On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Photography Stores & Services [Edit]
Neighborhood: South BerkeleyMon-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Loading...
Social awkward. Yep... we all kinda feel that way right? Nobody else really notices it, but I think employees at photography stores are an exception. Their holier than thou attitude makes you want to shop online and the fact that their t-shirts have so many holes in them makes you gag a little in your mouth.
But NOT Looking Glass Photo in Berkeley! The people are really friggin' nice, clean hole free clothing (except where you put your appendages through)! I went in with a flash unit I just bought that didn't fit on the lens I wanted to use it with. The guy that helped me agreed with me that they don't make an adapter yet, but he'd try to figure something out. We ended up going with a couple step down rings & a plan for me to notch one with a Dremal.
Even cooler was what I overheard while my clerk was in the back. Another clerk was going through this woman's kit. Best I could tell, she inherited it recently & had no idea how to use it. Her clerk was explaining to her what everything was - including what a wide angle lens does. I am now a regular customer of this place after seeing how patient & earnestly helpful the clerk was to this customer; a customer that best I can tell wasn't purchasing a single thing, except maybe signing up for one of their classes.
People thought this was:
I admit I get intimidated when I walk through these doors. The place is for "serious" photographers. I'm just an amateur that likes the feeling of holding a camera and hearing the shutter click, and then posting to my Flickr to show off to friends and family. What do I know about "serious" photography? I think looking at the EXIF data on Flickr is hardcore and really nerdy stuff.
The place feels a little Elite to me, and I've been there about 4-5 times. My experience has been:
* Looking for a camera bag. Staff wasn't very helpful, but they were busy with a number of other customers, so it's understood.
* Looking for a new front lens cap. Staff at the counter was helpful, and the lady who got the lens cap was VERY helpful, finding both a generic cap and a Canon cap for me to choose.
* Looking for front lens cap for a Tamron lens. They were helpful and recommended a little sticky thing that would help keep the lens cap from getting lost. That little sticky thing sucked, and fell apart after a couple weeks.
* Looking for a prime lens at a decent price for a then crop-frame camera (20d). Not very helpful...
Overall, things here are pretty premium price, which is a bit disappointing. The staff are knowledgeable, although sometimes it's hard to get their attention and receive great customer care. It's a huge resource though, and I'd say to get over my insecurity, I need some more photography jargon to feel legit.
People thought this was:
Good location.
Excellent service, staff is upbeat and positive.
Good new selection or digital/lighting gear, used stuff is mostly higher end or film.
Great darkroom.
Prices are high, but very standard for the consumer level industry. Photo stuff is just expensive in general. Yes, you could get this stuff cheaper online, but remember, you're buying from some douche in NY that buys this stuff straight from overseas.
The world needs fewer douches.
People thought this was:
The Cliche' quote of "A picture is worth a thousand words." Could probably only apply to the few photographers through my own opinion have captured the hearts and minds of many in invoking the rich emotion of life through the small hole that manipulates aperture. Looking Glass of Berkeley gave me the tools and the knowledge given the time, being a young community college runt to come about and establish myself with the better idea of black and white 35mm photography.
After my short lived ownership and purchase of the Canon Rebel XT, I entered this place in acquiring additional products: Photography Paper, Photo Binders, Plastic Sheets, Frames, and etc. The people here are knowledgeable and knew there stuff, considering the amount of clients it acquires on a regular basis given the location and the environment they're in. At the time I do remember the prices being reasonable and they even suggested to me certain lenses that might work well with my camera after the fact.
So the next time I remember the ever so drudgery of memories in the black room, and the numerous encounters of horrible macro shots of food and architecture. All I need to remember are two simple quote,
"Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the fairest of them all? Why it's the Looking Glass, that captures beauty, even within ugliness of it all."
People thought this was:
Update plus a visit the following day:
1. Turns out that I was made aware infrared film is available, but can't seem to stay fresh on the shelves long enough to sell. Not exactly Looking Glasses fault.
