It is hard to explain my glee resulting from stumbling across this amazing bastion of film-only enthusiasm. And they have typewriters too! One can find any type of film technology they want, from the very basic pinhole cameras all the way past medium format Hasselblads up to large format Cadillac-of-cameras models. The staff are always super friendly, too, and willing to do what it takes to make sure your obscure questions are answered. I wandered in knowing next to nothing, but wanting a nice 35mm SLR camera. After almost an hour with my now-sensei, Jake (also the owner), not only did I have a camera about which I was/am SUPER excited, but I had a back-story about the history of the camera, the ups and downs of the particular model, and plenty of general photography advice. Lastly, from what I understand, if you take your prints to a one-hour photo shop, they put the film in a machine, and out the other end comes a set of prints which the machine automatically processed, adjusted, print, and regurgitated out. Blue Moon has someone in the darkroom manually exposing each and every print. This means that each picture gets personal attention in lieu of an automated machine, and consequently, many would argue, superior prints. Look late in the year for their annual customer show; a collection of prints which the processor deemed in line with the show's theme as they printed the roll. I highly recommend Blue Moon for anyone, beginner to professional, who has the slightest interest in film photography. They are very serious about what they do, and very good at it! read more

One of the best camera stores I've ever been to. I went in looking for flashes, lens caps, and some film. We were helped by one of the employees and the manager, who each searched through boxes of used flashes and lens caps and were incredibly helpful in finding exactly what we needed. Prices were lower than expected: $2 for a lens cap, $5 for a used flash, and expired film for $1. As someone who isn't a big film buff, it was a very comforting place to go to. Everybody was totally non-pretentious and seemed to really want to help us find what we needed for the best price possible. Overall, highly recommended. read more

First time visit today. Really nice salespeople generous with there time willing to give us lots of information. No rush, no push to sell product. Also, great displays of older cameras and typewriters. We will return again. read more

The art of film photography is sadly on the wane. The convenience and instant-gratification inherent in digital photography is killing the use of film, which still, in my opinion, makes for better pictures and a more involved experience with your camera. But then again, I am an enthusiast, and this review is primarily for enthusiasts. Blue Moon is up in the St. Johns area of Portland, so it is a bit of a drive. Best way to get there is to either take I-5 North and take the West exit on Lombard St, after which a 15-minute drive does await you. It might be better to take the St. Johns bridge as the shop is right when you get off the bridge, pretty much. What makes this shop great? Service, service, service. The folk are all friendly and they put an emphasis on getting to know you and are more than open to chat about different cameras and photography techniques. The work of all the employees is displayed or on sale in the store, and they are all accomplished photographers. I went in there because I was looking for a good place to get my black-and-whites done, and was treated in a very friendly manner from the beginning, and now whenever I go in am greeted by name. This makes it very likely that even if another place is cheaper, I will continue to go back to Blue Moon because I know they will take care of my stuff and not treat me like another number. They even have an art show consisting entirely of customer photography. The shop is full of antique and modern camera equipment, with an odd assortment of typewriters, adding machines and suchlike curiousities also on display. It's just a joy just to browse some of these great machines. There is a plethora of second-hand cameras and lenses at fairly reasonable prices. The store also carries a great variety of black-and-white film, including some brands that are hard to find anywhere, including online. The staff are more than willing to chime in with suggestions and recommendations, mostly culled from their own experiences. Blue Moon is a great camera store that really cannot be beaten in the Portland area for service, but if price is a main factor than it might be best to look elsewhere. It is unlikely though that you will get the same level of service and customer care. Their well-made website is worth checking out for detailed specs of their services plus customer and employee galleries. read more

