I love this place but ESPECIALLY today. As a professional photographer I've had my fair share of emergencies. Broken hard drives, cracked lenses, equipment that fails. And these guys always come to the rescue. Whether it's with a lens rental or a lighting kit or a simple tripod, they have the equipment I always need and the expertise and knowledge to back it up. Today I rushed in with an urgent "Please help!" When my memory card was corrupt and I had a client's session on there that I hadn't uploaded yet. I can't remember his name but a young gentleman came right over and saved the day, recovered the files free of charge, and I'm now editing that session and don't have to tell a client their photos were lost. Crisis averted. Thanks Kenmore Camera! You guys rock. read more

The Guys and gals there are always helpful. The new store is a place you can go and drool. They don't mind.

I walked into the store with a 12 year old who had inherited her Grandmother's Nikon DSLR. The salesperson, Guy, was absolutely terrific. I told him she is drawn to macro work - he asked her some gentle, clarifying questions, and then offered to check on the availability of a used set of extension tubes. None were available, so he demonstrated to her how to install the new set, showed her how to change her ISO for today's conditions, and make several supportive suggestions. She commented when we left that he was educational, not pedantic nor patronizing. She was so excited to try out her new equipment, and had a great time. We will be back! read more

Was at the seaplane restaurant for dinner I parked in an unmarked parking spot. When we left around 9pm I made the responsible decision to not drive. I checked on my car to make sure that it was not in front of Kenmore Camera. It wasn't. Went out in the morning to collect my car and the owner had me towed. I called the tow truck driver and they were going to charge me $500 dollars. I told the tow company that we just moved to Kenmore this week and he dropped the bill. I have never parked here before. Pretty hardened response to tow someone so rapidly. No note, no warning. Fortunately, I can afford to pay but others may not be able to pay such a steep price for parking in a vacant lot overnight because they didn't drive after drinking. I spoke to the owner and he told me he owned 59 parking spots and people were parking here that were not shopping at his store. I will buy a camera but I will not buy one from someone who has no regard for others. It's a no wonder nobody is shopping at his store. Seems like his business issue is not parking but a poor public opinion of the store, especially when you can buy everything he has online for much cheaper. #amazon.com read more

I bought Sony A7 II + kit lens, they sent me a used camera, so I returned and gave a negative feedback. But I don't know how they delete my feedback that's why they have %100 feedback point on eBay. Do not trust that store. read more

I'm so happy that Kenmore Camera is located close to my house. I've dealt with them for many years whether purchasing or trading in older gear, and they're always top notch. The new building is a big improvement, and the Digital Photo Expo that they put on every year is on my Can't-Miss list. Great local business! read more

My first experience with Kenmore Camera was being invited to a Canon workshop with my Dad. The employees that were there were friendly and knowledgeable, so when I wanted to buy some new gear they came to mind. Extremely helpful, full of knowledge and patient. This is the only camera store that I will go to. read more

I talked with Niles who was amazing. He is VERY knowledgeable. He answered all my questions and was not pressing at all for me to buy something. I will go back; and when I am ready to buy, I will definitely give my business to KENMORE. read more

Very friendly and accommodating staff. Always great service at the development counter. Always answers questions and are helpful with a friendly demeanor. read more

I've been to Kenmore Camera a couple times now and its a nice place to trade and sell your old camera gear. It's also got good used products and the people there are very helpful. read more

Awesome customer service! I came on w a tiny old photo stuck in a plastic key chain. They helped me get it out and turn it into an awesome photo to put in the wall. read more

My favorite camera store in the Seattle area. Really great staff, and I appreciate their selection of film related gear!

Bought a Fuji camera from Michael about a week ago. Never had better service than from Michael Wewer at Kenmore. He always gives me a fair trade in and I never feel pressured to buy. They always give me a good deal. Have been a customer for many years. It's worth the 1.5 hour drive for me. They always call when they get something in they think I might like. Great service. Michael, Dave & Vinnie are worth the trip. read more

Went in to check out the new Nikon B700. Very nice interior. Well organized and well stocked. Best thing was the customer service, one of the guys helped us look at the new model and compare it to others in its class. Friendly and knowledgable. Will come back. read more

I was here on July 27th, 2012., I spent $98.55. Nick was my sales associate. He was able to price match a B+W 67mm filter that B&H Photo also sold. He's going to be my new "GO TO" salesperson at Kenmore Camera. read more

