I have been a Hooper Camera customer for over 6 years and I have always been impressed with the level of customer service that I have received. It is obvious that the staff members are very knowledgeable and they truly care about the customers. I am not a serious camera professional or expert, but I do use my Pentax frequently for some work projects. Whenever I have had issues with my camera, I always trusted Hooper Camera to answer my question or suggest a repair. The staff is honest and I never felt as though they were trying to take advantage and sell me unnecessary equipment or suggest unnecessary repairs. In an age when retail seems to be moving "online" and real in-person customer service is fading away, it is such a relief that I am still able to go to the local camera shop and receive excellent in-person service. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone who needs to purchase a camera/ camera equipment or who is having camera issues and is looking for repair suggestions. read more

Fair pricing, good quality job and friendly staff. You can use their professional opinions to use the best option in printing. I worked with a young guy named Tate and he was really helpful. I highly recommend them. read more

Always enjoy heading to Hooper Camera for film, a tripod, or other camera-related items. The staff is not only friendly, but they know film, and film terminology. read more

Rip off alert! New location? Still crap. Here's my experience: 1) Bad customer service! (I visited 2 locations, service sucked at both). At the T.O. location the aging good old boyz behind the counter spoke faster than auctioneers and dismissed me just as quickly... they had other unsuspecting fish to hook! 2) No returns! I was sold an item without a box (for a friend as a Xmas gift). It's all they had left. As I drove away I had misgivings about gifting something sans box, so I dropped by the T.O. Hoopers to return the item not an hour later. They refused to take the item back. No returns! Why didn't the portly and surly man who sold me the boxless item tell me so? Bottom line: don't shop here. What if you want to return it? Every store takes returns, it's the law. OR they should notify you your sale is final at the time of payment. These buzzards are worse than used car salesmen. read more

I don't recommend going to this place. They are ridiculous in pricing and forget it if you have to return something because they don't do returns only exchanges! I bought a polarizer filter for $75 but took it back for a $50 charger they wouldn't give me the $25 back I had to buy something that is worth the same. I gave them a star because of their customer service. I had two people help me and they were very nice. I just don't agree with their prices and policies! read more

Update: John the owner called me today (12-30-11) and told me there was mistake made when I was given my refund. Apparently when I bought the lens filters there was a no sales tax special. When I returned the items I was refunded the $9.53 tax on my credit card which I didn't pay. John wanted my credit card number from me or drive to Thousand Oaks and pay in cash. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!! I reminded John of the 15% re-stocking fee that I was unnecessarily charged with and the bad experience I had inside his store. He said, "Most stores charge re-stocking fees." I replied, "No they don't." He then promptly slammed to phone down and hung up on me. This is the kind of people you will be dealing with when you step inside this store. Be ware. read more

I want, more than anything, to support small businesses, especially those in fields where the expertise of the staff is of huge importance. I'd rather pay slightly more to deal with someone who knows photo/computers/cars than go to a big box store, be helped by someone who doesn't know the field, just to save a small percentage. My brother in law was visiting from las vegas and was looking for some polaroid type film that would fit a polaroid land camera he had picked up at a thrift shop. I told him and my wife to check with hooper, thinking one of them would call and tell the other. They both called 5 minutes apart, and were given the correct information about the film, but both were told different prices. My wife then called again to clarify the price, and the employee was upset at the number of phone calls, and told my wife he had a store with customers in it to attend to, and hung up on her. I went to hooper's website, and found an email address listed for customer service. Since i work every hour that hooper is open, i sent an email to the address asking why they had been so rude to my wife when she was only trying to clear up some information that they had given out. A day or two later i got a voicemail from the store manager. He made no effort to sound like he hadn't been forced by the owners to call, made a sarcastic comment about me emailing the photo lab manager department (dean lawrence is listed as both the operations and photo lab manager on their site), and spent the rest of the message trying to justify why the clerk was rude to my wife. read more

