I had such a great experience at Samy's Camera! I called in to check if they had a specific camera in stock and spoke with Frank. He was super friendly and helpful from the start. He told me he would double check inventory and get back to me and he called me back the same day to let me know they had it. I came in the next day to pick it up and he made the whole process easy and stress-free. He answered all my questions, was patient, and just had really good customer service overall. He knows what he's doing and you'll be in good hands! read more

My husband and I love this place for our camera needs. Frank has always been our go to guy when we need lenses and camera bodies. He takes really good care of us. He always lets us know that he sees us when we walk in when he is with another customer. He takes his time with each of his customers. Recently we purchased a couple of long lenses and the owner was there. She made it happen so that we got our lenses in 10 days and able to get the rebate!! THANK YOU!! read more

First-time buyer. I had an old Nikon D90 that had been with me for years, and didn't know if it was any good. Rick was amazing and so helpful. He helped me get credit for my old gear and assisted in finding a great used Fuji camera I love. He spent a great deal of time explaining the different options and even offered to give me some tips if I ever needed them. Overall, I will be coming back and continue to recommend Samy's to anyone who needs camera help or is a beginner like me. Special thanks to Bill also as he was very kind with his help. Thank You Rick and team! read more

Great experience working with the Samy's Rental team in Santa Ana! Rented a ton of gear for a big commercial shoot in Newport Beach for the week, strobe, continuous, a variety of modifiers and grip equipment and everything went perfectly! Nelson was great to work with and had us all set from the word go - great product knowledge and experience! Rolling into town and having everything I needed ready to go made the shoot go off without a hitch! Can't recommend them enough! 10/10 read more

This review is a shoutout to (I believe her name is Sara!) who is always working the film develop/drop off part of the store. Every time I go in to drop off some film, she is above and beyond friendly, helpful, and just goes out of her way to connect with you as a human. Always makes my day! read more

First time visiting this store I had buy some accessories for my new camera and Rick directed me in the right direction. Store full of photography knowledge read more

I would not go back. I walked in, there were about a dozen employees all behind the counter - not helping anyone. We interacted with three different employees. We were not able to get any answers to our questions. We did got some attitude from one person and dismissed By another. Went to a different camera shop in the same city. They were so knowledgeable and so friendly. read more

I needed training on my Sony A6600 camera and Rode wireless mic kit. Jose is a fantastic trainer! He is extremely knowledgeable. He guided me through set-up steps with clear and thorough explanations. He is patient and very nice. I left the appointment without any question as to how to operate my equipment. Jose even taught me a couple of things about the equipment that went beyond what I "thought" I needed to know. I could tell he enjoys teaching and helping people. If you need to know how your stuff works, get in touch with him. Highly recommended. read more

I took my Nikon for cleaning. When attaching and detaching the lens, dust gets inside the camera and gets attached to the image sensor. The attached dust may appear on the shooting images and if not removed, the dust will continue to appear on the same area of all your images. The cleaning process is something that some people feel confortable doing, I prefer to have my camera serviced by professionals. Specially because the cost is only $35.00 I think thats a great investment to maintain a camera on top-shape. read more

Samy's Camera - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Santa Ana, California

My girlfriend recently got me a film camera for Christmas and wanted to get it dialed in before I started using it. Thankfully one of the associates Preston was super helpful, he helped me walk through how to operate and use it properly. Will definitely be coming back! read more

my first time visiting this location to ask questions about a camera I had purchased in their LA store. The staff was accommodating and helpful so I will be back! read more

I've gone to Samy's for years because of their broad range of products, their knowledge base and service. Today I collected a job that involved the scanning and retouching of a very faded and color-shifted print of my late sister and aunt, that was done through the film department. They did a superior job retouching the washed out and damaged print. I was impressed by their level of detail too. The price was fair and I left with a new print and the retouched digital file. Another memory rescued and restored by Samy's! read more