This place is a treasure trove of vintage image making technology. I went to Blue Moon specifically to talk about pinhole photography, and Zeb spent the better part of an hour sharing his extensive knowledge of the process with me, and bringing me up to date on innovations in the medium. (I did a lot if pinhole photography in the 1980s, but nothing since) I was able to purchase a beautiful new Zero Image hand-made camera, and a few hours later, thanks to much technical advice from Zeb, I had a processed roll of beautifully exposed film ready for scanning/printing. (I had made up my mind before I went that I was going to buy the Zero Image camera, so its not like they were pushing me to buy anything. On the contrary, they gave a clear impression that they love what they do there and are passionate about sharing their "old school" knowledge; they aren't just there to sell wares/services) Noteworthy: Blue Moon offers film scanning/digitizing services as well, so you can opt to blend the old with the new, and bring your negatives into a digital workflow environment, if ink jet printing is your chosen medium, for example. I'm very impressed with the staff's knowledge, and their genuine enthusiasm for what they do. Thanks, folks! PS: I've seen several comments about how expensive film and processing is, and I have to wonder if reviewers realize that silver-based imaging materials are now a niche commodity, and are produced in tiny quantities now compared to 20 years ago, making them far more expensive. Contrary to some reviews, I was quite amazed to find you can still buy a roll of B&W film for under ten bucks! Be glad you can still buy it at all, I say. :-) read more

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with this venue, which is why I am giving it four instead of five stars. Let's start with the good; they have excellent well trained staff, who are informative and helpful. This is supplemented by a healthy selection of film cameras, accessories, and film types. The location is also away from much of the main Portland thoroughfares, which helps to keep it from being crowded and really only full of the type of customer who really knows what they are looking for. Wandering shoppers are not inherently bad, but they can be a bit of wasted space when you are in a very small specialty retail shop, with limited employees. So what is not so good? As others have mentioned the prices can be quite steep. Then again they can be quite reasonable. I purchased a recently CLA'd Leicaflex SL in perfect condition for $100, and it has served me quite well. Then again picking up a roll of film, or battery, can cost as much as a three pack would when shopping online. I am also a bit miffed that they are not able to service as wide a range of vintage cameras as one would hope a shop that specializes in only vintage cameras would, but they were kind enough to refer me to vendors that could CLA the cameras they could not. So what do you get out of all of this? A good, politely staffed, well stocked, specialty film camera shop. The prices do reflect the overhead it takes to run such a specialized boutique business, and you do not want it to become your weekly go to place for supplies. However if you are in a pinch, or looking for a hard to find item, this is the place for you. read more

Very attentive and personalized service and the place looks like a museum of vintage cameras. I had a very specific request for a VISA photo for India and ZEB was very knowledgeable and professional. Zeb, Crystal, David and the rest of the staff are friendly and they knew their stuff. The shop is delightfully filled with vintage and modern cameras as well as high tech equipment in the back. My VISA was granted thanks to their expertise and help and I hope to take tons of photos on my pilgrimage! Thank you Blue Moon. read more

Blue Moon Camera & Machine - The vintage cameras are fun to look at. Service is amazing and knowledgeable! A great local shop in the heart of St. John's. - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Super helpful! Everybody that works here is ridiculously friendly, welcoming, patient, generous with their time, and knowledgeable. I got a film camera as a gift two weeks ago. I stupidly tried releasing the film myself, but in doing so, accidentally snapped the roll inside my camera. I was so worried I ruined the camera all together. Blue Moon came to the rescue! One of the employees, Jack, was nice enough to salvage my film by patiently opening up my camera in a dark bag. He then put the roll into a black canister for me. Super super helpful. Jack then showed me how to properly release the film. I hope Blue Moon stays around for a long time. It's no secret film is a dying industry, but these guys know their stuff! read more

Huge help. Friendly service and knowledgeable people. Made sure I had answers to the questions I had regarding film equipment quickly and promptly! read more

This place is awesome! They have film cameras and lenses at great prices. The owner knew the answers to all my random questions about old film and old cameras and old lenses. Sometimes larger photography stores can be snobs. At blue moon they are passionate and friendly. read more

On the Tour de Portland we took over the weekend, this place was something I really wanted to see. Upon arrival, I was very underwhelmed. Their selection of old cameras is quite extensive, but the prices are just out of the realm of reality. I'm aware that wannabe hipsters everywhere want vintage analog equipment and I'm also aware of the law of supply and demand. This place just seems to be raking those would be hipsters over the coals. Quite a few items were jammed into small cases, so looking through everything is daunting. We were greeted initially, but customer service was nonexistent after that. So much cool stuff, but nothing in my budget. Go check it out, but look around - you can do better. read more

