C & H Photo

I’m a college student and Went in with some basic camera issues and they helped me get my assignment ready and turned in. Super friendly, not pushy, and very straight forward.

Thanks, Leon, for a great job in converting my prints from 35 mm to digital files. Nice work.

Went here to get some 120 mm film developed and scanned to a CD. Great next day service! Super nice and give great tips and advice. Prices are reasonable and a lot of options for services.

Oh so very happy with C & H photo.
After having another u/​w camera drop the ball & send me the wrong parts I was in a bind a few days before leaving on vacation. Talked to Frank on the phone, he said they had the part. An hour drive to get there was worth it. Matt had the part waiting for me. We chatted about diving, places to dive & gave me some good information on places we were considering diving at in the next few years. Very friendly and helpful, I would recommend the store for underwater camera equipment. What they don’t have in stock they can order for you.

Best camera store in North West SD. Leon is an amazing dude and his team is very qualified and helpful. I couldn’t do what I do with out them.

We were in San Diego for vacation and my sister noticed she had a smudge on her lens that we could not remove with a microfiber cloth.
We went on Unilocal and looked for camera stores near our location and were pleasantly surprised to find C&H just a couple blocks away. When we arrived they helped us clean the lens with lens cleaning fluid and lens paper (free — no charge). They were so helpful we bought a kit so we wouldn’t get in the same situation again. (good thing we did, because I think I got sunscreen on my lens the very next day ruining some of my shots so was happy to be able to get my lens clean too!).
Besides the lens cleaner we also bought rubber lens hoods to prevent lens flare from the strong San Diego sun.
C&H was really a great find!

Years ago I wrote a very negative review of the store, which was accurate. But they are now under new ownership and deserve a new review. There has been a big change in attitude (and staff) and when I went in to look at cameras the other day they were very helpful and welcoming. Only 4 stars because I have only limited experience with the new store.
NOTE: if you see any review more than 2 – 3 years old, it would be about the previous ownership and staff, not this one. Big improvement! ( Unilocal should allow some way to automatically add a note if a business changes hands, to keep the reviews fair and accurate. But of course they don’t.)

First the prices:
I understand them being higher but, they are 30% higher then anywhere else on most items and will not price match.
Customer service:
The worst experience I’ve ever had at a photo store. I’m not that familiar with certain items and the white guy with the bald head who works there has this greater then snobby attitude for every question I asked. I’ve been too every photo store in San Diego and have never been treated like that. As a matter of fact I’ve never been treated like that at any store.
The return policy is pretty bad too.
If I need any photography items in the future I will drive the extra 15 – 20 minutes to go to George’s camera or Nelson’s in downtown. Who treat there customers with respect.

OK so I’m going on a trip to Europe and I’m all concerned about what/​which camera I take. My SLR is a bit large and I was concerned that I’d have it stolen. I went to «my camera» store for help. The people there are so patient I think I was in at least three times with questions about what to buy or what to take. Yes I was willing to buy a new smaller camera however after talking with them I bought a new carrying strap and went on my way to Europe without spending an money on a camera I did not need. They were more concerned about my being happy then they selling something. I’d suggest that if you looking for cameras from real professionals go to C & H in La Jolla.

The people were really friendly here and went above and beyond to help us. Unfortunately, the camera we had was broken and will have to ship back to manufacturer. If I’m ever in the La Jolla area, I will come back!

I’ve read all the reviews, and I don’t get it. I am a professional photographer and I don’t really know why anyone would buy here. I have found the service the same under the new name as when it was nelson
Here are my reasons and experiences.
1. Everything is priced way to high. I have never bought anything from here. I do go here to compare. I have tried to buy several things, knowing I could get a better price elsewhere. I believe in supporting local business, so I always call them to see if they can at least match the price. The answer is always no, so I buy elsewhere. I bought a video fluid head from b & H, because it was about $ 30 cheaper, even with rush delivery. I also bought a 5d body and a t31 from b & h. Again, I called and asked this place if they would match. The answer was no. I don’t understand who would pay their prices.
Recently, I went in the store to shop for that fluid head that I spoke of above. I stood for 20 minutes before I was acknowledged or had anything said to me. Frank, the owner was busy flirting with a lady who had no idea about photography, who was shopping for a camera, and had no idea what she wanted. In my business, I would at least look at a waiting customer, and say, «I’ll be with you soon» I never got that or anything.
I really see no purpose of this store other than for demos and comparison shopping

The best camera store in SD by far! I can’t tell who owns it because they are all so nice. Highly recommended.

Can’t speak about the store itself, but I attended a basic photography class for my Canon camera with Frank Nelson, and he was great. He was very knowledgeable and covered a lot in the few hours that we were there. I would certainly recommend his classes and plan to go to another one.

