Popeye Camera Flagship Store — Local services in Tokyo

Nice ambiance and vibe, friendly staff, absolutely criminal prices across the board. Avoid.

Used cameras: FE10 for 46,000 yen, a Natura Classica zoom for 150,000, a konica hexar for 135,000 - I mean, these are more than double the going rate at physical stores, and roughly triple if you're buying online.

Film stock: the film situation is even worse, these guys are charging at least 1,000 yen over market rate for portras, and dare to sell 24 exposure ultramax and gold for MORE than a regular store would sell a 36 exposure roll for.

Dev/scan: their dev/scans are also criminally overpriced, and take a week to be processed and scanned at the lowest resolution. 3700*2500 px scans for 850+1600+150 yen, that's more than any other shop I have ever been in.

Truly the definition of branding over substance, and the kind of store that ruins film photography for the rest of us. Skip this store and give literally any of the other awesome stores in the area a chance instead.

Update 2024: I was in the area so I swung by. I found a "mystery new year bag" which includes three respooled 24 exposure almost expired disposable films for an absolutely out of this world 8800 yen. For reference, three rolls of 36 exposure professional Kodak Portra currently cost 7800 yen in Japan. I can't believe these thieves are still in business.

Update 2025: visited again and the prices have somewhat increased again. The cameras on sale have reached absolutely irrational prices, with a Nikon FE-2 (market value 25,000 JPY) being sold for 94,000 JPY, or 700 USD. A five box of portra, which costs 16,000 new from Kodak, was sold for 17.800 as a 'timed sale'. Dev and scan costs have increased again for the same abysmal quality. There are now better labs and stores 2 minutes' walking away (Sanpou and Kitamura) - absolutely...

My go-to film camera store in Jiyugaoka. Good points: Accessible from Jiyugaoka Station Nice atmosphere and friendly staff Good selection of camera bags and accessories

Negative points: Limited selection of film Development time varies greatly (I’ve experienced 2 days to 2 weeks to get film developed). Staff are friendly but as many work part-time, don’t feel experienced or knowledgeable. Used cameras are very overpriced

Overall good experience, but I could also recommend Osawa Camera in Ebisu as a decent...

happy to find this shop selling traditional cameras and films! i miss the time we use real film to take picture, the "only one chance" feeling and the excitement of seeing the photos after they're developed! i think i would still be able to dig out my old old vintage camera at home so i bought a film roll here, wish to use it on my next trip (or for any daily photos!)

hope you find the photos i took beautiful & useful ;) follow me on ig:...