While I didn't come here for the camera selection and instead the film lab I was overall pretty impressed. I'd definitely say their footprint is massive but lacks the inviting nature I found in other camera stores across the west coast. Also for a lack of a crowd it took a bit to get seen and you could tell the few there were waiting for a bit to see the sales reps in the camera section. While I avoided this going to the film lab in the back I was happily served and given relatively short timeframes for the lab to send the scans and negatives back. While not same day they promised to give my rolls which one was severely crinkled due to a faulty rewind spool their best go. I was pleasantly surprised with the scans and they even allowed me to ship my negatives out of state with a discount since one of my rolls was blank from what I'd assume was my error when extracting the roll with a large lead. Thanks Sarah and hopefully I can see you guys soon! read more

Horrible first impression. When we first walked in we were being "helped" by Frank. We walked in asking for a digital camera and the tone we received felt very unwelcoming and as if we didn't know we were in a store specifically for cameras. We planned to browse and see their selection of digital cameras but Frank only showed us one option that was out of our budget. When we asked for cheaper options we were told that cheaper wasn't worth it and did not even care to even show us. We did not care much about the quality, just wanted a digital camera for Christmas. Overall we felt unwelcome and discriminated. read more

Rick was extremely helpful. He went above and beyond. Made my first experience one that will make me a forever customer. Need more guys like Rick in the world. read more

A great one-stop shop for anything necessary for photography! I was looking for a place to buy 35mm film for an old camera and found Samy's on Yelp. I would rather shop small rather than order on Amazon, so I was happy to find this place. Upon arrival, we were promptly greeted by multiple associates. They asked if we needed help with anything and then directed us back to where everything film-related is stored in the back of the store. They had another associate back there who helped me decide which brand of film I would like. I felt like if I had more questions, he would have been happy to answer them. The film was around $10 a roll, which was a great price. I also browsed some of the camera bags for my Nikon camera but decided not to purchase them here at this time. The prices on those seemed a little steep. Overall, it was a great shopping experience, and I am thankful to know that any time I need more film or anything for my Nikon, I can stop by here and receive great service! read more

I flew in from out of town and I went to the Samy's rental department for a full on rental package that included cameras, sound, grip, & lighting. Not only did Samy's have everything I needed to rent for my production, Nelson helped me figure out the gear and have everything prepped when I came to pick up. They were knowledgeable and helpful with any questions I had. If I lived in the OC area, I definitely would always rent from here. Highly recommend! read more

I came in to see if I would be able to fix my old digital camera that I had bought. However, I was met with a worker who told me it wasn't worth fixing my camera because it was too old in a rude attitude, seeming like he was looking down at me. I don't recall his name, but that definitely is not something you should be saying to any guest. Despite his attitude, I was redirected to James (i think was his name?) and he was super helpful and welcoming. read more

Went to his location to process two 120s and two 35mm films, mainly because of the price of develop only was cheap. When I received the film, the negatives looked terrible. So many artifacts, dust, scratches and one of my 120s was completely blank, and it happened to be a film I bought here from a week prior. One of my 35mm looked like they put a staple through the last frame. First time developing with Samy's and definitely the last time. Such an unfortunate experience. read more

Service desk guy was unbearable. I'd rather shop eBay/Amazon or pretty much anywhere else than deal with elitist attitudes from camera shop hipsters. read more

I've been shooting film for awhile and decided to check out Samy's after being disappointed with another local camera shop. I was quite happy with my whole experience! I visited originally to just have a look around and ended up buying a lens. Samy's is well-stocked with cameras, accessories, film, etc. for both film and digital photography. It looked like they were also holding some sort of workshop when I was there - I'm not sure! Their film selection is pretty extensive. I like how they have different price points depending on whether or not the film is expired (shooting expired film can be really fun!), and how many shots per roll you need. Pricing is better than some other local shops, and the service here is really friendly. I chatted with someone about wanting to take a look at a zoom lens for my Nikon F. After showing me various F-mount lenses, I got to handle an 80-200mm f/4 that I ended up getting. Really smooth and in great condition. It also came with a 6 month warranty. So far, it's working great! Good price too, compared to what I've seen online and at other stores with this lens in similar condition. They also have a rental and purchasing program, but I didn't have time to check those out during my short visit. Can't wait to come back! read more

