Central Camera Company

Central Camera, always a pleasant experience each time I visit.

I would love to support a local business, especially one that serves a niche market. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place. The staff just kind of stood around with arms crossed and were really cold when answering my questions. All I wanted to know is if they had Ilford developer. This happened a year ago and I still remember it and feel the same way, so this isn’t a «heat of the moment» type of review.
Even though I’ve only given it a 2 star rating, that doesn’t mean I don’t want it to survive. I still shoot analog and places like this are slowly disappearing. I hope that they can find better, more friendly staff. One employee that stood out to me was the black man behind the film counter the last time I visited. He was very nice and welcoming, and gladly answered any questions I had. If the other employees were more like him, I would have given the place 4 stars (one taken away for being pricey).

I went here to get my 5d Mark 3 repaired because the sign said «instant estimates» but after having my camera for 5 days they finally gave me an estimate that was completely outrageous for a simple body part replacement. The phone wasn’t working for most of the time they had my camera so I had to keep coming back to the store to check up on it, only to find out that they had to send my camera to an off site repair facility which I wasn’t told in the first place.

What a great and knowledgeable staff!

I’m giving this three stars overall because I have met the owner and he is very sweet, helpful, and generous. He genuinely cares about his customers in a way that feels so rare these days. Knowing him makes the shop a ⁵⁄₅ and has made it a somewhat special place.
However, some of the prices here can be pretty outrageous and the workers slow and distracted. If you’re a student looking for some supplies for class such as film and paper, order that online somewhere where its more affordable. It is important to support local businesses but if you’re a broke student paying 45.00 for color film is not feasible. Also, their student discount only seems to covers tax.
One thing I can say for sure is that his shop is one of a kind and seems very authentic to its previous years. If you’re not from Chicago definitely check it out, it’s worth it but if you’re looking to stock up on some supplies look online.

I don’t know how on earth anyone would give this place their money. I went in on a Monday and experienced the worst customer service, ever.

Stopped in while on vacation in Chicago to get the CCD cleaned.
At 100 years old, you can guess that this is no chain. Loved the character, the service, and the location. Thanks!

I was very Disappointed! I went there to get some film to attach my camera’s screen (Fuji X-​T10) The old man behind the counter asked me where I bought the camera. And then he said if you buy camera with them, It’ll chapter than I bought about 20 $ he said many people get expensive one cause People don’t find out where is chapter. And he also said my len is very very slow! I don’t think they should say right that. I’ll buy anything where is comfortable for me and computer systems are still better. I thought just because I didn’t buy a camera with them.

There’s no other place to buy your camera gear (digital or analogue) than Central Camera. Truly one of the last true camera shops in the world.

The repair shop gave me the wrong camera and could not tell me what had happened to mine.
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I was shooting digital and thought that was the place to gear up for a decent film camera.
The first couple of visits were great. The service was excellent (I believe Albert was his name) and very helpful.
I decided on a Nikon F3 which is what I was looking for. The mint condition Nikon F3 (with the regular view finder — different from HP) was $ 390 (50% more expensive than online prices)
I bought a nikkor lens a couple of weeks later (not with Albert) to mount on the F3 for an event but the camera’s shutter did not work (Never used it before!) — I brought it to the clerk who sold it to me, who was very unpleasant when I asked if it was a recurring issue with the one I bought given that I had never used it, he said «I am not God, I don’t know what will happen!». I took it to the repair shop and they told me it would take a week.
A month later and several visits (they promised they would give me a phone call to let me know about the reason it took so long, I never received any) the repair shop finally gave me a camera, THE WRONG body onto which was mounted my lens (this one was a beat-​up F3 with a HP view finder.) Of course It was so nicely wrapped that I did not notice it until I got home. When I brought it back to Central, the person at the repair shop told me that it was very likely that the technician couldn’t find the part for mine and that maybe he thought it was a good idea to give me another one.
He then told me that I could keep it if I wanted to!!! He couldn’t tell me what had happened to mine. No apologies from the man!
I will return to the shop next week to see what happened to my camera and hopefully be reimbursed if they can’t find it!

The eighth wonder of the world! A real old school mom and pop camera store more needed and relevant than ever in today’s digital age.
This place is a wild trip of a photographic emporium! They have everything– still! If you can’t find it at Central, it likely doesn’t exist. It’s run by the grandson of the original owner who opened in 1899!
Prices here are great– you can get everything from film to big ticket items comparable to online retailers. They are better than online retailers because they back everything up themselves which is more than most manufacturers even do– even their used gear! And what a treasure their used equipment is — stuff you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Odds and ends? Old style flashbulbs or a crazy battery for a flash from the 1920’s? Fix up an old family camera to working condition? Even replace the selenium cells in old battery-​less light meter? Central does it ALL!
For the average non-​vintage photographer they are also very useful. Their photo prints are better than you can have made anywhere else! They also work expertly with all things digital.
The employees here are very kind and helpful, admittedly some can be a bit eccentric, like old school photographers always are, but it’s part of the perfect package for the ultimate camera store!
Don’t forget to ask for their stories– like those of Vivian Maier the famous photographer who always came in.
I buy all of my cameras here and have them proudly stick their latest «116 years» or so ticket on the camera, so I too can be part of history!