Quite disappointed overall in my second experience there. Back in November, we bought my father a tripod and that went pretty well overall. So, when my daughter was in need of a new camera for an upcoming trip to Europe, we looked at her budget, considered our options and decided that it was ALWAYS a good idea to keep money local, right? Wrong, in this case. We went into Kenmore Camera on a weekday afternoon and there were a multitude of people free to assist us. We had a woman walk over and speak with us first - so we went with her. We explained CLEARLY that we had a budget and needed to stay within that budget, however, she took us over to see some cameras just outside the budget (about $30 more) - since it was a much better camera than the alternate one she showed, we opted to spend a little extra. THEN we had to spend even more to buy a case that matched. *sigh* We went to check out and I handed her a Visa Gift Card. Those cards don't need to be registered, but they do have to be run very specifically at some places of business in order to deduct the funds properly. The Gift Card was what my mother sent to my daughter for her trip. 7 attempts with one computer and 5 attempts with the other and 25 minutes of my time later, she informed me the Gift Card was not working, encouraged me to call the company and left me no choice but to pay out of my pocket in full for the camera or not get it. I asked her NO FEWER than 3 times if she needed to ask someone else for help - she said she had run so many of these cards before - there was no need for her to ask for help. Rather than disappoint my daughter, I went ahead and paid against my wishes. I regret that purchase so much. Since that day we've had nothing but trouble with the new camera, the Gift Card still has money on it - although EVERY SINGLE PLACE I HAVE GONE since walking out of Kenmore Camera has HAPPILY accepted funds from the card, and now 2 nights before my daughter's trip we find out that even though we clearly explained exactly what this camera was to be used for, we were never told that the mini usb cable was not included with the camera and that there is NO WAY to charge the camera battery with a usb anyway. We've had to OVERNIGHT a special Euro plug and we're going searching for a mini usb cord of some sort tomorrow in hopes we will be able to find what we need. I am so very frustrated because the ENTIRE reason I WENT to Kenmore Camera was for personal service, attention to detail, to work with staff who knew what they were doing and to keep our money local. It's the LAST time I'll do that. So thanks for that, Kenmore Camera. read more

I do not buy cameras online, I go to Kenmore Camera. The prices are close to the same and I get great advise from them. I have bought three cameras from them, never regretted it. read more

I stumbled upon this wonderful store after seeing their full page ads for some workshops. Since that time, they have earned all of my business. WORKSHOPS: They periodically have quite inspiring and educational workshops for FREE! I've been to about 6 of them there, and each was interesting and got my creative juices going again. They also have paid workshops, and I will be attending them in the future. STAFF: The staff here are very knowledgeable and friendly. I have never felt rushed or pushed to purchase anything. I'm dismayed to read a few comments by others on Yelp saying they were offended because when they went in, nobody rushed up to say hello. "I'll just buy everything on the web," one says in a pique. Sorry that happened to you ONCE, but really, this store's staff stand out from my other retail experiences. OVERALL STORE: About 3 months ago I was on a trip to Peru and at the airport I realized I had left my gadget bag at home. We had a layover Miami, so I looked online and went to what appeared to be the biggest and best camera store in that major city. What a disappointment! They had very little selection in their showcases. It was then that I realized that we have a great asset in the Seattle area in this store! They have a full assortment of gear, large classrooms, adequate parking and capable staff. Just yesterday I bought a tripod and paid $30 more than I could have gotten it online. But it has a real 6 year warranty, and I got a full explanation and great advice from the staff member. I am old enough to recognize that it is worthwhile to pay more to get that help. The store owner and his staff deserve to make a living in this world for the help they provide. PRINCIPLES: Please don't tell yourself it's OK to go to a retail store and then buy the item elsewhere. Showrooming is immoral. You would be taking something very valuable, the advice from a staff member and the ability to examine the item closely, and giving nothing in return. Of course it costs them money to provide that service to you. When there is no other store like this in the entire state of Washington, we would miss it if everybody does the immoral thing and uses them to check out gear they buy elsewhere. read more

