Pretty solid camera store for hobbyists, enthusiasts, or simply dabblers. Wide range of equipment available packed into a decently sized and well organized space. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and served fairly quickly. Only downside imo was that there were some premiums attached to some goods, like clearly selling some new items above msrp. I am not sure if this was just due to the difficulty in acquiring them, or if it's typical due to it being DC, but just beware that pricing may not be the best. Despite this though, it is always great to have a brick and mortar shop like this to come and explore, and I will likely return for future needs and recommend people go check out for themselves. read more

My compact digital camera is about 14 years old, an Elph300Hs which I bought for myself as a graduation present from UDC in 2011. Powershot was great back in the day when High Dynamic Zoom was still novel. I should have figured out how to transport files remotely but I never fully investigated this option. My camera was from Penn Camera when it was in downtown. That salesperson was so nice, and so I purchased a few extra accessories at the time. Anyway, this is not supposed to be a full obit for my camera. Recently I kept getting "data capacity limit reached" messages on the battery so it clearly needed to be changed, and so I came into District Camera for a battery. They said there were no Canon batteries available, but for $30 I could purchase a Pro Master Replacement for Canon NB-4L. Since I had purchased a lousy Chinese smartphone battery replacement for my phone last year, I didn't want to spring for this. I expected some kind of funky thing for sure: overheating, short functioning time, etc. I was not far wrong! DO YOUR HOMEWORK! The batteries ARE AVAILABLE AT USA.CANON.COM! If I had bought the bona fide Canon battery ($70) maybe my camera would not have overheated and I would not have had the new error that showed up: "Lens Error"! That is the message like "white screen of death" on a blog! I cannot get the lens to retract no matter how many times I put the batteries (trying with the old one or the new one) inside. There is no "reset" for the camera. Its "Power is Shot." Retrorevival.ca has an article about a possible Lens Error repair: https://www.retrorevival.ca/2025-retro-revival-repair-blog-articles/202509/24/canon-powershot-elph-350hs-lens-error However I have not the patience nor stamina to take this camera apart. It is feeling "hot" to the touch once I put the batteries in and turn it on, and yes, it was making a clicking noise before it totally "shut down" just like Retrorevival describes. Now that lens retraction won't happen, I can no longer do anything with the digital screen. It just turns back off. I am not going to blame District Camera---heavens knows we can use some camera store in downtown DC. There used to be several, up to five specialty photography shops, and computer repair stores, but now, once a repair is needed, good luck, even at Best Buy. Do Your Homework! Shop online for the camera you desire, then find which store (if any) you can order it from! Probably Canon is doing a brisk business online. But District Camera does offer "refurbished cameras." Their service is very busy, and it is very snappy. Don't expect the most patient clerks. They did sell me a Pro Master Multi Card reader one time, and also a Re-Fuel Digital Camera Travel Charger for reasonable prices and both at times when they were suddenly needed. But right now, I just have to get over realizing I need to buy a new camera, and see that as a great way to learn more about photography. And sure, I'll start at https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/digital-cameras. read more

The staff didn't seem welcoming. Odd vibe. Also they tried to sell me a camera that was to advanced for me.

Brought in two disposable cameras for film development and both rolls were damaged beyond repair. Got a refund and two new rolls with free development at the store, which is nice, but doesn't bring back the lost photos. Service was a bit odd. Someone with the same last name was also getting film developed and I was sent their photos. Then when I was having problems with my order, they kept giving me the wrong information because they assumed both orders were for the same person and same rolls of film, even though the first names and order numbers were different. Lastly, the standard development time was extended to over 3 weeks due to them getting a new machine. I had to call and ask what was happening with my order because I got a standardized email saying my order should have been fulfilled even though I had yet to receive anything. Frustrating that the new machine that delayed the order is apparently what broke my rolls of film. read more

The staff was a bit weird in attitude and the space didn't really feel welcoming at all. They seemed inconvenienced that I had to use an alternative payment method to pay for my scans. Also, it took FOREVER for the digital images to come back. They charge $19/roll to develop color film. Why is the cost of developing more expensive than the actual film itself? If you're charging $19/roll I'd expect same day or next day scans, to be honest with you. I understand DC has a high cost of living, but I lived in NYC and could develop film for $6/roll and get scans back the same day for the same quality. I haven't been able to find a different photo lab to go to in the DMV so I might just do mail-in orders for my former NYC spot. Truly disappointing that the DMV analog community has to deal with such scarcity and poor customer service. read more

