Stopped by here today looking for a B&W ND #110 filter for my camera. The store was fairly large, and they looked like that had a lot of equipment. It also looked like everything was in disarray, kind of like a store that is going out of business. There were items all over the place, and not really organized in a good way. Unless it is just me, but i had to walk around the store a couple of times looking for my filter, and going thru a couple of end racks, and filter bins, I ended up asking someone at the counter. He said that they had them behind the counter, and he was going to take a look. I didn't get a good feeling that he knew what I was looking for, so after looking thru a drawer for about 5 mins and pulling up the odd filter here and there he came back and told me that they didn't have it. He didn't even try to up sell me anything, offer to order the filter, or ask if I wanted anything else. So this place loses a star for their disinterest in trying to help me achieve my goal of finding my filter. But outside of this, the store does look like it has a lot of items and may be a valuable source for other photographers that are looking to upgrade their equipment. I also wanted to mention that they also have a photo-department where they will develop your film for you ( does film even exist anymore ? ) read more

Walked in with my friend ready to spend money and none of the employees spoke to us. This was the first time I've walked into any business to quiet employees. Super strange environment, definitely not going back. read more

This is my first experience with HCE and all I can say is they're excellent to deal with. I purchased a used Nikkor 16mm f3.5 lens from them and it was rated Good. I read about their rating system and thought it would be worth taking a chance. The price was great and the service excellent as well. No gouging on shipping and they shipped promptly. The lens arrived today and I was amazed! The lens looks new and works perfectly. No issues optically or mechanically. I certainly would recommend HCE and will be doing business with them again. It's refreshing to find an honest and dependable company once again. read more

With Amazon and Ebay, and places like Adorama and B & H who offer free shipping and have a wide variety of stock there's not much point to go to a physical to store to shop. However, sometimes if you plan on spending a lot of money as with camera equipment, you would like to hold it, test it and in general see if you want it. This is where Houston Camera Exchange comes in. You can test stuff, see it in person, and ask an actual person any questions you might have. For me I needed some lens cleaning options and wanted to see what the actual size of a camera bag was. I can get dimensions but it's not the same as looking at it person. read more

Just visited this place for the first time last night & I left very pleased. Matthew helped me and my uncle out with all of our questions, and explained everything thoroughly without making us feel uneducated! He was great. Super great store. read more

This is THE brick & mortar place in Houston to shop for photography & film enthusiasts! Everything from old to new style cameras, lenses, photo & film, accessories, bags, etc... it's all here! And the staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. They're not pushy to upsell anything. read more

Every interaction I've had with the staff has been excellent! I want to give a special shout out to Bernie! He helped me when I got my a7iii and recently with a lens from Tamron. He was super understanding, friendly and PATIENT. I can tell he genuinely appreciates me shopping there and that sort of customer service is infinitely important nowadays. Honestly that's the kind of thing that keeps me coming back and avoiding buying everything online. read more

Very unhelpful service. Told me they didn't have what I needed then proceeded to sell it to another customer. Racist!!

Overpriced equipment. You're much better off shopping on facebook marketplace or offerup! . . read more

I've only become interested (or financially able to afford) photography and videography gear since being an adult, and so most of my experience with ordering gear has been via Amazon, B&H, Adorama, or some other online retailer. Brick and mortar stores are not places I frequent. Let me tell you why this place might be worth a visit and why it might not. I've been to this location twice. The first time was to purchase my first lens. A 50mm 1.8, and I wasn't sure it was the lens that I wanted to purchase. I had questions, and Amazon wasn't going to answer my unique questions on demand. I wanted to see it, and have someone there to walk through it with me. The camera exchange filled that need perfectly. The service there was top notch. I was never pressured, but was well taken care of. The second time was today, they brought in representatives from all the major camera brands to have a hands on event for customers like me. I was able to go in and see first hand the products I was interested in and feel the build quality. You don't get that on Amazon. Maybe you know all about cameras. Maybe you know exactly what kind of accessories you want, and you don't need the touch and the feel to make a buying decision. You'll probably save some money on Amazon. But if you're new, and you want to buy quality used gear, or new gear, the camera exchange is definitely a great place to stop by!!! read more

