Chuck's Camera Plus — Local services in Hampton

I traveled to Chuck's Camera Plus yesterday, Jan 6th, on a very rainy Saturday afternoon. Chuck's is a used camera store over in Hampton near the Air & Space Museum and has been on my radar for quite a while. I haven't been able to get over to that side of the creek for one reason or another however yesterday I said to myself, "To heck with it, I'm going". Even though it was pouring rain traffic wasn't bad at all and I made it there in about 30-40 minutes from Great Bridge. Parking was easy. There's some limited street parking in the front of the building that Chuck's is located in and behind it is a free public parking garage.

Upon walking into the place you'll notice it's jammed full of gear. Chuck's space is tiny however he's using every single bit of it to full optimization. There are two rooms. The front room is mostly used for modern gear which includes mirrorless, DSLRs, some classic range finder cameras, etc. The back room which is also called Chuck's Camera Museum contains older generations of equipment such as first-generation autofocus SLRs, older SLRs, and previous generations of gear dating back to Brownie Box cameras. There's a lot to take in. So much so that I came here to find a single lens and spent over an hour just looking at everything. There's an amazing amount of gear here.

Chuck was on the phone with a customer when I arrived so I just started looking at the front displays while I waited for him. There's a huge assortment of modern Canon, Nikon, and Sony kits in the front room. The display cases are full, and even the tops of the cases are loaded with cameras. You can pick up anything on top of the case for personal evaluation, and test the camera, the lens, and the whole works. Once Chuck finished his call I inquired about the lens I wanted, a Minolta 28mm f2.8 for their MD mount series, and he brought me to the back room, which I didn't even realize was there. There were a couple of other customers already back there and Chuck pointed out the case that contained the series of Minolta equipment I was looking for. If you think the front room is impressive wait until you see the back room. It truly is a museum, and also a kind of thrift store, but just for cameras. Also, the back room is a tad bit easier to navigate than the front area.

I spent most of my visit there checking out the museum room. It's just a treasure chest of gear for a camera enthusiast. Prices vary however deals can be discovered here. In short order, I found the 28mm Minolta ROKKOR lens I was looking for, and then I started looking at the vintage Canon equipment. I should NOT have started looking at the vintage Canon equipment and honestly, it took a supreme effort on my part to not purchase a vintage Canon SLR camera I found back there. I may still go back and get it one day soon. Eventually, I made my way up front and purchased the lens I selected and Chuck even gave me $10 off the price. I didn't ask or haggle, he just did it. After the purchase, he asked if I needed a bag and I said "Yes" as it was raining. He couldn't find one, so I picked up a leather lens pouch, put the lens in there, handed it to me, and said "Thank you".

All in all, fantastic visit. Chuck was super friendly and knowledgeable about the product. He's also pretty jovial. I found the prices fair for what I was looking for. The selection is incredible. You have to see it to believe it....

I'm getting new into this whole photography camera thing and let me tell you if you don't know where to go if you don't know what you doing. If you just got questions about cameras or you just want to see some really really awesome cameras and I mean some awesome cameras and me to really awesome guy. Very educated. Got a great sense of humor and that is out there living the American dream and I mean truly doing what makes him happy and he's out there. Trying to share that happiness with you. Go check out Chuck's camera Plus I tell you the cameras he has there will blow your mind. It is so amazing I walked into a store I had about five bags with me lol. He asked me if I was collecting bags if I was in the bags lol but I had had a lot of camera stuff I wanted to go over and he was able to help me greatly and I greatly appreciate him for it and I plan to be back many many more times. Plus there's a couple of cameras that I really got to get. They look so cool. So please if you're in the area or even if you're not in the area, you should drive down there anyway and go see him. I promise you it'll be worth the trip and for all your other camera enthusiast people out there. I promise you it'll be like going into an amazing camera. Heaven, it was the coolest place I've seen in a long time. I really enjoyed it. I wish you nothing but the best. Chuck, can't wait till I see you again and thank you for everything that you for all the help you gave me, I greatly...

The owner, Chuck, was amazing!!! I have been tip toeing in photography but too nervous to ask for help and too overwhelmed by online information when i cant understand the photography lingo. My supportive husband found this place an hour from us to find a macro and telephoto lenses. And wow!!! Did i feel welcomed, not judged or feeling like i dont belong there, around professional. Gave me best advice ever “just go outside and take photos. You’ll learn as you go.” Since i was so stuck on learning all lingo i forgot the fun of photography. He took the time to explain, and even when i asked to re-explain another way, it was done with patience and compassion! He allowed me to compare 50mm macro vs his personal 100mm macro lens (they didn’t have one in stock). I went with 50mm for what I want to photo. There were other customers and he had an unkanny way of managing everyone and not feeling left out. He was there as we had questions at right time and helping others as i was testing. Didn’t try to sell the crazy expensive but still good for what i needed. Answered all the questions that husband has on the sigma telephoto lens. Had a military discount. Just overall fabulous experience for a high anxiety lady. Thank you, thank you!!! Anyone who’s ‘thinking about’ photo, come here! sending love, light and...