2. Loading vintage cameras is possible if I would have been in earlier, could have seen the gurus in person.
3. I was made aware its a "camera museum" of vintage camera equipment of stuff even though I saw a bunch of filters with price tags on them. Hey, what can I say? My mistake?
4. Maybe regained a fan.
The most important thing is someone actually cares about reviews so i did the gentlemanly thing and I pumped the score up one more sta.
People thought this was:
Looking Glass has lost a fan, and sadden to learn that both film and their cameras are slowly… Read more »
After my experience today, thought it was time to write a review.
The best thing about Looking Glass is that they carry some interesting items and they are open fairly decent hours 7 days a week.
The worst part of Looking Glass is everything else. The "film is not dead" snobbery. Their prices are high and they charge restocking fees if you want to return. Their rental department only works if you have enough credit on your credit card to cover the actual cost of the item. Who has that? Their staff is often rude or just plain inattentive. I have never been approached by someone while I was looking at a bag or item and asked if I needed help. And with a few exceptions, I am rarely ever greeted or served by a friendly person.
I popped in today to buy a seamless and they had one left in the color I wanted (actually it wasn't the one I really wanted, I would have had to special order that, so this was my second choice, but good enough). The box was dented and it was marked 20% off. I asked if we could see how badly it was dented and we opened the box and it was fairly bad. I asked if they could give a deeper discount seeing as how I might not be able to use much of the seamless. They told me another shipment was due anytime but I explained I really needed it today. They offered me a whopping extra 5% off. As I needed the seamless, and it was the only place I could think of, or knew that was open and close, I had no choice. So I bought a dented seamless.
If I had been the manager (who was consulted regarding the discount) I would have done better than that.
I like to support local businesses and have even sent people here but from now on I think I'll stick to online merchants who are more affordable and pleasant to deal with.
People thought this was:
Totally great people. They made me excited about using my Holga!
Every time I come in with my dog they rush forth with biscuits in hand.
5 Stars!
People thought this was:
I've only been in here one time, but my experience was really positive. I'd really received my first DSLR camera, and as someone without a whole lot of experience with a good camera I managed to get a few hairs inside my viewfinder. Maybe it's because of naivete in this field, but I expected there to be some sort of price for getting that fixed. Instead the guy at the front counter took my camera, did some test shots with it to determine where the hairs were, then took it in the back and came out again a few minutes later having fixed anything. Then, when I asked how much I owe for helping me out with that he didn't charge me anything.
The staff was really friendly and really helpful and if I ever need any photo products or need help with camera again I won't hesitate to go here first.
I talked with Greg today about my Nikon d80 and various lens and he was extremely helpful. There was no pressure to buy and all employees were friendly. This store does a lot including printing and renting equipment and selling just about anything related to photography. Parking is limited so you'll have to park on the streets of Berkeley because it's on Telegraph and usually there isn't parking on that street. I will definitely be returning to this store in the future. Prices are good too. I bought a Nikon lens today for the same price that I found it online. Actually the lens isn't even readily available yet and somehow they got it already. It's not available on sites like Adorama or B&H yet but this store has it. I am talking about the Nikon 35mm F1.8 prime lens.
check this place out if you haven't already.
This Place really Sucks!!!
There super over-priced and there Customer Service doesn't even deserve half a Star.
There old grumps working there expect you to know everything. Oh well, I recommend you at least give any other place in the Berkeley area a call before and comparing prices first. then you'll realize what I'm talking about.
Highly NOT Recommended...
My photography professor at Cal recommended Looking Glass to me, as he is a professional photog who has been shopping there for 20 years. I'm a novice B & W photographer who uses a Nikon FE2. Thus, I need film and photographic paper, so Looking Glass is a good local place to get what I need. The staff is helpful, knowledgeable and a friendly resource for a beginner. There is nothing intimidating or pretentious about this store or it's employees.