I've been following Blue Moon Camera on Instagram for a while. When I finally got up to Portland, I went straight to the shop to check it out in person. I was blown away by how many film cameras they have! They also have a good selection of gear and typewriters if you're into those! David and the manager were really helpful when I was looking for a specific camera body and lens. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area. read more

Blue Moon is such a fantastic shop, full of nice employees who seem to be truly passionate about cameras and film. There's a wide range of films for sale, shelves full of vintage cameras, and their film processing and scanning is top notch. Personal details abound here, which is important when trusting other people with your one-off rolls of film. One of my favorite shops of any kind, camera or otherwise! read more

Friendly helpful service from the more experienced gentlemen who work here. Very knowledgeable about cameras and what film/accessories to use. My only complaint would be the unnecessarily long turn around time for getting film developed (a week vs. everywhere else only taking a day) as well as a super rude female employee with short dark hair. She clearly didn't know the answer to a film question I had, and instead of asking someone else she just looked at me like I was the idiot for not knowing. Anyways, if your in St. John's check them out. Otherwise just stick with Shutterbug. read more

Blue Moon is a Film Camera Lovers Paradise. The selection of Medium and Large Format Gear is fantastic, with tons of old Mamiyas and Hasselblads. All of the camera equipment is very reasonably priced, though a bit on the high side if you're used to purchasing on ebay. The service is excellent. Blue Moon's employees are very knowledgeable and provide excellent advice when you're unsure about a decision. When shopping for film cameras, Blue Moon is my first choice. Also, Sean's hairdo is incredible. It defies the laws of gravity. read more

What a lovely store full of helpful and enthusiastic employees. I'm happy to journey all the way out to St. John's just to shop here! I've acquired a lot of useful darkroom equipment here, used, for decent prices. read more

If I could give more stars I would. Getting back into 35mm film photography after a long hiatus, I was referred to them by a friend from the SF Bay Area. No condescending salesperson vibe here, just a great knowledgeable group of photo experts here in Portland. They were able to get me and my Olympus OM-2n and OM-1 back up and outfitted with film, filters, batteries, lens shades, lens cases, etc. Thanks to their enthusiasm and support, I'm now back enjoying an old hobby that I had shelved for so many years. A special shout-out to service-pro Mike, for getting my Zuiko 50mm lens that I FUBARD, back up and functioning like new again. You're the best! A camera store like this with knowledgeable, passionate professionals is a rare place to find, and I'm fortunate to have Blue Moon Camera as my go-to source. Support/patronize them and you'll find out for yourself, they'll earn your business. read more

Blue Moon Camera & Machine - Olympus OM-2n - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great first experience! Got a quick in person tutorial on my first film camera w/ Zeb. He was awesome, very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions. Highly recommend! Thanks again Zeb! read more

I bought some film...yes, film....form Blue Moon Camera on eBay before realizing they had an actual store as well. The film from the eBay order came quickly and I have since used some of it and it was perfect. I decided I wanted to order some more so I called the store directly and spoke with a guy there...I think his name was Sean...anyway, he was super friendly and helpful. He even pulled up my previous eBay order while we were on the phone and he helped me figure out what film I needed. Nice! Anyway, so far so good with Blue Moon Camera. Great customer service, great prices and quick shipping. I'm most likely going to send my 120 film back to them for processing/printing before long and I hope to have another raving review at that time. Blue Moon Camera, FOR THE WIN!!! read more

Not much more I can add that other enthusiastic reviewers haven't covered. This place is a gem. Thank you. read more

What a wonderful camera shop! The staff was very helpful to a novice user like myself.