I have been buying my photography gear from various local and internet stores over the past 10+ years. In my experience, photography gear industry never hasn't been the most friendly. Story of horrible, rude customer service, unfair pricing aren't uncommon. Yes, not all of them are like that, and I understand the whole experience can change depending on who you work with, but generally, not good. I've had a few positive experiences with other stores in the past as well, but... Kenmore camera is in a whole different class. I am in CA, and my interaction with the staff was only via email and phone calls. I talked to 4 different people, and communicated via email with one. Everyone was friendly and helpful. It is obvious when staff is genuinely wanting to help. - Having a trip coming up in a few days and I had some unusual requests - due to my lack of preparedness... They have exceeded my expectations and met all of my requests. - For the cameras that my girlfriend and I purchased, no one could beat their price. Neither local nor the internet. For other products, they seem to be generally competitive. Check their eBay store for great deals. - Great selection of products - Fast shipping to CA! - Most importantly, great customer service and friendly staff. Thanks to Kenmore camera, I saved significant amount and we are well prepared for our trip. I will definitely do business with them again for any future photography needs. Highly recommended. ======================== UPDATE I am quite disappointed by my recent experience here. It's always one employee that screws up everyone's reputation. I would've given this business 1 star if all employees were like this one. I purchased a 'brand new' camera from their ebay store, and I received a used camera. Probably an in-store demo. I called the store, thinking maybe it was an honest mistake. I still was going to keep the camera without causing a scene. "Hi, I purchased a brand new camera from your eBay store and it definitely seems used..." After a second or two of silence.. The guy on the other end : In an IRRITATED tone - "So what is your question" Still baffled at the rude response... How about an explanation on why I didn't receive what I paid for?? read more

This is the best store ever! I buy every piece of camera gear I have there. They have a huge selection of different products, and from all of the camera company's. They have a huge selection of back packs and bags too. read more

I purchased a new Olympus Tg-870 that was defective. I called Kenmore and Ryan immediately sent me a return label and also shipped mega brand new replacement that day via usps 2nd day delivery. read more

Best camera store I've been to ever. Sure prices are high because it's a shop but hey they have tons of stuff. If you haven't been there just go. read more

Nice guys. Knowledgeable service and low key approach. Worked with Tom. We are new to cameras and were buying a quality entry level DSLR for my son. They did a nice job and my son was very happy. A quick check of Costco online prices showed a better package deal for the same camera. Tom matched it and we kept the business with a local shop. Definitely recommend and do check prices versus online. read more

Service was absolutely great. Every employee in the store made sure that I was being helped or at least asked. Most employees are knowledgeable with the equipment which brought great confidence in their recommendations for products I was looking for. read more

Outstanding-Thank You Brian! I lived in the greater Seattle area for many years, and would occasionally stop in Kenmore Camera. I have since relocated to the Boise area, and on a recent trip back to Seattle, decided to visit Kenmore Camera simply to browse. As usual, when walking in I was immediately greeted and offered help-on this occasion from Brian. I said I was just browsing but had a question about graduated ND filters. Brian spent about 20 minutes explaining the different filters available, and showed me the entire Lee system, which I was most interested in. Even though I said up front I wasn't purchasing today, Brian treated me like I was his number one priority. My daughters and wife were with me, and my 16 year old daughter recently started digital photography classes. I noticed some used DSLR's for sale. I asked Brian what he had available, explained it was for a young inexperienced photographer, and solicited some recommendations. Brian showed us several different Canon bodies (my preference only) and we ended up purchasing a body, lens, and some accessories. Brian took the time to familiarize my daughter with the camera, explained the warranty on the used equipment, ensured everything operated correctly, and said if we had any problems whatsoever, ship it back to him and he would take care of it. I can not reiterate enough, how refreshing it is it visit a specialty retailer that employs knowledgeable and professional associates. In a world of big box outlets that emphasize profit over service, low wages over competent team members, and the "check the products web site for more info" mentality, I am thoroughly satisfied and can unequivocally recommend Kenmore Camera for all of your photography needs. Mike read more

As good as this place is, i can only give it four stars. Pro's and Cons Below Pro(s). They have a decent selection of products for sale Their bag selection is the best in the state They are 10000x better than any of the talls, kits, etc stores Their staff are pretty knowledgeable, but not amazing They support a lot of local photography events, an even host their own at the Lynwood convention center each year that gets canon and nikon reps even to attend. Con(s) They are the type of place that charges MSRP on 95% of their goods. Which makes it not very often i end up buying anything but small price items or something i have to have that day for a shoot. Their service can be really lacking at times. And i almost always have to stand around waiting for a employee to even recognize my presence in the store. Overall: I would shop here more if the prices were more competitive and the employees were a little more helpful/engaging with their customers. It's still definitely worth stopping in though for the odds and ends. And like i said above, BEST camera bag selection in the entire state. Anytime i want to try a bag or case out, its my #1 destination. read more

Very helpful staff. They are very knowledgeable and freindly. I love their new location, much nicer than before.

