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| - Definitely the best camera store in Toronto, bar none.
Sure you could go to one of those damned national chain stores that has little selection, and get your purchases handled by a poorly paid kid who's just there to push product out the door and is not trained to differentiate an EF lens from an EF-S. Or you could go to the couple other dedicated pro camera stores in the immediate area, which despite the brighter lighting, I find has crappy customer service, higher prices, departments and merchandise scattered all over the place, and you feel either intimidating or ignored for much the time. (I could write a separate review for each one, but I feel like I have accomplished that with this simple sentence.) But would you after giving Downtown Camera a visit?
Where Downtown succeeds at most is with customer service. And prices too.
Its smaller unassuming store footprint shouldn't make you think they don't have much in stock. In fact they have a fuckload of updated cameras and camera accessories on offer, better organized than those other places. Sure, Vistek may have a particular brand of tripod exclusively, or Henry's may the only store carrying some bag brand (did I just name those other places by name? bloody hell). But for the most common photography brands like Canon, Nikon and Manfrotto, Downtown Camera has plenty what you need. Their prices are not just competitive (even without a sales deal in effect), they can be better than everywhere else by a surprising leap. I once bought a new lens here that they charged more than $150 less than guy across the street. Impossible! Regularly they will have a good deal on an entry level DSLR (eg. Canon's Rebel series) kit, or some filters and such they want to offload.
Downtown Camera was where I bought my first DSLR, and I often end up coming here or directing others here for other photo equipment needs over the years whenever that itch arises. Their friendliness and patience is sublime in the world of electronics retail. After talking to the staff you can sense they are photographers themselves, and they love to impart some advice and stories, and find something in store that suits your needs at a good price. Play with the cameras and lenses in store all you want, they won't push you at all or project intimidating arrogance that makes you feel like you're in the wrong place. But they are helpful regardless of whether you are a n00b looking to get your first serious gun, someone who just needs a point-and-shooter for a vacation, or a seasoned pro who needs a bigger gun for bigger sharks--that has been my experience as a customer and from observing others.
The photo lab processes all sorts of film formats besides the all-familiar 35mm (what is that, you asked?). But I have no experience with that. What I do know is unlike the other guys on the block, Downtown Camera is the only one that OPENS ON SUNDAYS!
{TTC: any Queen streetcar route to Church Street.}
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