Generally a fan. Glad we still have a camera store in Thousand Oaks. I needed a camera bag and didn't want to buy one without being able to see how all my gear would fit, in person. No online for me in this case. Hooper camera had a good selection and staff who greeted me quickly when I walked in and did their best to help me. Prices can be a little high on some stuff but that's what you get for dealing with someone face to face. I appreciate the other camera services they also offer. Definitely worth checking out. read more

I was unable to access the data on my memory card and I was frantic. We had just lost our dog to a rare disease and I knew there were pictures of her on that disk. I went into Best Buy first and asked for help, and they wanted to charge me $100 to retrieve the data and save it to a CD. When I questioned the cost, they said they would give me a "discount" rate of $85. Forget it. I called Hooper Camera and talked to Brian, and he said bring in the memory card, they might be able to help. The next day, I went into Hooper Camera and Eric helped me. He was able to see the data on the dick and was able to transfer the data to a new SD card. He only charged me the cost of a new SD card, about $10. Customer service was excellent. I would go back in a heartbeat. Thank you for your great customer service. read more

My camera and flash were on the blink...not working. I took it in to Hooper (who I found on the internet) and I went in with my camera. The guy behind the counter diagnosed and fixed the problem within minutes and wouldn't charge me even when I insisted. My experience was brief but very positive read more

I find them to be a little snobby and off-putting. If you are new to a good camera, not amenable to a lot of questions. I am on my third try for an enlargement of a particular photo that I ordered online. When I complained, Brian said, well, I haven't seen the original! I said, yes, you have, I brought it in and said it was made too large. Obviously no recall on his part... There online upload does not work with an iPad which is very unfortunate. read more

Stopped by to drop off a roll of film and buy a new one, hoping that someone could help show me how to take it out of the camera as I'm new to film photography. Gary went above and beyond and basically gave me a whole lesson on my camera's parts and different camera settings! He even found that a certain part was broken and would cause double exposures if I continued to try using it. No problem since I was ready to purchase a new one anyways. He got me all set up with a new camera that was just like my old one (but better!) and helped me feel more confident about using it. Thank you Gary, you're the man! Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for advice or needing any help. read more

I want to thank Hooper Camera. My family has used this company countless times, but they really saved me. I had ordered a specialty item from overseas with another company who ended up emailing me days before it was due to arrive saying they would refund me that it would not be ready. I called Hooper Camera and Gary and Tate really took the time to resolve the situation. They beautifully executed what I needed, and within days! My gift was ready on time and was very touching to the person who received it. I can't THANK YOU enough!! read more

I would like nothing more than to support small businesses, but everytime I leave this store I ask myself why I went back. First experience: i stood at the checkout counter for quite some time while 3 staffers helped 2 customers. It was taking quite a while. No one even aknowledged me until I asked if I could just pay for my item and go. Still waited for quite some time before being helped...remember the ratio: 3 staffers, 2 customers... Second and Third experience: asked for a certain item and was only shown more expensive versions... boy are they good at the upsell. Fourth and FINAL experience: bought a product on their recommendation, that ended up not being compatable with my system (apple computer). When I tried to return it, one of the guys behind the counter ranted on about how users of that system think they are better than everybody else (excuse me, you know you are talking about me, the customer who is standing right in front of you right?) . Then they wouldn't take the item back as the item worked just fine, not their problem, the problem was at my end. At this point, shame on me for giving them so many chances. I'll be spending more time and gas driving to Calumet in LA but it will be worth it. read more

I need to get some photos for the renewal of my British Passport. I initially went to Walgreen's after checking online reviews. The person there said that they had the correct template to meet the UK passport specifications. After checking my photos they were not correct and not with the parameters I required. I then remembered about the camera shop in Thousand Oaks. Hoopers!! I called and spoke to a nice chap called Bryan, who knew what I needed and invited me to come by. I went over the next day and he was able to take my pictures perfectly and they matched all the UK passport guidelines. I posted (Mailed) my application that day!! Thanks Bryan you rock!!! read more

Great service on professional lighting rental. Brian was super pro. They helped several people on bulk scanning and a variety of services while I waited. Recommended. PS: after Id got back to the shop, we needed an extra framus...so, Brian while on his way to lunch, delivered it. Great great customer service. read more

