Glass Key Photo — Local services in San Francisco

Im honestly so confused by what just happened…

First of all I will preface this review by saying I have never been compelled to write a business review until now.

Ok, so, I just went to Glass Key for the first time. Upon entering I was notified I would need a mask. The manager let me know there was a convenience store down the street that sold them. So, I went to get one. However, when I went to pay for it and realized it would cost $2.50 for a single mask I decided not to buy one. Instead I grabbed a T-shirt out of my car and tied around my face like a bandana, completely covering my face.

I returned the store with the shirt bandana face covering and was assisted by an employee, no problem. After being helped with my camera for a solid 5-10 minutes I left the store. Then upon returning to my car I realized I needed to buy film, so I returned to the store five minutes later, and the same person who JUST helped me, would not let me in for not wearing a proper mask. I was completely dumbfounded and baffled. I thought he was kidding, but he was dead serious. I truly don’t understand what just happened…. Haha.

I’m all for masking indoors and completely understand why some businesses still require this, but this was just ridiculous. I for one was completely masked, and had JUST been helped. The management in there clearly are lacking some interpersonal communication skills, or have amnesia, because that was something out the twilight zone.

I would shop elsewhere for film or photo equipment in order to not have to deal with this degree of absurdity, or— I don’t even know to characterize this… Definitely won’t be returning....

Sad, I spent extra on a flight to do a layover in SF for 3 hours just so I could buy glass and film here, but I was not allowed in bc I had no mask.

I got off the airport and rushed to get an Uber and headed straight to the store. With my 3-hour layover, I only had time to go to the store and grab a sandwich on my way back.

I asked if I could have a mask, but they did not have any. I was told maybe around the corner I could buy one. Finding a place with stocked masks is a gamble, and I did not have time for a mask scavenger hunt.

After spending extra on a flight, sprinting across the airport twice and two 50+ minute Uber rides, I was turned away from my favorite camera store.

I became a customer during my first trip to SF years before the pandemic, I continued to be a customer during the entirety of the pandemic (in person during my yearly pilgrimage to Glass Key), but I'm sad that my once a year trip to the store was fruitless.

I work in an environment with many hazards that don't exist outside of work. For every hazard that exists, we create a Hazard Analysis to identify every hazard, and then we work to eliminate all hazards. After, if any hazards could not be eliminated, we then create a Safety Plan of Action on how to protect from these unmitigated hazards. Usually, this leads us to provide the appropriate PPE to anyone who will/may come in contact with these hazards. If PPE is a must for anyone entering an environment with unmitigated hazards, then the appropriate PPE should always be provided. Key words are 'should' and...

Wish I could give 6 stars. Glass Key is the best analog photography and film camera store I've ever been to. They have all kinds of Black and White paper as well as RA-4 Color paper. Wide range of chemicals including Rodinal, Ilford chems, Kodak chems, Cinestill chems, and even more rare ones. They have all kinds of mainstream film and a few rarer stocks. In most formats from 35mm to 8x10. Camera selection is incredible, from popular 35mm SLR and rangefinders to a wide variety of medium format options, and even a dozen large format bodies. Lenses for days.

The staff is extremely helpful and there were a few of them who are truly experienced and have expert level knowledge. I was able to walk in knowing close to nothing about medium format cameras and ended up with a nice Mamiya RB67 that they patiently taught me how to work. The store was also able to diagnose an issue with the camera over the phone easily and replaced it the same day.

Excellent shop and cannot recommend it more for all your film...