Their prices are fair, but not as inexpensive as B & H Photo in Manhattan. If you need something immediately, require assistance, or want the "hands on" experience, Looking Glass is your place. If you are a pro, already know what you want, and you are willing to wait for it to be shipped from NY, then B & H might be a better value.
I highly recommend Looking Glass to any B & W photographer.
People thought this was:
Support local businesses. Especially those who love and care about what they do.
I always make the effort to go here and buy darkroom printing supplies, and everything I need for my photography.
Staff are friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and passionate about photography. They are a great resource for film enthusiasts.
Or, to quote their t-shirt slogan:
"Think Negative"
This place been around forever. I still remember the good old days when I was taking classes at Chabot me and my friends use to come here to get our supplies. That's like back in 1990 91, so it's not like you can "go online" and buy stuff.
The human touch in this type of business is what keeps them survive in the internet age. What better than walking into a store not knowing the differences between developer vs. fixer, multi grade paper vs. graded paper, and there's this physical human being there to explain it to you, mano a mano. And too bad nowadays not too many brick and mortar shop hire quality people who know their stuff (ie BB, CC).
This is the place where old school meets the new age. Digital point and shoot, DSLR, lens, B&W chemical, paper, old school film cameras, all under the same roof.
Digital photography is great, however the medium detracts the art value. No matter what people say about the future, or lack of future of film and silver gelatin print, they are not going to go away. (Didn't some people predicted we will do away with paper hard copies, or even books, once computer become widely accessible? Guess what, they are wrong.) Instead, their value will only go up, like oil paintings, sculptures, press prints. Art involves craftsmanship and of a medium that every print is unique.
So, if you are into photography, come take a look at this place. It might inspire you into taking your hobby to the next level.
People thought this was:
This is hands down my favorite photo shop in the bay area! These cats are the meow and the furry critter. Seriously. I've used their facilities to process b/w photographs and I've bought camera gear from them, lots of it. But let me not digress... the staff is wonderful here and they will talk to you for ages, answer all of your inane questions, show you stuff, let you touch stuff and generally make you feel like you're not wasting their time. A photographer friend once told me that most camera shops are staffed by failed bitter photographers. I don't know that its a hard and fast rule, but I've met my share of rude ones. Never had that experience here at Looking Glass. Spend your hard earned dollars here and support local businesses, especially ones that deliver quality service and products.
People thought this was:
Looking Glass has a good-sized number of fairly unique products but the best thing is that the owners/employees are incredibly helpful. This is just the camera shop for someone first purchasing a camera. Upon knowing I was on a budget they took me under their arm and indicated I should one the beautiful, mango-Nikon I still use. The camera I bought was a nice-but cheaper-beginner's camera which, 31/2 years, is as good as new.
People thought this was:
I tend to be a loyal shopper and when I find a place with the right combination of service and supply, I reward the proprietors with continued business. I even throw in my own bit of unsolicited word-of-mouth advertising.
That's what I do for Looking Glass.
An excellent shop! They stocked every single item I needed for a film photo class I had enrolled in, right down to the collapsible lens hood. The staff are super friendly and very knowledgeable. They give excellent advice - without that whole "pushy salesperson" thing. That, dear readers, is a huge plus in my book. I was a novice when I first came into the store, but they made me feel welcome and taught me a whole lot about this hobby I was getting into.
Overall, I HIGHLY recommend Looking Glass. They do digital too, but for film camera lovers, no other place compares!
People thought this was:
As a former local student at a small private school, without a lab whatsoever, we used to come to this place for our short-lived photography class. I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure they cut our school a sweet deal in letting us use their lab. I learned everything I know about B&W photography from within these fine, developer-splashed walls. Helpful folks. Reliable equipment. And, holy crap, this place still rocks, 10+ years later! This place out-lived my high school, so I imagine it isn't going anywhere for a while. Good to know.
Thanks for the fond memories of fumbling with spools in the pitch-black; and thanks for the do-it-yourself instructions on the walls. I'll be back when I find my camera!