The only place to go for any photo/camera or developing. Excellent customer service.Brian is always so helpful and patient. He is very knowledgeable and friendly. it's so hard to get any real customer service anymore but Brian and Hooper Camera stand alone Highly recommended read more

Went here for a possible camera rental for a Halloween Party. The staff was fabulous and took time in explaining the options to meet my specific needs. They reserved the camera, lens, and flash. This was an excellent opportunity to experiment with new equipment and convince me I'm ready for ownership. I highly recommend the rental options if you are thinking about expanding your repertoire or purchasing something new. I purchased a Cannon EOS series here a few years back. The staff again, where VERY helpful. They stand behind their product. Why go hear vs. purchasing online? You have a real human being that stands behind their product, is willing to teach you, and has all the accoutrements. The few extra dollars are certain to pay off in the quality of photos and range of use of your camera. 20 years back, Hooper also provided outstanding service and professional quality equipment. Thank you for your many years of business and expertise!!!! read more

This camera shop was an absolute blessing to find. I was able to take my 10+ disposable cameras here and have them all put onto CD's within a matter of days. Brian, the man working in the shop (possibly the owner) was extraordinarily nice and gave me a call when my items were ready for pick-up! He also chit chatted with me about the best way to go about repairing another camera i was going to bring in to the store. Overall great experience! Highly Recommended read more

Gary was awesome! I bought a camera and had no idea what I was doing. He helped me get the basics set up. Their store is great, you can find anything from getting a picture enlarged to almost any accessory that you need. If they don't have it, they can order it for you. Go see them! read more

There are some really good people in this world and then there are some really GREAT people in this world. Gary and Lola are probably the most understanding kindhearted professional people I've ever done business with. I will never buy camera equipment anywhere else.Thank you for your knowledge and for allowing me to capture people's memories read more

The owner -- actually I didn't even get his name or know that he's the owner, but was the main man behind the counter -- was so incredibly helpful. I brought in an old film camera and he helped me make sure it was still working, gave me a refresher on all the basics to know about it, and offered to give me tips on my pictures once I come back to have them developed. He was so sweet and eager to share his knowledge. This place is a gem and I'm so thrilled to have discovered it. read more

BETTER THAN A BIG BOX STORE! I went into Hooper Camera and Imaging looking to buy a basic model DSLR. I was pleasantly surprised to find they had the camera I was looking for. It was $20 more than Amazon or Costco, and being price conscious I didn't like that too much. However, I asked Jolie if I did buy the camera if she would be willing to show me some basics before I left. She sure did! She showed me a great deal about my new camera, something neither Costco or Amazon would be able to provide. Thank you so very much, Jolie and Gary. I'll see you soon read more

I came here for green screen background and they had one. I needed ASAP for a project I'm doing and Hooper had it it save me time going to Thousand Oaks from Oxnard instead of going to LA. Thank You Hooper read more

I am a camera novice. I walked in and was completely honest that I was only going to browse, but wanted to know what I would need for my food blog. In my head the camera was going to be crazy expensive. When I told Brian what I was going to use it for he showed me a few options, and explained everything in words I could understand. He could have up sold me because I was expecting to pay a lot, but what he recommended was reasonable, and a bargain. I ended up buying after all. They offer free rental of a lens a week for a year, so I'll be able to try out some other things to see if they are right for my purposes. I love that it's a local business and the staff is so knowledgeable. And the price was spot on! I'll definitely be a long term customer! read more

These guys were amazing. My boyfriend had bought a Minolta x700 film camera off eBay for my birthday right before I was going to leave for France for summer. I had absolutely no experience with film and I came in to Hoopers 3 days before I left. Not only did they check out my camera to make sure it was up to par but they also made sure I had a lens cap and all the right film for my needs as a student. This guy went the extra mile and taught me how to load my film and unload my film (and let me videotape the process), which can be very scary for someone who is totally new and doesn't want ruin their precious film! He even threw in a used little bag so that my film was protected in my suitcase. Such a great experience and I will definitely be going back to develop my film there because they are trustworthy and know their stuff. read more

