The Camera Company — Local services in Madison

Camera Company has been doing my photo printing and film developing for almost twenty years. I've also purchased a number of cameras, lenses and accessories from their stores. Their owners, Ward and Ed and all of their employees treat me like a valued customer every time I walk in. I've had my photography on display at the Overture Center for the Arts and Whole Foods on University Avenue, in Madison. Camera Company's expert printers made the prints for both of my shows, some of them as large as 24" x 36". Each year I photograph the University Avenue Holiday Lights and the volunteers who make the lights possible. Jack Kammer, DDS asked me to photograph his trees at his office Christmas party in December of 2007. I shot three 36exp. rolls of Fuji 100ASA film while photographing his trees that winter and the Camera Company processed each one. I showed Jack dozens of prints that winter, each of them printed by the Camera Company. Jack told me "That's the best photograph of my trees, ever" (about one of my photographs). The image on the cover of his book, "The Story of the University Avenue Holiday Lights" is based on that photograph. Jack's son, Chris Kammer DDS regularly uses my photography and cards to promote the lights. On the back of each of my cards are the words: "Photography by Jon Pfeiffer Printing by Camera Company" Tim Erickson has been working at the Odana Rd. store as long as I can remember. Nobody else cleans the sensor on my trusty Canon EOS. I live twenty miles outside of Madison now, but still go to Camera Company to have my...

The majority of the staff are excellent. They have a wide selection of equipment and can keep you stocked on the basics or help you add some fun to your camera gear. I have generally found the staff to provide great recommendations, honest reviews of equipment functionality, and be quick to provide some teaching/tips/training.

My one caveat--be careful when handing your equipment to the staff. Make sure you are working with one of the photographers on staff and not just anyone. While they ultimately "made it right" after they damaged a part, the timing was horrible (right before I left for Africa) and I am still left cautious. I never got the feel that the staff member who actually broke my equipment truly accepted responsibility (I was literally begging him not to try to force my battery into a charger). More, the initial response from both the staff member who broke the part and from the next guy up the chain of command was essentially "oh, it's just a little sliver of plastic shaved off, it will be fine." Again, they ultimately made it right and replaced the broken equipment, but the initial way in which I was treated conveyed a great deal. Long and short, they will make it right but I was in western Africa short a piece of equipment. Sure, I could have been less "last minute" but regardless of how preplanned I am or am not, I am going to be cautious handing...

I have nothing but positive things to say :-)

The Camera Company team is knowledgeable and passionate about cameras and photography. It's fun comparing notes and getting to know what platforms everyone is into.

I went in to sell some equipment that was taking up space in my closet. I worked with Daniel Henriksen who was incredibly professional and shared his passion for photography, it was great geeking out with him! I was about to sell all of my equipment, but chatting with Daniel made me realize how much I still loved photography and that I should make the time and continue to shoot, so I wound up keeping my full frame camera and lenses and bought a new sling and camera bag.

While in the store, I watched their team help customers answer questions about equipment they were about to buy, or to troubleshoot equipment customers already owned. The team was very attentive and made sure questions were fully answered before moving on to the next customer. They did an excellent job for likely being short staffed due to the times, and it being a busy Saturday.

As far as equipment goes, they have an excellent selection of new and used items (cameras, lenses, etc.), so no matter what brand you're into, they should have something for you.

The store is clean, organized, and easy to find from the road.

They're definitely worth checking out for your...