Nelson helped me with a large order for a commercial shoot and he made the whole process wonderful! I had many questions about what certain lights would do, equipment recommendations, etc. and Nelson is SO knowledgeable about lighting and equipment from his years of experience as a photographer. He guided me and walked me through all my options and was so helpful and friendly. If you have a large or small commercial project, Nelson is the man to work with! Total Pro! read more

1st time customer and not impressed and will probably never go back. I purchased an Instax evo Camera for my gf's birthday, knowing it's been a popular camera I called before showing up and I was told there was only 1 left. I wrapped it in the parking lot right in front of the store. Thought it would be cute to record my gf reaction opening it, I noticed 2 things during the recording, 1) when she powered it on I saw the Instax logo and then the camera preview and about 4 seconds later it died due to low battery. There was no date and time set up which has been default with the 3 evo cameras that i've owned. 2) right after it died i noticed the display didn't have the clear plastic protective film. I thought those were both odd and my gf made the joke of saying, "i think its broken". I got the camera from her, and opened the film door. I wasn't surprised to see a film cartridge installed. but it was also jammed. I called the store to let them know and they said to bring it back to replace it. I wasn't going to make it in 45 minutes so I said i would go monday. I decided to charge the camera and found pictures of some lady in her office from October 2024, 6 months prior. I worked so my gf took it in at 1pm. She decided to return the camera given the bad experience and buy it at Bestbuy but was told either they do an exchange (which was odd because i was told the camera I bought was the only one) or since I paid in cash that they would have to refund via check but between 3 employees no one knew how to write a check. At this point the situation was not getting any better. Sammy's Camera should really do a better job checking their inventory, do a better job making sure that people get what they paid for and should update their Return Policy. If a cash purchase is returned and a check is the only option for return then that should be stated. read more

Samy's Camera - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Santa Ana, California

I was looking to buy my first camera and was greeted by Frank A. He is very knowledgable and was incredibly patient when answering every question I had. I was stuck between two cameras and ultimately he helped me decide what camera would be best for me based on my needs. I recommend asking for him if you go here. read more

It's really neat that they feature their employees' photographs as a gallery--that's a fantastic way to show off their team's passion and talent! David in the rentals department was so helpful in getting me sorted with the right gear. read more

Nelson is awesome! Super knowledgeable & professional. I came in with a complex problem relating to a project I was working on & Nelson had all the tools needed to solve that problem in a proficient manner. Really appreciate his time & consideration! I highly recommend Samy's rentals any chance I get. Please ask for Nelson at the Santa Ana location or Harold at the Playa Vista location - both are awesome people & really helpful! read more

So helpful and was in and out for our passport photos. They took us the same day and it wasn't to crowded

Nelson and the whole crew in the rentals department is amazing. If I ever have questions Nelson has answers. This guy is a wizard with lighting and equipment. read more

Staff here is very informative and helpful. They can get busy but luckily they have a handful of staff to help with the numbers of clients. Most of the staff here are men. As a woman, I feel safe and welcomed when asking questions and purchasing equipment. I'm only mentioning this because another review mentioned the men only greeting men - that's 100% false. I shop here often and every shopping experience has been great. They answer all my camera questions (even if they feel silly to ask) and make me feel welcomed. Film cameras and film stock available at this location. They scan/develop film also. Very informative film staff - they've been very helpful while I was learning film. They occasionally have resellers come out to purchase used camera equipment. I've sold a few older cameras and lenses I don't use - you can sell it to them for cash or for store credit. There is normally a waiting period but it's cool to meet people while you wait. People come from all over to sell old equipment - it's interesting to see what everyone has and chat photography stories. Overall a great shop with great customer service. Everything is pretty organized and they are quick to share pricing without being "salesy". read more

We were in a bind and they delivered big. The staff at Samy's Camera was friendly, accommodating, even creative, and the gear was excellent too! Would highly recommend! read more