After doing some online price comparisons today, I found a local store that carried the product I had been searching, Houston Camera Exchange. I have actually bought equipment from them many times over many years so I was happy to see that they carried what I was looking for. I called to speak to someone and actually was put on the phone with the manager. She was not that personable when she got on the phone though and I could not understand her name and when I asked her again (politely) what it was, instead of answering me she said, "Well what is your name?" instead of telling me her name. Regardless, after I had asked about the product I also followed up with another question. I asked her while I was on the phone who was helping her with her website because I noticed some problems and things missing while I had been looking online and doing my research and that's actually something my company helps companies with for their marketing. A lot of her links were broken, not working, out of date, and the social media was disorganized and not very attractive for a store that is suppose to be the go-to experts in photography. She paused and then promptly told me she had someone helping her with it and then without another word hung up on me. Now....I definitely will not be buying the product from her store anymore, I will buy it online instead. Whoever is helping her with her marketing is either not doing a good job because it's glaringly evident without me even doing a thorough market assessment or she is a bad client that is not meeting deadlines with providing material for content and approvals. Bad attitudes and lack of evolving your business with the digital age is why brick and mortars are closing shop and more people are buying online. And with customer service like that...who could blame them? I usually prefer to buy local because it helps the local economy but not from someone like that.... Super sad to learn that HCE has a manager named Sharley that is bringing their business down. read more

I went in because I was having trouble with my off-camera flash trigger and receiver.. I was looking to purchase new receiver and trigger but ended up being helped by a woman named Mary. She helped me troubleshoot To fix the triggers that I had already had. She went out of her way to take apart the equipment and replace the batteries for me and had them working good as new. I can definitely tell that Mary had a lot of experience and was very knowledgeable when it came to the Camera equipment. She made my first visit to camera exchange very pleasant . She was super nice and I would love to have her recognized!! Will definitely be going back because of Mary. Thank you !!! read more

Went in today wanting to look at lighting options for my nephew's budding photography venture. I like to look around before I approach a sales person so not being asked for assistance was okay with me. When I finally asked someone for help regarding a light (flash) for my nephew's Canon T6 camera, I was abruptly told the two options and the cost as if I was unable to afford such items. Told the sales person, thank you and I proceeded to exit the store, sit in my vehicle and find something similar to what I wanted on Amazon. I would have liked the salesperson to at least show me some options but I sensed a certain smugness and left. I am a self-taught photographer (picked up the camera when I was twelve and used my dad's 35mm handbook to get me on my way) so I like to look at what's new and available and get expert advice to make the best decision. I made a long drive to get here and the experience was disappointing. Oh well, on to the next place. read more

Overpriced everything. Bad customer service. Bad return system(15% restocking fee) If you have a enough time, buy from online. You could save a lot of money. (For example, if they sell something $70+tax, you could get it $40+tax in online..) I did not have enough time that's why I went this place and i knew it I paid almost double price but i couldn't return it because they charge restocking fee.. That how they survive.. And unfortunately this is the only one in Houston.. read more

I don't know why they even exist in the internet era. Just comparing the price on ebay and the price they offer you, they mark up 3x for used gears. Guess they have to make up that huge over hang cost of hiring 10 sales while only 2 customers. Trade online if you know what you are doing. read more

They should call this place the Houston Nikon exchange. Went there to buy a graduation gift for my son. He wanted a new zoom lens for his Canon. The sales associate declined to give any advice since he only uses Nikon. He talked on and on about his wedding photography and how he can tell differences in the colors of brides dresses if he uses any camera other than Nikon. How does this place stay in business? We just wanted some advice on zoom lenses compatible with Canon. Not going to happen here. We are happy to pay a little more for local businesses who have knowledge to share, but this was a joke of an experience. We ordered a lens from Amazon before we left the parking lot. BTW, we visited the San Antonio Camera Exchange last year and it was totally different. Very friendly and helpful staff. They even gave us advice for our Canon! read more

Mario helped us pick the best camera for what we needed. He wasn't pushy or trying to get us get the top of line item for anything. He was patient and explained everything very clearly to us. He didn't try to sell us anything more than what we needed. This store hadn't great collection of cameras and accessories. They also had a great selection of used cameras and lenses to choose from. read more

I've had mixed results depending on who's there. The first time I came by HCE was to help my mother in law pick out a new point and shoot last year, and the staff member who helped us was very nice and patient in showing her different models. However, when I came in a couple weekends ago to look for a smaller alternative to my Canon 5D, the man behind the Fuji counter just directed me over to the other side where the Olympus and Sony cameras are. Not sure why, considering I saw Fuji cameras in the display case I was interested in. He didn't look very busy either, as he was mostly just standing around before and after he asked if I needed help. I will say I've had mostly positive experiences calling into the store with questions. I believe I've spoken with Matt twice now and he's always been helpful. I hope their level of customer service improves since, as far as I know, they're one of the few camera stores still around. As a photographer and small business owner I like to support local businesses, but if you make me feel like I'm a nuisance just for wanting to look at cameras then I'd rather take my business online. read more

