Camera Bar — Local services in Hartford

I generally don't write reviews but I felt like I had to given the experience that I had at Camera Bar yesterday. Putting it simply, 5 stars aren't enough. What a great shop! Every question I had about the camera system I was thinking about was answered informatively - no sales pitch, just the answer to the question. And, when possible, I even got to see real world work that had come out of that camera in challenging conditions. They took their time with me and, in the end, I was more than confident in my purchase when I walked out the door.

But there's another reason I'm posting this review and that's because we need to keep going to these stores and giving them our business so they can keep serving customers, answering questions, and delivering live in-person real customer service. Could I have gotten a package deal for this camera online with maybe a few extras thrown in for the same price? Maybe. Honestly I didn't look because once I googled 'camera stores near me' and found out that one actually existed (and had a fantastic review rating), there was no way I wasn't going to buy from them and not some nameless, faceless online entity with no interest in me or my community or the community of photographers in general.

Camera Bar is the epitome of the importance of doing business face-to-face. It's knowledgeable people with a great selection who can help you make the best decision for your needs. It's a camera store run by photographers for the love of photography. It's what we need more of in this world - not less. It's why those extras in those online packages exist - to lure you away from what really matters and get you to trade your local economy and community for a few trinkets or a cheap lens filter.

Buy local. Support your local camera shop. But, if you're here in this area, definitely swing by Camera Bar if you've got some photography needs. You'll be so happy you did.

Thanks for all the help guys - I can't wait to...

I feel comfortable writing this review now that I hear that I am not the only one with this same experience.

The employes here can have a little bit of an attitude problem. I typically go in to get film developed and maybe it’s because I’m not buying a $3,000 camera I get treated like a lower class. I’m not sure. I once asked if they could push a roll of color negative film two stops and I was met with a sharp “No. You don’t do that” Yes you can, and people do. You ask if you could purchase one of the cameras on display and receive a hard “No. They are not for sale” Cut me some slack. They also always seem to say “goodbye” just a little too soon as if to get rid of you.

However a poor attitude is something I can certainly overlook as I have also given some myself when I used to work retail, but what compounds my dissatisfaction is the slow service. They develop color negative film every other day, so ideally You drop off your film on a Tuesday or a Thursday and swing around the next day to pick it up, but drop it off late on a Monday and you will have to wait until Wednesday to pick it up (Days may not be exact but you get the idea) In the grand scheme of things it’s not that long of a wait, but it is ridiculous when compared to an hour photo lab. For black and white, it’s taken me over a week to get a roll back, and it makes you wonder if they even care about turnaround time. They do not develop slide film.

Now this might be a fine place to purchase a brand new camera, but for my time and money, if you’re looking to get your photos developed I would recommend to take the drive up to Springfield, go to In a Flash Photo lab, and get your film back in an hour with a smile for...

Update: I asked them to restock a minor accessory, figured it would take at least a couple of weeks, but they called me just a couple of days later. The best part,they charged me the same price I saw it online for, probably cheaper overall, as I didn't have to pay shipping. Original review: If you are a Film Enthusiast, this is still a place to go after many years of service from this location. Lots of classic pieces to see in this store. I haven't been to any other film camera stores recently, so I don't know how this store compares. I gave it 5 stars because of "History", excellent service, and helpful staff. My dad went here, and I'm sure his dad went here too, probably the same story for you if you have a family film history. Today I was just looking for a couple of simple accessories. I was really surprised that the very specific screws I was looking for were not available. I have to assume that they don't do full repair service at this location, otherwise there's no excuse for not being able to scrounge up a few "salvaged" screws from a scrap camera. More likely, my impulse "needs" were unreasonable. Expect to pay more here than what you will find online, however I'm pleased that what I bought was similarly priced. I was willing to spend twice as much on a cheap accessory to support a local store, but that's not a normal sentiment. Free parking in this area is probably non existent. I rode the bus into the city, probably the easiest method if you have the time and are able to...