Friendly and helpful staff, great variety of new and used, huge location. Its no wonder people come from out of state just to shop here. Love that its family owned!!! Check out their NEW storefront in Kenmore Plaza. Quadrupled their square footage, which means more inventory! read more

I just love this place and I'm not sure if I reviewed them before but I had the best most patient sales people try to assist me with my questions. Unfortunately they did not carry the item I need but I will always come to them for other camera purchases. read more

I took a malfunctioning Panasonic camera here to ask for a repair estimate. The reps told me that Kenmore Camera does not do repairs. But they refused to give a referral to any repair shop, which seemed unusual. Their advice was to ditch the camera (without taking it to anyone for an estimate) and buy a replacement (obviously, from them). I live in Kenmore and like to support local businesses, but these folks only want to talk to people who walk in the door ready to make a purchase. Their attitude discouraged me from ever doing business with them. read more

Been to the new place several times recently. They're great. I've bought most of my gear online, but not only are they a great showroom, they have some deals. I bought a tripod, returned it, and got a great deal on a larger tripod legs/head kit. They actually had a few kits that were less than what I could find online. A lot of the prices are similar to what's online. Last year, at their old location, I needed a 35mm lens right before a trip, and didn't want to chance shipping. Their deal was the same price as online. So, I'm impressed. They're my go-to place, when I need to see something, have a question or need it right away. Big shop, and lots of Nikon gear. read more

I was in the market for a new, and very expensive lens, and I did quite a bit of research, on the lens itself, as well as the best place to purchase it. I asked around and was given several different online companies but I wanted to buy local and Kenmore Camera's name continued to come up so I thought I would pop in and check it out. This is the kind of business that makes you happy you shopped local and not online. Vinny (I believe that was his name) understood exactly where my knowledge level was and helped me with several questions without making me feel ignorant (which I am when it comes to cameras!) He also didn't try to upsale me but did explain that once I started using this lens, I would want to consider buying a better camera body, when I was ready. As hesitant as I was to spend more on this lens that I did on my first car, I actually left there feeling very good about my purchase and knowing that I could come in with questions, at no charge, was the icing on the cake for me. Another small business doing it right! Thank you Kenmore Camera! read more

The service is hit or miss these days. Guys behind the counter sometimes seem like they have somewhere better to be. For experienced photographers, the information, selection, and prices are generally better online. Still, there's something nice about having a local camera shop. read more

Good place to buy used equipment. Knowledgeable staff.

So glad I went to Kenmore, even though long trip from S Seattle. I was in market for a mirrorless camera and after researching on line, needed to see and feel my choices. They had a great selection - all the Fuji, Sony, Panasonic and Olympus models were there to check out. The combination of manufacturer reps and store staff made the experience great - lots of knowledge and got my questions answered. Staff very helpful, not pushy at all, let me try out the models (over and over again) until I was comfortable with my choice. I ended up buying a Fuji X-E2 for a lower price than available at B&H or Adorama - which was great because I assumed that online merchants would be better deals. They have a great selection of accessories. They let you try out your new gear for two weeks risk-free. Overall, one of the best customer experiences I've had for a while. read more

In several experiences I've had with them, their prices are pretty high, and the staff is usually helpful but their knowledge hasn't always been great, I can't suggest more highly that you do your own independant research before going in! After buying a low-end of the spectrum tripod at kenmore camera, and then finding a much higher quality one for about half the price of the one from kenmore camera, I decided I REALLY needed to shop around more. I go here to print digital photographs professionally only. read more

Great staff, nice selection. I just wish they could match the prices of the online dealers like Adorama and B&H.

I abso-freaking-lutely love Kenmore Camera! The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, and they are just all around cool people. They have an excellent selection of used gear, and I can get exactly the kind of film I want there. One time I went in looking for a pretty generic red filter for my lens, and the employee pulled out this box overflowing with filters, just my size! While not being pushy about trying to sell me anything, he was able to show me all sorts of cool gadgets for my camera! I happily walked out with 5 or 6 gently used, weird, fun, and funky filters, and a handful of other neat additions. Very good prices on used gear! read more

I'm not a photographer, just needed a camera. These folks took great care of me, and it was definitely worth the trip instead of buying online read more

I just sent this to the store today: After my previous bad experience with a sales person there, I decided to give you guys another chance. With trepidation, I went to your store today to look for a good prime lens for my Sony DSLR. Fortunately, your sales person, Shaun, helped me. He was patient with my questions, he let me attach a couple of lenses to my camera, and he mentioned that there's some used lenses that I might be interested in. Used equipment had never been mentioned to me in the past, so I was glad to know this. After looking at the selection, I bought a quality used lens. This saved me $100. I was so happy, I decided to upgrade my camera bag to a bigger one. So it's a win-win for Kenmore Camera and me. Thank Shaun again for me, and I look forward to buying more equipment soon. read more