Had passport photo taken there. Very friendly, very professional, and very fast. Photo was accepted by online renewal, while a couple of previous attempts (home taken and by another company) were rejected as non-compliant. read more

I'm extremely disappointed with this seller. The item arrived defective, and I contacted them right away, well within the return window. Despite multiple messages, I received no proper response or solution. They ignored my concern and excuse even though I reported the issue on time. This experience has been frustrating and completely unprofessional. I want others to be aware before purchasing. read more

The are easy ways to make a customer feel welcomed or ask them for information without feeling judged or demeaned. It's also NOT helpful for other staff to jump in when you address the lack of adequate customer service. Only one employee pulled back which is why I would even give one star. Let this save you some money and the money, I wasted to now go get service else and pay again, will be my lesson. read more

I needed an Australian passport photo for an infant, which is extremely challenging. Larry worked with me through email, assisting back and forth with corrections until I got the perfect shot for him to print. His patience and customer service was above and beyond. read more

Ellie helped me find the right film development package and provided keen insight SLR cameras available for purchase. We received the digital images in a few days and they were fabulous. read more

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS AWFUL! These people love to make you feel dumb even if you have a simple question. Ive honestly never meet camera people who are this rude. Id rather drive all the way to Baltimore then to go here read more

Great camera spot for accessories at an affordable price.. Great customer service as well.. if you're ever in the DMV area..

The workers "seemed" busy and very direct - no sense of customer service. one worker wanted me to pay for the service before they took passport pictures. The person who took my picture - she took a couple of USA passport pictures and she did not let me look at them or choose. She just asked for my email and send one image ... it was not a good service. When I wrote a google review of my services, the manager stated "Did the photo we took got rejected? If so then you should be unsatisfied and give us a negative review.Our goal is to make sure that the photo we take is 100% acceptable by the passport office or any foreign embassy. We choose the best photo we take for this purpose. I wish you will reconsider your review" How silly! read more

Do not recommend for passport photos. Arrived around 1:25pm. After waiting quite a while (half an hour), they gave me photos in the wrong size (and charged me $35, not the $17 I was quoted over the phone). Got to the MLK Library Passport Renewal office 10 minutes later, was told they were the wrong size. The library only takes money orders for photos, and the renewal office closed at 2:30pm, not enough time to get a money order let alone go back to District Camera for new pics, so I missed the cutoff. On top of this, it's Labor Day weekend, so my passport renewal will be delayed due to this error. Very annoyed, over an hour of wasted time, my passport may not be renewed on time now. Will be going elsewhere in the future. read more

All return is subject to 15% restoking fee, my experience say otherwise, the will impose the fee even if you return within 14 days period.

I've only been to Washington D.C. a total of three times, but each time I make sure to swing by and visit the coolest shop in town - District Camera and Imaging! This place has left an indelible mark on me, not just for their incredible products but also for their exceptional service. Shout out SYED and company. From the moment I walked in I was greeted with warmth and enthusiasm by none other than Syed himself. Syed has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure that my experiences at his shop is nothing short of exceptional. His helpfulness and respect towards customers are truly commendable. This guy totally knows what he's talking about. On my first visit, I needed to develop film for my photography project. Syed guided me through the entire process, making it seamless and hassle-free. His expertise and attention to detail were evident as he carefully handled my precious film. The end results were beyond my expectations, capturing the essence of my community and trips perfectly. During my third visit, I needed batteries for my beloved Fuji-Film X-T4. unfortunately I had forgotten them back home and Syed effortlessly assisted me in finding the right batteries, ensuring I had everything I needed to keep capturing stunning shots. His extensive knowledge of different camera models and accessories is truly impressive. But what impressed me the most was the quick lesson Syed provided on loading film into my Olympus OM-1 during my third visit. As a novice in the world of analog photography, I was grateful for his patience and willingness to share his expertise. His step-by-step guidance helped me gain the confidence to explore film photography further. The shop is thoughtfully arranged, showcasing a wide range of high-quality products for photography enthusiasts. Whether you're in need of camera gear, film, or expert advice, SYED has got you covered. I can't wait to go back to Washington D.C. and visit this shop again. It has become an essential stop on my itinerary whenever I'm in town. Syed's and this shops unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and his genuine passion for photography make a must-visit destination for any camera enthusiast. If you're looking for a one-stop shop with exceptional service, where you can develop film, find camera accessories, and receive valuable guidance from a true expert, District Camera and Imaging is the place to be. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. read more

