited all week and your tech should have checked his work before he said it was ready to go and since I have a photo shoot on Monday I can't wait until Tuesday when the tech gets back in. I have already spent over $30 on gas and my entire Saturday on this silly project. I took it home and blew the dust off with an $8 air blower. read more

Waited for 10 minutes to buy a lens and camera strap no one spoke to us despite workers chatting with each other. Will not return.

We have only gone to Tempe Camera for repairs of our DSLR. We had a cracked LCD screen and went to Ritz camera and they told us a minimum of $300 and it would take weeks, so we took it to Tempe Camera and it took like 4 days and $50. They were honest and totally down to earth. They could have screwed us but they didn't. That shows a lot about a company. I have heard they have good classes but have yet to partake. I would recommend this place HANDS DOWN. read more

Don't bother. some of these guys are rude. and not very bright. They don't keep stock of basic items, and try to force you to buy something you don't need or want. read more

Needed a camera lens cleaned same day they worked me in price was a bit high but they got it done. Only shop with in 40 miles of my home tHey need a west valley location it's growing out here. read more

This is a great place to go... but only if you like being treated poorly by staff while they grossly overcharge you. I like to support local business so I kept giving them chance after chance but I'm to the point where I prefer to order stuff from B&H or take the 1.5 hour drive down to Photoworks in Tucson rather than deal with them (and they're only 2 blocks from my home). read more

We took our old Pentax camera here after Wilson camera told us to throw it away. Here instead Michael DeLanie fixed the problem on the spot, cleaned it and checked it out thoroughly was super nice and full of good tips and info. All of this FREE. I will certainly come back here and also go next door for printing. Super!!!! read more

I stopped into the shop with my father yesterday. We were helped by a man named Art. He was knowledgeable, professional, and took the time to make sure all of our questions were answered. Good experience! read more

Tempe Camera is old school cool. You can walk in and browse really cool relics of the past, see some good actual film photography and have some good talks with guys who remember "the old days"... but that's it. I love coming here for advice or little things here and there, but when it comes to big purchases, a camera body or lenses, look elsewhere, the prices here are not great. If you're in a bind and need to rent a camera they have a pretty good selection, but at the end of the day the internet will allow you to stretch your dime significantly further. read more