People thought this was:
I knew nothing about cameras before I went to the Looking Glass and asked them to sell me a high quality camera for a very specific type of photography. I received a complete and thorough education into entry level slr cameras and am now the very happy owner of a Nikon D5000, which was sold to me for the same price it is sold online. Moreover, I have been completely outfitted with camera bag, tripod, uv lens, additional lenses, etc. and told to take photos for a week and then come back so Robert can tell me how to use the camera better. These folks are the real deal.
The employees here are usually pretty learned in the art of photography. They have really nice dark rooms and will often help you out if youre ever in need. This is the best dark room facility in my immediate area so i would come here when ever i had need of their services. i recommend it for anyone who needs a nice darkroom to work in.
The store may look overwhelming to the amateur because they have so much professional looking stuff, but the person there was extremely helpful and knowledgeable and spent a long time with us explaining the differences between cameras (without using any confusing jargon). He helped us narrow down the sea of selection to find the most appropriate camera for our interests, skills, and needs.
Support them not only because they are local, but because they are well-informed, love what they are doing, and are customer-oriented.
Looking Glass is like a photographer's wet dream. In addition to having a full range of rental goodies that us normal folk cannot really afford, their selection of goods for the old school film crowd is amazing considering how rare it is to find these products nowadays elsewhere.
The staff is also incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about everything they carry.
I only wish that the prices weren't going up for all the Kodak products for film enthusiasts, but their dedication to maintaining the craft makes the price worth it.
Hands down the absolute best photo store...anywhere!
I have been going to Looking Glass forever and when I walk in, they always say 'Hi Baidra', even if I've been away for too long (gasp!).
While I lived in Oakland & the east bay, you could find me there on many ocassions. When I moved to Santa Cruz...I still drove my film to LG for processing (the only ones who seemed to understand D76 1:1 68 degrees 9 minutes) and to buy my supplies. Now I live on the Peninsula and I still go to LG whenever I need photographic supplies (Keeble & Shuchat is the antithesis of LG - just awful!! Attitude abounds and no helpful service). Oh, and I trust their knowledge. I know I don't have to give the staff a photo lesson when I am looking to buy supplies, what a treat! LG is hands down the best photo store. Period.
Film is not dead!
People thought this was:
Most Helpful Camera Store in California.
No, I have not been to every camera store in this great state, but the people ate LG are by far the friendliest and most helpful. If you are looking to get into photography, or forgot how to do something on your camera, or need some tips - dont feel stupid they will help you out! They are not camera elitists like many stores tend to be (down south).
Good selection of BAGS and day to day accessories. Also, tons of film if you are a luddite.
People thought this was:
Once upon a time, I worked in a kite shop in Portland, OR. We sold some pretty high-end, very expensive sport kites. Sometimes a customer would come with one for repair and it would be obvious that they hadn't been taking super good care of it - sand in it, unpatched holes, bridles kind of messed up, that kind of thing.
So I'd sigh, and repair it, and clean it and polish it and lecture - in a nice way, I promise! - the customer about how they really ought to take better care of their nice things. And I'd fix it all up and get it ready to go and send it off with them, raising my eyes heavenwards and hoping that they'd do more to deserve the fine piece of tethered aviation they owned that I could never hope to afford.
SO ANYWAY, that exact same thing happened with us today at Looking Glass and it was awesome. We were getting a new filter for our Nikon D70 SLR, and the poor guy behind the counter was obviously appalled at the spots on the lens that needed cleaning, the dusty viewfinder, and the Burning Man playa bits ensconced in every crevice (even, um, inside the lens I KNOW I KNOW WE ARE BAD PEOPLE, but it's only the kit lens and we're getting some better ones soon and we'll take better care of them I promise!). He practically snatched it from us and cleaned every bit with a cloth and cleaner, checked on how much it would cost to have the inside cleaned, and generally made it quite clear that we ought to try harder to be worthy of our camera.