Nice place. I wanted a used lens hood to go with my used 50mm lens I had bought. Just like I hoped, they had a big box of them I could rummage through. I found a nice vintagey metal one that fit perfectly, was $7 I think. read more

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This place is awesome. I have been twice now (once to buy a used camera and once, a year later, to buy a used lens) and both experiences were above all expectations. The staff is SO friendly and knowledgeable, the prices are fair, and the selection is great. Both times I went, the person who helped me patiently spent 30+ minutes answering my questions, teaching me (as I am a newbie) and making sure I not only had everything I needed but understood how to properly use it. read more

So happy they could make prints of old pictures for me. They look amazing!

I'm a former professional product photographer who is shooting film again after many years away . Completely excited to shoot film again I decide to experiment with minox . This camera and film shop has one of the best staff Ive ever experienced !!! Wow ! I sent film in from various locations with unclear and incorrect instructions in a rush on the way to airport. , wow the staff couldn't have been more patient and understanding . Also minox experts to boot !!! Definitely will send more film to blue moon ! Highly recommended! read more

I'm so glad Blue Moon Camera exists. The staff there are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They take their time showing their products and are full of great advice. Even if I could find the same equipment for a little cheaper online, I would support Blue Moon instead. The extra $10 is worth the incredible services they provide! read more

This place is one of the best photo shops I have ever been to. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the inventory, which is plentiful and quite diverse. Blue Moon also supports local photographers, and it sells books and postcards made by Portland natives. If you're into cameras, check it out. read more

I paid a bit over $100 to have two audio cassette tapes digitized, along with a roll of Super 8 film. When I dropped them off, I specified that the audio files should be transcoded to MP3, and the video as MP4. Instead, the audio files came back in four files in AIFF format, which was at least readable by my up to date Mac, though each file was weirdly and inconsistently mis-labeled on the discs I was given. The film came back as an unreadable video file, in some format that is unrecognizable by any of the video software I own (Camtasia, Screenflow, and Quicktime.) So far as I can tell, the originals were not damaged in the process, so I can hopefully get the video transcoded somewhere else. With time and effort, I can at least get the AIFF transcoded on my own to the format for which I paid and specified. I do not feel I got anywhere near what I paid for. It feels like someone did the most lazy, half-wit effort they felt they could get away with. I only chose Blue Moon because it is near my home. Previously, I used a different service further away. I certainly won't waste my money at Blue Moon again. read more

The gentleman who helped me was kind and very knowledgeable. He dusted out my old Canon free of charge and gave me his opinion on its integrity for my photography class. They developed my photos and gave me encouragement. There's a great selection of cameras and equipment. I'll be back to enlarge some of my prints! read more

You can find what you need here, hold it in person and test it out before buying, but you are paying a bit of a premium for this buying experience over online marketplaces. I just wish I had known this before going in. The best part of this store is the knowledgeable staff. I'll do my best to buy here in the future. read more

Prices here are flat out ridiculous.. All for supporting local businesses, but I am not about to spend $30 on a roll of film to be developed and scanned. I can have it sent off for less than half the price. Wish I could at least grab some rolls of film here just for convenience sake, but they tax on that too. I guess I will continue to have to order mine from B&H for now. Bummer, I really want to like this place. read more

Blue Moon is a great business, and those of us who still use film should support our local camera shops! On their photo finishing: Cost is in line with other companies - both mail order and local. Finishing prices have gone up everywhere. I haven't processed color with them, so can't speak to those results. Be aware that for B&W film they will give prints that they call a "warm" tone - it definitely gives a vintage look, the print is brown instead of truly black and white. This is because they do optical prints onto color paper with a color filter - they are not making a true silver B&W print. I understand that they are able to offer a scan and digital print at additional cost, that will give a truly black and white print. They do a full-frame print with a white border, which is pretty cool for the novelty. They also offer a border print with rough borders (actually a mask they use while printing), which would be nice if you were looking for a rough/instagram/hipster look to your photos. That's not my style, but to each his own! I have not purchased a camera from them, but they have a drool-worthy selection on display. I assume they are all refurbished, so if you need a new old camera this is a great place to get it. I was told that they don't do their repairs in-house, so I took my repair elsewhere. My camera has great sentimental value to me so I wanted to work directly with the repairman. They were happy to explain to me the differences between some of the newer films on the market, that I am not familiar with. They carry Kodak, Fuji, and Ilford. I am currently using Kodak TX film for B&W photos, and Kodak Ektar for the rare color roll. Based on their recommendation, I have some Fuji Neopan (B&W) to use soon. They offer Impossible Project films for your integral film Polaroids. Of course, the cost is astronomical and the product is extremely low quality - like all Impossible Project films. read more