I've been to this store several times and often end up making a purchase. However, each time has left me less and less pleased. I always leave with the impression they are too "busy" for my questions, seeking out the big dollar customer instead. No, I'm no pro and I'm not dropping 2k on a camera.....yet. But don't dismiss me and my questions. When I asked about 150mm glass filters I got laughed at as they stated, "we don't carry those here anymore". As if it was insulting to ask. They try to sell me used, when I ask for new and then seem put off when I decline. If you don't want a ton of used inventory that isn't going to move, then don't keep buying and stocking your store with it. All in all, I think I'll shop online at B&H or Adorama....at least shipping is free and fast and no tax! read more

If you love outrageous prices, smug snot-nosed sales reps who are short, rude, and condescending, Houston Camera Exchange is the place for you. I got rid of my Canon T5 a while ago and decided I was in the market for a new camera. Doing my research, I came across the Fuji X100T thinking it would be nifty for street photography. I am not well-versed on mirrorless cameras so I figured going there I would be able to get some sort of assistance without doing too much research on my end. I came in and went to the back where I saw the mirrorless cameras and was nonchalantly greeted by a snot-nosed kid with unkept hair and a smug demeanor. I asked him if they had the camera I was looking for and he responds yes. He shows it to me and I ask him my questions to find a better pick due to this being a medium sized investment on my part. Every camera according to him was "cool" or "good." He kept his responses short and that was basically it. I told him I would have to do more research and come back later if anything. Second visit: I come and approach the area where the mirrorless cameras were. I asked him if they offered financing to avoid having my wife see me making a big purchase. He responds, "You've already asked me this. I told you no." ..Wait what? I apologize sir but am I doing you a favor by buying a camera from your establishment? I told him, I've never asked you if you guys did financing to which he responds, "Yes you have. I could've sworn." I ask to see the Fuji XT-1 and if he has it in the graphite silver color and he says they have it in stock but leaves it at that. At this point I was baffled and just left. I know I'm going to get a scripted response from "Abby" apologizing profusely for her employees behavior but Abby, why is it that you have consistent reviews of your salesman being snarky and condescending and yet you never rectify the situation? The price gouging? I understand. Business is business. However what about your sales rep who speaks to potential buying customers like we're beneath him? Don't apologize to me. Fix the situation. It's sad that your establishment is the only non big-box camera store here in Houston. Solution: Buy online. Unknowledgeable, arrogant, smug sales rep who sells you overpriced products. read more

I'm a pro photographer and I'm very disappointed with this place. They tried to tell me 2 cameras were the same when the mega pixels were so far apart. They tried to sell a used camera as new but I caught it. The final straw is the cameras for sale there were 40-50% higher than the actual price you can find anywhere. They have a good variety of camera equipment & bags but you'll pay the highest prices I've ever seen. Wow so expensive read more

Executive Summary: Perhaps the last real camera store in Houston. Growing up, I was a photography geek, and loved frequenting all the great camera stores to see the latest toys. (I miss PS Photo on Stella Link!) But now a real camera store, staffed by experts who know cameras, is very hard to find. The Wolf and Ritz chains just don't measure up. My go-to place for cameras and accessories is Houston Camera Exchange. While you can save a sheckel or two by ordering online, you'll miss out on the real expertise offered here, which can often save you far more by pointing you to the right product for your application. Highly recommended. (And when you go in, ask for Reagan. The man knows everything there is to know about photography, having been a staff photographer for one of the local daily papers before it was absorbed by the other.) read more

Bernie is awesome. Best service. We are going to bring ALL of our business here. We could not be happier.

I wish I could give 0 stars. I'm extremely disappointed in this business I was so excited about. I purchased some Polaroid duo chrome pink film from them and several of the pictures had exposed spots. I have never had a problem with my camera and I know I personally didn't expose it, I've been working with other film for years and not just Polaroid. I called the shop to try and get a refund or new film and was denied and said it's my fault or my cameras fault and it's impossible ho they could've had messed up film. I was even planning on coming back to buy more film and cameras, but I will not be going back or trusting their products. read more