A local gem in Thousand Oaks. Brian is a font of knowledge and is so nice. They are a full service lab with photography PROFESSIONALS and ARTISTS who love what they do. Finally found a place that will mount my travel photographs in a manner that will do them justice. THE place to go to for anything related to photography. read more

What a rip off!!! This people will not notify you about no returns verbally and/or written on receipts. I returned an unused item 2 days after I purchased a lens cap and they won't take it back! For $10 bucks, they lost a good customer and I will tell the WORLD not to come here! How's that!?! read more

I am not surprised by the number of bad reviews of this place. The last (2) times I went there, I had the mis-pleasure of talking to an older man (owner?) who was as unfriendly and arrogant as other reviewers have previously stated. This is the closest Camera Store to my home, but I will drive to Ventura, or the San Fernando Valley to avoid dealing with someone with this type of attitude. No thanks! read more

I've been here a few times, and went back again today for just a lens leash. Not sure why I keep going here, the staff are not very friendly, and not helpful. Not sure how they have managed to stay in business, each time I have been there, I typically am the only one in the store. I plan on upgrading much of my equipment in the years to come. I will definitely drive further to get better service and make sure the expert is really helping me get what best suits my requirements. I suppose they are good for the occasional lens leash and cleaning kits. read more

It's so great to have a local camera shop that you can walk into and get good information about everything dealing with cameras. When most of the world is buying online for pricing reasons, these very caring people do their best to give you a reason to buy in a real store that has a soul. It's worth it. They helped me edit over a thousand pics that I had on three different devices and now I have the perfect (simple!) way to see my memories. Thanks Hooper! (Tate was fantastic!) read more

If you are looking for some professional advice in purchasing a camera or tripod do not go here. I wanted to upgrade from a Nikon D90 to the next higher model. The salesperson talked me into a Sony A65. A great camera that does a lot of the thinking for you if you want or you can set it to manual mode. However it is not a full frame camera. I did purchase it. Then I signed up for a photo shoot with a professional and went to Big Sur. I had a list of what I should bring on this photo shoot, it included a tripod with a ball head. I went back to hooper to rent some lenses and yo buy a tripod with a ball head. I was told by the same guy who sold me the A65 with a rather cynical smirk that I didn't need a ball head. Guess what they don't sell them either. So I took his bad advice and got his recommended tripod. When my professional photographer saw my tripod he got this cynical smirk on his face and asked why did I purchase such a crappy tripod. (Crappy is my word) After my return from my professional hands on trip I purchased a Sony A99, a full frame camera that is one of the best cameras made today. Not from Hooper. I wouldn't go back there. I am now going to purchase a decent tripod with a ball head. They ain't cheap. Hooper is fine if you are a point and shoot photographer but if you want to take better photos don't go there for advice. Let the buyer beware. Yes I let the salesman talk me into the A65, after learning more about photography that experience was like buying a car from a pushy used car salesman who was more concerned about getting his commission than about doing right by the customer. Those who write about Hoopers "knowledge and commitment to great photography" have been duped like I was. If you want to get better at photography talk to a professional or do some reading before you purchase some new equipment read more

Excellent customer service!! I went in to have a few slides digitized and they were able to complete the service very quickly and help me meet a deadline. I highly recommend Hooper Camera and Imaging! read more

I stopped by Hooper Camera & Imaging a while ago to see if they could clean a lens that I really needed for work. There was a tiny hair stuck in there that I just couldn't get out myself. The gentleman that helped me took the time to clean it out properly and then shot a few images to make sure it was clear, and when I asked how much I owed him he said he wasn't going to charge me for clearing it. It was such a nice, friendly thing to do and really shows that they care about their customers and about photography in general. Will definitely be back! read more

The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Like most small photography shops they don't have a huge inventory but that have a good selection of normal items and are happy to order any items they don't have. It great to have a local resource! read more