District Camera and Imaging - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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BIG HUGE THANKS to Eldar and the team at PhotoCraft -- District Camera and Imaging in DC, recently purchased a Nikon D850 from them at a great price. Camera was listed as near-mint, shutter count was listed along with all accessories and it was ALL on-point. Great service, fast shipping and super friendly on the phone at both locations, really can't thank you enough, everything was super clean/minty as promised -- A+ don't hesitate to purchase here. read more

I had a technical issue after an important photoshoot. Larry was amazing and saved the day! I was afraid the problem was unsolvable. I have immense gratitude for Larry's help. Thank you from Los Angeles! read more

Very poor customer service. I ordered greeting cards for New Year's on the District Camera website. I had previously ordered simple prints which came out fine so figured this would be a safe bet. I designed the cards online and submitted the order on Christmas Day. It was clearly marked as pick up from the Arlington store. My prior order took just one business day to complete, so I assumed similar timing for this order. However, I never heard anything so I started following up starting on Wednesday, December 28. I called again on Thursday but could not get through and the "voice mailbox was full". Finally, I was able to get a hold of someone on Friday, December 30 and later that day received a call stating that the order was ready for pick up. I made a special trip to the store (Arlington location) to pick up the order. They didn't have it! Apparently, the cards are not produced in house and were shipped to the Burke location. I was told that I could go to Burke to pick up the order! Not an option for me. They did not promise anything in terms of when they could get the order to Arlington. I called on Saturday, December 31 and was told the order wasn't there. Finally, I received a call today, January 2, and picked it up. Good customer service would have been to offer to courier the order to Arlington, Fed Ex it to me, or refund my purchase. None of these options were offered, and there seemed to be little regret nor apologies for my inconvenience. I won't be back. read more

Syed and Anthony are super knowledgeable and helpful. Helped me set up and fix an old camera. This place is a treasure trove of everything a photographer needs. read more

Very grateful to Marvin & Jose at this location for their accomodation in services tonight. Drove all the way from the suburbs of VA & hit alot of traffic, they were very kind & understanding & still agreed to get my Passport photo done even with a tight timeline before they closed. Prompt service, friendly staff & good quality product! Really happy & would recommend read more

I had ordered prints from CVS that were horrible. Then I tried Walgreens. Also terrible. I needed these prints ASAP and ordered them from District Camera. They came out perfectly and I'm super grateful read more

Unfortunately, this location and the Arlington location lost my 35 mm film, and I only found out after following up with them after 3 weeks. Received a refund, but I would not recommend going here to get your film developed. read more

Great quality development, especially for the price point. It's hard to find good film development in the city. The staff is clearly very knowledgeable, but sometimes makes beginners feel silly for not knowing the verbiage/protocol. Film is for everyone! I've never rented or bought camera equipment here, but will keep coming back for development. read more

Great selection of stuff in a tiny venue. Staff were very helpful and understood exactly what we needed and how we could get it. They did not have what we needed in this location, but they were able to track it down for us. read more

amazing responsive service...really go the extra mile to please the customer. Jack actually researched and emailed me an article to answer a question I could find the answer to. Long established family biz read more

Syed and Marvin were extremely nice and helpful! They had exactly what I needed at an affordable price and gave me lots of helpful tips. I told them I was visiting the area and they were sure to recommend lots of cool places to see. read more

I contacted District Camera and was greeted by a very helpful and polite staff member. I subsequently purchased two used lenses, my first time ever purchasing used. After using the 85mm Nikon a couple times, I noticed a rough spot at the bottom of the lens. Turned out to be a crack. I called DC and talked to the guy in charge. Needless to say, he refused to help with repair or admit any responsibility. Word to the wise, please think twice about purchasing used from DC. From my experience, if there's a problem, you're on your own! read more

District Camera and Imaging - Nikon Lens - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

horrible horrible horrible customer service. Dropped my film off to get developed and took so long to get back and was way too expensive

I bought a used teleconverter for my Nikon d7500. It did not fit. Returned. Was hit wit a $17.90 restock fee.