Overpriced and no clue: I had films developed at Camera Exchange three times. OK, those films were medium format films - not quite the standard but the one thing next to the most common film format. So the first two films had each one image destroyed (of twelve images a film!) because the technican hooked it up at the WRONG end. The sales person shrugged the shoulders after I mentioned that to him, and only after long discussion was he willing to give me a "voucher" for one free development in exchange for two damaged films. When I handed in my third film, I explicitly mentioned that the technican should make sure which way the film goes into the machine BEFORE he starts, that it was flipped the first two times, and that they should do a proper job this time - they did: no image cut or destroyed. Interestingly though, the paper bag in which my developed film roll came back was labelled: "load backwards"! So they still had no clue how to do their job properly. I tried three other lab facilities in Houston, they all did the correct job without me having to say anything. The same "no clue" thing at Camera Exchange happened with used hardware. They had no clue how to opperate it (but fortunately I had) and - the item wasn't only about twice as expensive as in other shops - it also didnt work properly. My experience: if you like a to have a good job done, go elsewhere! (I had good experience with Camera CoOp). Update: the last developed film is also developed VERY unevenly, so you see hugh densitiy variations of my negative whithin one same-colored surface - that shouldnt have ANY variation - THANK YOU, Camera Exchange, I really learned where NOT to go. read more

Houston has two great photography stores - Houston Camera Exchange and Houston Camera Co-Op (http://www.yelp.com/biz/camera-co-op-houston). I do have a place I favor but I'll let you figure it from my review of each place. On the surface, Houston Camera Exchange has an amazing inventory of items and although their equipment prices can typically never beat those offered on-line, they are reasonable, especially when it comes to accessories. So I can not fault the place for not having most everything you need. They have camera bags, lenses, filters, camera bags, film chemistry, photographic paper, albums, tripods, used equipments, books and more! I do hesitate to give it 5 stars though - they lose a star when it comes to customer service. Granted, they get busy so you often have to wait to get helped (at least on the weekends) and there have been several helpful employees but in general I have always felt less comfortable in this store. I feel less comfortable asking basic questions for fear of being looked down on and the even the clientele seem to be more of equipment snobs than those shopping at Houston Camera Co-Op. It is hard to explain but I have asked several fellow photographers and they agree that they get the same vibe from the store. I have been coming to the store for years, back when it was at its previous location, and the vibe has been consistent. Don't know if it has just been the way it has been managed or what but I'd rather give my money to the other local camera store in town for those last-minute camera needs. read more

The only reason I am awarding even 2 stars is due to the fact this is pretty much the last non-big box place to shop just camera related stuff. If I could be any more disappointed in a shopping experience, I find it hard to imagine. Especially when I was looking so forward to seeing the place. We came about half an hour before the store closed. When five minutes passed, the clerks started telling us it was time to close, either get in line to pay or that we needed to leave! Really? When I pointed out that the sign listing their hours said they were open another 25 minutes, the clerk told me that "it doesn't matter." Well, I don't think that I can see myself rushing back anytime soon. Maybe if I do go, I should be there right as the door opens up for the day. read more

Unlike other bad reviews, I've had no problem with the people at this store. I joke around with them when I go in. They're chill. I do have a problem with a store that doesn't have a recorded message when you call them, and they're closed. It just rings and rings. Houstonians just don't seem to grasp this earth-shattering concept. There's no excuse for that in 2011. 1911 perhaps. read more

HCE, has turned itself around! The new staff and the open displays are amazing. This is what I expect a camera store to look like. The new staff is no longer judgmental and is open to help pros along beginners. Keep up the good work HCE. read more

I purchased a Nikon D300 on my last trip to Houston. The $185 memory card they sold me could not be accessed by the camera. It's a Delkin, which had not been tested by Nikon according to the manual. Selling me an approved accessory would have improved my rating. My last visit was disappointing, but that was the first time. I have shopped many times at this store. read more

Very friendly staff and approachable. They will take time with what you need and your quesrions. Today the gentleman in the nikon/canon cameras was very helpful. He told me what how and which i need in what i do. Felt like i had a session of class and learned usedul knowledge about on what to invest amd not. I was looking around after that and 2 gentlemen also made sure i am finding everything okay. Pleasant and friendly cashier my fellow filipino Bernard Baltazar, thanks for just being friendly and to all of you for that excellent customer service. Keep up the good work. See y'all around. read more

Houston Camera Exchange - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Charlie at HCE came to the rescue. Needed a special camera for a photography trip to Africa and he made sure I got exactly what I needed on time. He went out of his way to help and gave amazing customer service. Would highly recommend. read more

Mixed review. I've had good service and lack of knowledge service. More good service than bad. Just wish the place was more organized (lenses), offer better trade in values, more competitive, and offered workshops and such. read more