The Service it Topn Notch; The Value is there also and they have a Good Selection of what you need whether your a Content Creator or Doing Professional Work. I was able too Look up things via their Website and they had what I needed. read more

Samy's Camera - I bought a New Monitor for my FX30 along with a New Mount. - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Santa Ana, California

I needed help with making sure I rented the correct mounting setup for a job I have coming up. I only had a general idea of what I needed but Nelson and the ream at the rental desk jumped right in. They were really friendly and 100% went above and beyond to help me get exactly what I needed. Nelson is incredibly knowledgeable and definitely made the experience easy and enjoyable. I will be recommending the Santa Ana store to my friends for their rental needs! read more

Samy's has fantastic products and even better staff. I bought my Rebel T3I here years ago and had such a great experience that I knew I needed to come back. This time it was to assist me with my old 60s minolta film camera. Rick checked all the components of the camera and put in a new battery and it's ready to be used again! I will be coming in now to develop my film. read more

I'm a wedding videographer, and my wife is a wedding photographer. We frequently visit your store to purchase equipment, but I've reached a point where I can't ignore the consistently poor attitude from one of your employees. I've never spoken up before, but my experience on February 19th around 4-5 PM was the last straw. A Caucasian gentleman wearing an orange Hawaiian shirt and a hat was extremely rude when I was simply trying to ask about a product. I was so frustrated that I didn't even ask for his name because I didn't want to cause a scene. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time I've encountered his unprofessional attitude--it's an ongoing issue. I feel like I can't even ask basic questions without being met with irritation, so I end up doing all my research beforehand just to get in and out as quickly as possible. That's not fair to customers, especially when we're spending hard-earned money at your business. Frankly, it makes me wonder if the way I'm treated has anything to do with my appearance, as I have tattoos covering my arms. I'm reaching out because I believe this should be addressed. No customer should feel unwelcome or hesitant to ask for help in a professional setting. I appreciate your time and hope this concern is taken seriously. Best, Mike read more

What an amazing experience. Rick was incredibly knowledgeable and very kind. He took the time to educate both my wife and I about our first camera purchase. We were trying to find an alternative camera to the fujifilm x100vi since it's nearly impossible to get right now and Rick gave us the perfect solution. We ended up purchasing a fujifilm X-T50 with a the XF 16-50 mm lens, which essentially is the x100vi but with the ability to change lens! He went even more than above and beyond by helping us order the silver model from the warehouse and we received it the very next day. If you are looking for great customer service, convenience, and the chance of saving both money and time, look no further and check out Samy's and ask for Rick! read more

Preston, Grace, and Sara have been helping me for the past 8 months for multiple test prints and adjustments to my final large print, they've been very communicative, helpful, knowledgeable and kind. I highly recommend working with them for your prints!!! Also this place is very efficient, they've gotten my regular prints from Kodaks back the same week! The quality is always fantastic and very affordable! I've gotten over 20 prints from them including one large 16x20 on Luster one for my friend's birthday. I love all of them! read more

Samy's Camera - Final print - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Rick mcflarlen thank you for saving our life today ! Fixed our tripod right away ! communications lab

Tito Frank helped my cousin and I pick out a high quality used camera that fit her recreational needs. We really appreciate the patience, technical knowledge and humor. It made our local retail experience a cherished memory. I am looking forward to the pictures she takes. read more

This was my first time buying a camera as I wanted to get into the hobby. I had the pleasure of meeting Rick McFarland who went above and beyond to help me. Being a total beginner with no previous existing knowledge, Rick took the time to explain everything to me. These people here are not just there to sell you, but this is their passion and it is such an awesome experience when these people love what they do. I recommend going to Samys and meeting the awesome staff there. read more

If you want to buy cameras you should come here. I went to Best Buy and their staff doesn't really know anything about the cameras and I didn't have a good experience there. I ended up going to Samy's. Frank helped me picked out the camera and other equipment that are needed for shooting. He is very knowledgeable and friendly. I felt I was in good hand. Definitely recommend this place! read more

Samy's Camera - Sony a6400, battery, charger, tripod - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Santa Ana, California