Who said film was dead. Not at Central. This place has everything. If you’re in to traditional film you have to check this place out.

Quick, efficient informative and friendly. Very organized and approachable. They do have alot of stuff in there. If I can soon I will be back.

They are the Micro Center of Camera stores :
they are going to know almost anything you ask, but if you ask it wrong you should know you are going to be sneered at.
I came in with my recently purchased LC-​A+ (cheap glass lens film camera, kitschy, but it works for me and it’s not a flash in the pan) to try and find a case.
Helpful dudes mostly, but i felt the eerie pall of being looked down upon over me, and it’s to be expected amongst Medium Format pro’s and what not.
Still have paper receipts, and they represent alot of what I think keeps Chicago great but kina holds it back :
honest folks who know what they’re talking about, a little too set in their ways to become incredible.
Walked away feeling like I saw history, but didn’t make any.

A cool historic camera store that’s a great place to look around.
The employees are a mixed bag: some are attentive and helpful, while others look like they’re about to fall asleep and seem annoyed at your very presence.
The best part about central camera is the selection of film. They have every brand and speed you could ever want or need, and the markup isn’t horrendous (maybe 50 cents higher than online retailers).
While Central is a great place to oogle beautiful film cameras, but DO NOT buy cameras from these people. Way overpriced to the point of madness! Take the going ebay price of a camera, double it, and you have the Central Camera price. I know they have to pay rent, but they could try a little harder to be competitive. The good news is that I’ve never felt any sales pressure while in the store.
Go and have a look around at Central Camera, but be wary of what you purchase.

THE place to get photographic emulsion film and non-​digital camera supplies. I have a love/​hate affair with this place since I’m all digital now. A terrific selection of products – lighting, tripods, scrapbooks, lens hoods, and so much more. The process film, but it’s sent out. They offer camera repair on the second floor.

I love walking through this place, but it’s way over the level of my photographic skills.
But I had a great experience in taking my camera in for repair here. I had a point & shoot camera, probably cost $ 150 when I got it. It developed spots on the lens that were internal. I brought it in, and they said it could cost as much as $ 80 — $ 100 to repair it, and it would probably be better for me to buy another one.
I really appreciated the honesty, and if I get more into photography, I’ll definitely patronize this place.

I love going to Central Camera sometimes just for the sake of going to Central Camera. I’ve been going as a photo student for four years, always with a specific item in mind (which is why I can’t really discuss what it’s like to have to ask an employee for help) and have no complaints. The staff are prompt and knowledgeable. It is (I believe) the oldest standing camera store in Downtown Chicago as it’s been open for over a hundred years, which you sense upon entry — yup, it’s old! Central Camera has everything a photographer needs, new and old: films and flashes, photo paper, cameras and light meters, tripods, anything. Competitive prices with the added bonus of being able to inspect items in person. The space is quite large and long, so I recommend spending some time looking around.
Postscript: A few days ago I arrived at Central around 5:33. Ran in as the owner was getting ready to close up. He said, «What do you need?» I told him I needed new batteries for my AE-​1. He let me inside, found the right batteries for me, and finished closing the store only after I’d left.

One experience quickly killed my immediate love for this place. I needed a couple things. Very simple things. 1. Film developed. 2. Transfered to a flash drive. Simple process right? Apparently not. Out of my three rolls processed only one met my needs. The associates misplaced my film burning a 20 minute window into my day (which made me late to work). Since only two out of my three rolls was processed correctly I had come back to the store. When I came back, flash drive in hand, the associate «claimed» he could not transfer the finished files to my drive. What?
This experience makes enjoying a very passionate hobby a pain.

Terrible! Just terrible! The gentleman behind the counter was very inattentive, almost to the point of being rude. I brought in my lens and camera to be looked at before my trip and his solution to my lens problem was to buy a new one! He didn’t even tell me if they sold them or not.
I get better customer service from an online store than I did from this place.

Got in by curiousity, watching at all those old camera.
Don, the manager, noticed I wasn’t speaking english to my wife and guessed we were tourists. He spent then 15mn of his time telling us about the hidden gems to visit in Chicago, drawing plans and providing addresses. That was quite unexpected and very appreciated.
Then, I asked a question about photography material and he advised me very well, telling me I should wait and buy the next camera in few months rather than the one I had in front of me in his own store.
Good contact, smile, great advice. What could you expect more?