Camtronics Camera Repair — Local services in Columbus

I broke my camera while trying to clean it the night before a trip to Columbus (March 2024). I had two days of photography planned and tickets purchased, so I googled camera shops in Columbus. This one had awesome reviews, and people saying they had their camera fixed quickly and with fantastic, knowledgeable service.

Two hours away from Columbus, I called ahead and explained my situation. The guy was super rude and kept telling me the walk-in hours (which are NOT the hours listed online, by the way), even though I had explained I'd be there at noon, and that was within the walk-in hours.

I arrived with my camera, and an older gentleman could not have been any ruder to me. I explained that I called ahead, and he didn't care. I again fully admitted that I broke the mirror (just the parts that move the mirror) while cleaning it, and it was my mistake. He deeply criticized me for cleaning it myself.

I said that I was only in town for a couple days, and that I was hoping to get an estimate and maybe get it fixed while I was in town if it was a minor repair. He so very rudely told me "not gonna happen" and something about life sucking. I was super hesitant at this point to leave my camera there, but the reviews said this place was awesome, and they told me they ship cameras in the mail all the time, so I could have it shipped back to me later. I said I wasn't sure that I wanted to leave town without my camera if I hadn't received an estimate yet. He proceeded to bully me, and tell me how limited my options were. He picked up an invoice and repeatedly said "please don't make me waste an invoice". After repeating it at least three times, he asked if I promised to leave my camera there if he filled out the invoice.

I reluctantly agreed to leave it for the free estimate. He said they wouldn't look at it until the next day or maybe the day after, or even later. Just for the estimate. I'm still super confused about this, because I was there during walk-in hours and people's reviews said they got immediate service when they walked in. There was absolutely no consideration or sympathy for my situation, which okay, but even so, they could not have been ruder.

So I waited all afternoon for a phone call with the estimate. Nothing. The next day, 26 hours after I dropped the camera off, I went back to the shop to retrieve my camera. A different man said my estimate was complete. He grumpily told me that Canon doesn't make mirrored cameras anymore, so basically I had to have them fix it. He could not provide a dollar amount for the repair (but estimated maybe $400), and was not sure if they could still get the part on such an old (8 year old) camera (Canon Rebel T6 DSLR).

He warned me that I would spend thousands replacing my lenses (he didn't know which lenses I had) and over $1500 just for a new body. He assured me that I absolutely cannot use any of my old lenses on a new mirrorless camera. And that I can't buy a mirror Canon camera unless it's used, which is a horrible idea. I left feeling so hopeless. He assured me I'd be back.

On the bright side, when I returned home, I called Canon. The Canon representative was absolutely wonderful (5 star service). He kindly explained my upgrade options should the repair be too expensive, and that they sell several different kinds of adapters so that I can still use all of my old lenses on a new mirrorless camera. And he assured me that the adapter works like a charm, I shouldn't worry at all. Oh, and an equivalent replacement camera body (but upgraded to mirrorless) would be less than $400. I sent my broken camera in the mail to Canon on Monday afternoon and had my estimate by Friday afternoon ($207.76 including shipping costs). I paid for the fix the following Monday morning and they texted me that repairs began on Wednesday, and the camera is in the mail to me on Thursday with an expected Saturday delivery. So my story has a happy ending, but no thanks...

Horrible experience.. they broke my camera and wouldn't fix it.

About a month ago, first time in the shop. It smells like wet dog in there.. Went in for the free Saturday external cleaning. Nothing was wrong with my camera except the flash wouldn't pop up because of some built up grime. I told them I wanted nothing done except for the cleaning. I am 100% certain the camera was functioning except for the flash when I dropped it off because I checked everything.

They called me and said they wanted 150 to fix the flash. Additionly they said something was wrong with the modes and they wanted 150 to fix that as well??!? I told them all of the modes were fine when I dropped it off. They asked me what I wanted to do and I said that I just wanted the external cleaning, as I had stated 2 times already. I also had a lot of questions about why it wasn't working, but the associate interrupted me on the phone at least 12 times saying that "he knew everything about my camera model".

I insinuated that something had to of happened to my camera while it was there. They denied it and refused to fix it without me paying.

They asked again what I wanted to do.

I said clean the outside, as I had requested, and I'd be there to pick it up the next day (two days after they said it would be done).

When I went to pick it up, my camera was not functional in 75% of the modes (P, S, M, automatic no flash, portrait mode and a couple others). Essentially it will only work in automatic mode now. Then they told me they cleaned the sensor as a courtesy. I was explicit that I did not want them to do anything except clean the outside of the camera. My flash also had nothing wrong with it, magically, despite the associates expertise about why he thought it was "broken". Would not fix the camera without money, even though it broke while it was there. Went home very sad, defeated, and with a broken camera. Don't have the $ now to get it fixed since I'm in college.

Have had a good experience so far with the camera shop next door, if I can save up the money, i might take it there to get it fixed if this place won't make this...

Camera owners BEWARE! As a habitual supporter of small businesses, I am sorely disappointed. The shop owner and technician, Jamie, wouldn’t know customer service if it hit him in the face. This guy is so rude that I wonder how they’re even still in business. After speaking to Jamie one time, I didn’t want to do business with him, however, I decided to take the chance on the convenience of a local business rather than a mail in service. After being told my repair would take a week, over a month later I finally got my camera. And, despite, the whopping price, jamie refused to give any clear explanation on what was even wrong with my camera, throughout the whole experience from quote to pickup, and actually even gave me attitude when I asked to know the diagnosis before I agree to cost. Still after getting my camera, nothing was properly explained to me. The kinder, older man that works there didn’t know anything about my repair when I asked while paying, but while I tried to further get any clarity at all from him to get an idea about what services I had actually even paid for, Jamie sat behind a room divider and remained silent. What a joke. Oh, and I can’t forget… The surprise taxes that they spring on you! After agreeing to pay in cash because it wouldn’t have their 11% card fee as a sign in the shop states, and the older gentlemen told me there would be no further taxes when first leaving my camera with them, Jamie thought it was ok to tack on an extra $10 to my quote claiming it was “tax”. Don’t expect to know what you’re even paying for, get your camera back in a timely manner, get transparency on pricing, or even be able to get in touch with the shop effectively. Truly a shame because, at first, I was so excited to find a local camera tech shop that I could remain a loyal customer to. Instead, I’d take my chances any day with a mail in repair service rather than set foot back here. Don’t make the same mistake I did, find another company focused on clarity...