But it really was fantastic! He wasn't mean about it, or rude, or anything. At all times he spoke softly and kindly towards us, and treated the camera with the reverence it deserves. It's kind of hard to explain - he obviously had great love for a fine piece of equipment, and no desire to make us feel guilty. And it totally worked. He also answered all of our questions completely and left us feeling like we can be better camera owners now if we put our minds to it. =)
PLUS: They have a ton of lenses and accessories for rent, and you can apply your rental fee to the purchase of a new one. How awesome is that?
People thought this was:
This is as good as it gets !! I've been coming here since two years ago and omg love this place !! The staffs here are always friendly and well knowledged. They have a wide selection range of all the photography goodies you can think of !! Most importantly their price is the best !! If you show them any student ID, they'll even give you a discount !!
People thought this was:
OK, I feel like a total dick. I can't, for the life of me, remember the name of the guy who helped me yesterday. Ugh, dude, if you are reading this, I am really sorry, cause you kick all kinds of ass.... like a whole army of ass. whoa.
So yesterday I get out my old Holga that I actually bought from Looking Glass about 3 years ago. It is working great but I never shot a lot with it. So I figure I will go to Looking Glass after work and get some info and tips. This makes me nervous. I don't like pretentious arty assholes. I parked and put on my gameface.
I walked in prepared for scene battle.
"oh yeah... i have a few lomos but I really prefer..."
"wow, so you shoot in 35mm...?"
But there was none of that to be found! Maybe its because all of the customers were out of the shop! But I came to the counter and was asked if I needed help. I told him I did and he was really attentive and seemed to really care about my photos and me understanding it.
He guy that helped me was pretty tall and had red, long wavy hair. Hopefully he is the only one that works there with red hair. Anyway, that guy is awesome. He showed me a bunch of stuff and suggested a bunch of stuff too. But the best part is that he took his time and made sure that I got it.
So thanks to you Looking Glass and thanks to you Red. You are the awesome.
People thought this was:
So, I feel like two stars is harsh, but the description for two star (Meh. I've experienced better.) fits perfectly.
I live not too far from this store and it is a really great idea. You walk in and everyone's really helpful and nice, they don't necessarily go out of their way to engage you in conversation or help, but if you have questions they're more than helpful. There are plenty of cameras behind the counter for you to check out and they're definitely willing to let you snap off some pictures, get a feel for a camera and more. They have plenty of products like tripods, bags, accessories that all somehow fit in this pretty small store. By all means, this should be the best photography resource in East Bay. Except...
For the price. A store like this is especially helpful to buy products, but when the price is just too high to buy anything, then it loses most of its value. When I go in, ask questions about a product and leave without buying it, not only do I feel like I'm using the company, but the company isn't making any money. And some may say this is my fault - you pay extra because you get the service there...but the price difference is just too much. I have gone in this store multiple times and every time I have left empty-handed because I can save $40, $50 on a $250 product by going online and buying through other retailers. I saved $200 on a new camera by buying online instead of through this company. Those prices make it too expensive for me to justify paying a premium for "service."
Again I must stress, for those of you with a wallet, this is probably a 4-star photography resource for you. If you don't really care about money all that much, then talk to these guys, they're really great. They have a wonderful amount of products that beats that of larger stores in San Francisco.
But if you're anything like me and you can find the products consistently 20% cheaper online after tax and shipping, then unfortunately Looking Glass is not the right place for you.
I have mixed feelings about this place...I feel like some of the workers know what they're talking about and others have absolutely no clue...and each time I had a different employee help me I got different advice...kinda makes you wonder who's right. Granted there was one woman who totally stood out as super knowledgable, very helpful, and super sweet - Carol. She was there for my first experience and I think that's one of the reasons I go back...I just hope she's working the next time I go in.
Outstanding.
Supporting the local photographic stores is a must. The big giant stores are often cheaper but what happens when you need to talk to someone? Looking Glass is really a to notch place.
I really enjoy the friendly and helpful staff.