This is one of my favorite places. The staff at Blue Moon Camera are amazing. I always have a million questions for them and they really take their time to make sure you understand and have everything you need to be a great photographer. It is always such a treat to pick up my photos from there. The quality is like no other. If you love to take pictures and haven't been there yet you must go now! They also have great deals on used equipment. You'll love this store :) read more

Blue Moon is sadly of a dying breed; analog-focused photography stores where employees really know their sh*t. I always love coming in here to pick up or drop off film, and looking around at all the beautiful cameras they have on display. In addition to analog cameras, they also stock film, paper, and other accessories for processing. I brought my little Rollei in a few weeks ago with some film I wanted to get processed, but the problem was the camera was jammed so I couldn't get it out. I was assuming I'd have to pay to have it repaired, but the fellow I dealt with was clearly very familiar with the camera, and after some finessing it was good as new! Magic! read more

This has got to be the worlds best toy store for any self respecting film photography afficionado. Not only do they do a fabulous job with developing and printing beautiful photos, but they also have tons of cool old cameras, accessories to ogle at. I get lost in time whenever I go there, I not only forget what time it is and always stay longer than I had intended, but there is a certain "je ne sais quoi" about it that makes you feel like you've time warped back a few decades. A time when men wore ties and the ladies were genteel. Yes, Audim, that means you, too! read more

Remember being a kid and going to get ice cream or candy? How excited you got? This is how I feel when I go to Blue Moon. I stop in at least twice a month to drop off and/or pick up film. There is always something new and unique and the staff is the best of any store I visit. Being greeted by name and a smile each time you walk in the door shows that they value me as a customer. Always very helpful explaining how different cameras work and will help you find what you didnt even know you needed. read more

A friend of mine joked that the only reason anyone goes to St John's is Blue Moon. If she isn't correct, she should be. If your idea of camera shop employees evokes images of slimy "salespeople" rather than photographers - individuals who care more about money than your satisfaction as a customer, Blue Moon will certainly exceed your expectations by miles. Walking into Blue Moon is Utopia for the film camera fanatic. A beautifully cozy space filled to the brim with analogous equipment galore - from the tried-and-true student pentax to hasselblads, from vintage dianas to corona typewriters. If it's old and reliable, Blue Moon will have it. Even more impressive than the equipment is the staff. They know what they're doing and you can tell that they genuinely *care* - they ARE photographers and ooze sincerity in helping you weigh your options. But really - if you're into any sort of film photography - go to Blue Moon. Now. I promise it will be worth it... even if it happens to be in St. John's. ; ) (Note: I strongly suggest that anyone who outsources their diana/holga film to do so here. They know what the photos are supposed to look like - no more quizzical looks when picking up film and "...your roll didn't turn out exactly right".) read more

Blue Moon Camera & Machine is the place I go for my "toybox" items. Reversing rings, pinhole cameras, old lenses, they've got it all. Blue Moon is the go-to spot for all your camera esoterica and minutiae. They also have a staff that's incredibly helpful and friendly, whether you're browsing or looking to buy. read more

Love this place! Awesome selection. Fun displays. Great staff, super friendly and yet knowledgable! They didn't have a lens I was looking for and checked three different places for me while I was at the store! It was a hard find. Gave me a lead to a website and I finally found what I was looking for. I will be going back to purchase some film and anything else I may need. I have been to other camera and film stores in Portland, but this place I like the best :) read more

Amazing service every single time I walk in. Their staff is wonderfully friendly and immediately share their passion for photography with you as soon as you walk in. I only get to come in once every six months from Alaska, but they've always gone out of their way to make me feel like a cherished local. Their film development service is top-notch, they're honest about any cameras they have on consignment and they are fairly priced. A PNW treasure. read more