All Syeds fault, he will treat you badly. The store really is not that bad, but they need to get rid of that guy when clearly he is the problem, with his patronizing arrogant attitude and terrible customer service read more

Used them for work and they were very responsive and helpful. Their rush order meant we could get digital photos printed quickly

I came to District Camera last week with a very personal and time-sensitive request. I wanted to have an old 8x10 photo of my father professionally enlarged, so we could display it at his funeral. I could not have been more pleased with how masterfully Larry enhanced the photo. Despite doubling the original size to 16x20, there was no loss of detail or quality. In fact, the photo looked even better after some of the red undertones were tempered. The entire DC staff was sensitive to my circumstances and the work product was outstanding. I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful it was to work with a family business, rather than a big box retail machine. Prices were very reasonable for what you get in return. read more

I come here to drop off my 35 mm film cause it's the closest one to me but I don't particularly recommend it. I never get my entire roll scanned in full and there's always a quality issue with the scanning. The last 3 visits in the past month I've had issues with white borders on the bottom of my photos which is just from sloppy scanning and then my most recent roll wasn't even scanned properly that so I have to re scan it again. I also never receive all of the photos which is odd so I'm not sure if it's an issue with developing. It's only when I started dropping off film here that I don't receive at least 34 of the photos in my 36 roll. My most recent roll only had 29 photos in it so I'm assuming a strip of film just wasn't scanned. The only thing I like about this place is the convenience and the fast turnaround. read more

If I could give this place negative stars I would (the 1225 I St #110, Washington DC 20005); the most DISGUSTING customer service I've ever seen (and I've spent my entire life in the customer service field from the grounds to corporate level). By far, the most disgusting customer service I've experienced in any business. To start with, when you walk in you are received the bad attitude all the way until your payment is process. Their employees are short with you and treat you as if you were an idi*t and they were geniuses. Definitely seems to be a culture at this establishment because the Arlington office are polite and professionals. After having gone here for several times (I believe a year), the disgusting customer service is what highlights from the start. But not only that, they will tell you how little they care about you or your pictures; seems as no one is held accountable so no one cares about treating their customers right (instead their attitude is disgusting at the very best). Two other friends had come to this place and they both have said the same thing. I first didn't care too much about their attitude (nor about the quality of the prints), so I still came back. But I had enough after they threw away my pictures and negative because I came to pick up my pictures after 30 days (I was getting married! I traveled and couldn't come) and their response (instead of trying to make things right) was to tell me that they don't want to hear it, it's my fault because I didn't read their policy (who reads policies of every store they go!) and that they have hundreds of customers to care about just one, the way to "make it right" after their disgusting comments was to charge me more to re-print the pictures (I wouldn't have mind if it wasn't for their nasty attitude) and they even said if I keep on "complaining" they will not print my pictures even if I paid (Paul even felt comfortable to threaten me even tho the "manager" was there... hence I say this level of disgusting customer service is the culture at this location), I tried speaking to the manager (I was told his name is Syed) and he care little to nothing about the disgusting comments his employees were making and even walked away because he didn't want to hear any complaints (a key part of a manager's duties). This is the last time I come to this place and will re-consider using any other district camera because of how disgusting this one location is (I would highly recommend evaluating/investigating this location as I promise you that by far the level of customer service they provide is disgusting at the very least). I should have heard other people that told me to avoid this location and now I know why.... I'm going to make sure I let, everyone I know, know about this place and to avoid going here at all cost. But like Paul (employee at this location) said to me (in front of the manager that I believe is named Syed?) "you are only one of hundreds of customer so I don't care".... This place lacks of the basics of customer service. read more

Rude, snobby, and overall terrible customer service. Three out of the four employees i've interacted with here have been ridiculously stuck up and annoying. They act as if you don't know shit about cameras at all. On top of all that, if you get your film developed and scanned, odds are the scans they send you will be of terrible quality. I would rather ship my film off to get developed than come back here. Sad! read more

Great experience here! Just started developing film and didn't want to go to Walgreens or CVS. Everyone in this shop was so nice, giving me knowledge and what not. Film development is quick too! I would suggest going to this location (DC) not Arlington, as I learned the hard way the ship all the film from Arlington to dc (so it takes a bit longer) read more

amazing service, i asked them if i could check out a canon lens and they had told me all about it. they had also let me try out the lenses.

I came in for film camera cleaning. The shop wasn't able to do it which is fine but Syed was incredibly patronizing about my camera telling me to just go buy another bc they were unable to help me. Additionally, he told me there was nowhere I could go in the city for help but after a 2 minute search on google, I found a nice shop a mile away that was able to do it no problem. Would not recommend coming here if you want help and actual guidance read more

I was able to snag parking right in the front. I ran in, dropped off a disposable camera for development and was in and out. The staff was nice and the turn around on film development was pretty quick. I was sent a drop box link via email for digital files, and if interested you can come back in (or call?) to request printed copies. Super easy, and pretty affordable. I want to look into purchasing a point and shoot and may come in for some advice from the experts. read more