I was in search of a used lens for my DSLR, and this gem of a store gave me such great advise and attention, spending quite some time with me even looking up the Canon’s catalog They did not have what I was looking for, but they did something that was very special, they suggested Camera Exposure on Adams Avenue. My only negative is that in front the store on Fay Avenue is only 1hr parking and the meter maids are like starving mean hawks in this area. I will write a review on Camera Exposure after my visit :)

Recently merged with another business owner, dealing with underwater photo equipment.
Been a frequent customer at this location for over seven years. This is where I go to develop all of my film ranging from 35 mm, 120 and 4×5. They can also help develop slide (positive) film and true B&W. The lab can get your negs scanned directly into digital as well. When I was a photography student, I would come to this store to purchase darkroom chemicals, mounting boards, cleaning solution, etc…
Currently, I use them for prints including all enlargements. Mark, the main printer there is a smooth operator. I usually just deal with him or Leon. Color matching is superb, especially compared to CVS or Costco. The machines are cleaner since it’s well maintained. They offer photography classes too.
Support your local photo lab, it’s difficult business!

This is my go-​to local place for camera accessories, film I need on short notice, and darkroom chemicals I don’t feel like waiting for or want shipped. They have been good to me.
The parking could be better, but I seem to get lucky every time I go. The downtown location is similar. I like this location better than the downtown location, not only because it is closer to me, but also because I don’t get swooped by sales people trying to hook me on some new digital toy. I generally don’t like camera shops that have 5 – 10 sales people standing around waiting to jump customers, and thankfully, this location does not have that problem (while the downtown location can feel that way sometimes).

Pretty large selection of cameras and camera gear. They’re kind of a general store, not specializing in any particular brand or camera type. They have digital, film and even toy cameras and peripherals here. Everything to bags, camera straps, and underwater disposables.

I was here yesterday for the Lensbaby demo. I own a few of the babies and I love them. It was a very informative 3 hours session and we went out shooting with the lenses. The best part — I won a $ 60.00 camera strap from the instructor! Perfect for my new camera.
Look for Tony A. he can answer all your camera questions very nice guy!
Excellent customer service.

Not sure if the guy’s coffee was flat, decaf or just plain bad. Yesterday, I took my son with me and drove 40 minutes to get to the La Jolla store. As luck would have it, we found a parking spot across the street. Walking into the store and noticed we were the only ones (customers that is) inside.
I smiled and told the guy at the counter I wanted to sign up for the intermediate class. «What? You don’t know what you’re talking about,» he snaps! Calmly, I tell him I spoke with Frank and explain what I was told. «Ya, I can take your money, but you won’t get a receipt.» I was also told it was Frank’s day off, and I really don’t know him otherwise I wouldn’t go in on HIS day off!
I never claimed to know Frank, only said I spoke with him on the phone. That was a couple of weeks ago. Am I really supposed to know the guys work schedule? I took a REALLY DEEP breath and calmly asked if I could leave my number for Frank to call. We are still the only customers in the store. Let’s try again, I think to myself.
I ask him to show me a new Manfrotto tripod. After 6 minutes of questionable customer service, another person comes through the door and walks to the lens cleaners. My sales person greats the woman, turns to me and asks, «Is there anything else? I have another customer.» «Are you speaking to me?» I ask. «Yes,» he replies. I kindly say I am finished and quietly leave with my son.
Strange! His abruptness cost them my cash for the $ 350 setup I was just about to purchase. Did he know that? No! Did he care? Doubtful.
When I got home, I contact the LIttle Italy location and spoke with Ben. What a fun chatterbox of information! His courtesy over the phone, made up my mind. I would rather AVOID the attitudes of certain people in the La Jolla store and spend my funds in the Little Italy store.
Today I went to the Little Italy location and spent even more funds there. They are much friendlier! I mentioned the experience about the La Jolla location to them. It seems I am not the first, nor that last person to make note of the preference of driving further for the LIttle Italy location.
The La Jolla store must be doing so well, they don’t want my money. I am okay with that.

I’m glad I started coming here. Like the previous reviews mention, it’s a small camera shop in La Jolla. I’ve only recently started getting into film again (Holga!), so I don’t know much about cameras and other accessories. But I can tell you that they have great customer service. Everyone I’ve talked to at the shop knows their stuff pretty well, and they’re really friendly people. If you’re a newbie, they’ll answer all your questions and give you great suggestions.
And you know they’re not just trying to take your money. They’ll make sure your pictures come out nice before printing, or they’ll ask you to approve them first to make sure you want them printed.
There’s usually parking available on the street — 15 minute parking spaces are useful and are usually open. But they also have parking behind the store.