DO NOT DEVELOP YOUR FILM HERE!!! They clearly do not know what they are doing when it comes to developing film. I bought my sons Kodak disposable cameras to take pictures when their baby brother was born. We took the cameras to Hoopers to have the film developed and every picture is fuzzy and dark. The rooms the pictures were taken in were very bright so the lighting was not the problem. They charged us $50.00 for prints that are completely unusable. When my husband complained he said there was nothing they could do and that the negatives were dark. Well then they should have called to tell us that or offered a refund or discount. Terrible customer service! Total rip off! Will never go there again and you shouldn't either! read more

Ok, looks like this place is changing for the better!! Great customer service!!! I needed to get two underwater camera's developed and my camera's & lens (3 items) cleaned from being out at the beach. They cleaned all three of them on the spot for FREE and were really cool about it. The underwater camera's took a few days to process and they called me like they said they would when done. WOW. I like the attitude here and so will you. Stop by and check out. read more

I've been shopping on an occasional basis at the Thousand Oaks Store for the past four or five years. To date, I've purchased two cameras (Sony Alpha 550 and Alpha 65) from them and a (fantastic) Tamron F2.8 70-200 lens. Today, I stopped by the shop to inquire about a wide-field lens for astrophotography -- Brian and Eric in the store could not be more helpful. Knowledgeable, considerate, patient... they even recommended that I rent a lens rather than purchase one for my camera AND told me that if I rented a lens on Saturday, I get it for two days for the price of one (!). In short, they KNEW that I was not going to buy anything that day but they spent quality time with me AND helped out a few customers in between who were specifically there to buy stuff. Previously, my Tamron f2.8 suffered some incidental damage. The manager there reminded me that the Tamron warranty is quite solid and that he thought that they could repair the lens for the cost of shipping. His guess was spot-on. What WAS a fuzzy but expensive lens is NOW just like brand new. For $25. In reviewing the Yelp comments below, I recognize the disparity between ratings made with the "old guys" working there previously AND ratings made with the "new guys" working there now. While I did not have a significantly "bad" experience previously, the new folks there could not be more helpful. The prices at Hooper might be a little more than some of the prices you'll find online; however, the experience and knowledge and service is worth it. Hooper is my camera store. read more

Terrific place. I assumed a non-Costco store would charge a fortune for printing photos, and would require time for orders to be processed. Not true. I "custom" designed and had 49 4x6 photos printed for the price of $13.21. Best part, they looked fabulous. It was so worthwhile I returned the next week for an 8x10, and several 5x7s. They turned out exactly how I'd wanted, and cost a total of $17.04. I was amazed. Despite being busy, the staff is pleasant, helpful, and very knowledgeable. My only request is that their parking be a little easier...but the store itself is excellent. Therefore, I recommend this Hooper's. I'm now inspired to take more photographs -- even with my IPhone. read more

For the past 4 years I have been saving for a Canon, specifically a 60D. I came to Hooper Camera and Imaging because of their great prices and word from a close friend that their service, prices, items, etc were simply astounding. I ordered just the body with a 50mm lens with it and had them save it under my name. Upon arrival, the man there was nice and very fast to get me my order, but while checking out, he asked if we wanted a lens filter. I declined and he secretly had a look while getting my items of "That's a mistake". He then went on to ask us if we wanted an SD card and told us of the ones on sale but we declined, I had only brought enough money for what I came for and no more. Now I understand someone giving a sales pitch and telling you about their sales, that's their job. They get paid to do that. But every time we declined something the man thought neccesary for us to have, he had a look of disgust and surprise as if we didn't know what we were doing. His tone got a little rude with us too as if we were amateurs. We happened to have all the neccesary equipment he wanted to sell to us at home already and didn't need to buy more. As I said before, he was simply letting us know of the sales, but he really had a rude tone with us the whole time as if we didn't know what we were doing. We were eventually so taken aback the person who came with me told the man that we had been saving for this product for quite some time and that a purchase this big should make them happy enough. They have great prices, and everyone seemed to be a professional, but don't expect great service. I would have given them a 5 star if it wasn't for the service. That's 50% of business right there. read more