One would think that going to a local camera store would be like entering a small community of people who share the passion and want to HELP achieve your goal. I've been in here twice and couldn't wait to get out! The employees almost make you feel like they're doing you a favor by helping you BUY something. They come off insincere and aren't really knowledgeable at whole lot of anything, If you just wanna buy something without human interaction.. well most things are ridiculously OVERPRICED. Thank god for internet forums and stores! ps- i should mention that a young lady there w/ short hair (whose name i cant remember) who is actually very nice and helpful. Too bad everyone else there is a dud. read more

Spent thousands here over the last few years. Now that I have discovered Precision Camera in Austin, I'll gladly make the 2 hour drive to have the selection (and help) I expect. This shop seems like a sideline for the owners, because it is so poorly run. Maybe Precision Camera will decide to open a Houston branch and put this place out of its misery. read more

So this place is like a throwback to all that is camera/photography (they have all your film camera needs - who still uses film? I mean really!). I mean they do offer the latest and greatest in terms of digital SLRs and point and shoots, but I wouldn't necessarily bother purchasing such items here as they're generally cheaper online and there's far more selection online as well. I think Camera Exchange used to deal with a large volume of used lens and bodies, but the last time I stopped by here (more than a year ago?), I was informed that they were minimizing their dealings with used camera equipment - save for the gorgeous Leicas and whatnot they have in display cases (ONE DAY YOU WILL BE MINE!). In terms of other camera equipment, such as tripods, cleaning equipment, lens filters, lighting equipment, books, etc. - this is a pretty good place to score such delights. There is a good selection of camera bags, but they certainly don't offer all of the best brands and models - so I would do your research beforehand before settling on a bag here. The staff is extraordinarily friendly and knowledgeable. No complaints there. The return policy is kind of lame - something like only 10 days? But I can certainly understand the reason for this shorter period with camera equipment. This isn't anything comparable to B&H Photography, but it's certainly the best Houston has in terms of a camera and photography store. read more

Went here to buy a gray card since Camera co-op is moving stores and didn't have any in stock. Called to make sure they had any and the young woman on the phone was super nice and even went to go check for sure if they had them in stock. The store is quite large and has bunch of stuff. Point and shoots New and Used Crop and Full Frame Dslr Tons of new and used lenses Lighting equipments Tons of camera bags from backpacks to shoulder bags The guy who was working at the pentax counter was beyond super nice! He shoots photos of deserts and is a pentax fan so he can tell you a lot of info about them. Three or four people asked us how we were or if we needed help while they were walking around helping other people. Nice people , they try to make sure everyone is taken care of. They don't have a lot of film equipment. read more

Marisa is the best! A business where there is still customer service. She was polite direct and asked questions to make sure she understood what we were discussing. All of this on the phone and then when I drove over she had the product set aside for purchase. I was in and out in less than 5 minutes. read more

I had recently bought a Canon Powershot G11 camera. An upgrade to my Powershot A700. Although I like the G11 - its much heavier than the A700. Currently, when I take the camera out, I need to have an oversized Tumi bag to handle the weight along with all my other stuff (keys, wallet, phone, etc.). On a recent trip to Houston, I was eating at a restaurant called Ruggles with my BFF and mentioned to him how I really would love to get a camera strap for the camera - just would make it easier to keep the camera around my neck when im out and about. Suddenly someone, a stranger, chimed in out Houston Camera Exchange - gave them a glowing review. So we climbed into the car and went to it. From the outside, it looks kind of scary - they have no windows in this one-floor store, but they have just about everything you could possibly need if your into photography. I did not get the name of the nice Latino boy that helped me, but he spent 20 minutes with me, making sure I found the right the strap - and even managed to assemble it into my camera as well so I could wear it out -- and I didn't pay much for it either -- $16.23 with tax. read more

I was pleased with my first experience here. I was trying to find my wife (who is not a sophisticated camera user) an upgrade from her 3-year-old Sony. I explained to the salesman what I was looking for and what price range I wanted. I told him she liked something that wasn't too complicated. Within 30 seconds, he had three cameras out in front of me that all fit the bill, and then proceeded to tell me the positives and negatives to each. Within 10 minutes of the time I walked in, I had picked out a camera with all the necessary accessories, and feel that I made the right decision. (I'll find out on Christmas Day.) Negatives? (No pun intended) The store is pretty crowded with merchandise, and I didn't get a feel for how it was organized, but I can't complain...I got what I came in for in virtually no time. read more