I am a big fan of B&H photo in NYC and while living there always felt that the service was snobby and unfriendly.
Having moved to the bay area, I feel that Looking Glass may cost a bit more but they make up for it in the after care, service and support.
When I had a problem they tried extra hard to resolve it!
They also provided incredible value when I need to upgrade my pro equipment by giving me the pros and cons of what I was considering.
This is a valuable asset and a real gem to the photographic user in this area.
People thought this was:
This is a great film camera store. They stock stuff that no one else does, and the staff is very knowledgeable and willing to help you find what you need.
When they didn't have an unusual item (methyl alcohol in bulk for cleaning lenses), they looked up the name of a local reagent supply house and wrote down directions and the phone number for me. That's service.
People thought this was:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Looking Glass ,http://www.lookingglas...
This place is like my good vibration. Anything and everything a photographer can find and have answered is all here....thought the Looking Glass.
People thought this was:
The folks at Looking Glass have always gone out of their way to help me either locate what I wanted, or figure out what I needed if I didn't know. I've been going to this little store for at least 4 years now, and am quite happy with the service. Sure, prices are a little high, but so is rent in Berkeley, as is gas/time to drive to SF.
Bottom line, I like to support the local folks whenever possible.
I'm relatively new to photography as a hobby. These days I'm also relatively broke. With those two things in mind last week I went in to buy a new lens for my Nikon D40. The staff there was super helpful, and showed me a wide array of lenses that would work for me. They told me the pros and cons of each lens based on my use, and in the end recommended I buy an inexpensive used lens rather than the fancier new one I had assumed I needed when I walked in the door. For a broke newbie it doesn't get any better than this.
People thought this was:
Excellent, knowledgeable staff who are willing to help you out no matter what your skill level. There is obviously no drive to sell you something you don't want, nor do they try to convince you that you want to buy something other than what you've come in for. I've been to enough stores that do this, and I am exceedingly glad to have found one that doesn't. They will, however, answer any questions you may have (and some you may not), in order to help you make an informed decision.
Their pricing is interesting. In some cases they are only a little more expensive than B&H (really very close after you factor in shipping costs), and in other cases they are a lot more so. I bought the slightly more expensive stuff because I like being able to go to the store down the street. It's good for the neighborhood, and good for my desire for instant gratification. I fully intend to visit this funky little place again and again and again and again... despite the pinkypeach exterior (the interior makes up for it).
People thought this was:
Knowledgeable staff, great selection, great photography store.
I make a regular visit to looking glass to keep my camera and lenses nice and clean.
Great place if you are a newbie, novice, armature, or professional photographer.
Wow, how could I have lived here this long and never known about Looking Glass Photographic Arts? Definitely a gem to all of us in the East Bay for our photography needs. With a wide array of new and used equipment, accessories, etc... you can't go wrong here. Customer service is top notch and the people who work here definitely know their stuff.
People thought this was:
I went into this store after reading good reviews here on Yelp. I was such a deer in the headlights the minute I walked in - obviously this was a place for advanced photographers who need all sorts of fancy equipment... and little old me just wanted a new point-and-shoot digicam...
I took a deep breath and walked up to the counter. And lo and behold, the guy that helped me was super nice, didn't mind my ignorance, asked me questions that were easy to answer about features I wanted, was honest about the products, and finally sold me on a great little camera at a price not particularly higher than Best Buy's.
I fear the fancy no more! I'll be going back here if I ever have another camera need. : )
People thought this was:
Wow,
I am impressed every time I come here. The people who work here are so unbelievably friendly, helpful, and all-knowing that I think I love them; like, I want to ask them if they'll hang out with me.
The way I feel about them is the same a child feels about a friend's cool older brother/sister.
From what mode I should be shooting in this situation, to why does this look like this at night, to use software X not software Y if you have this computer and this camera, I'll go in there with one question and seriously come out knowing like 5 things I didn't even intend to learn, but five useful things, you know?
As for the pricing, I've only bought a few things here...a mini tripod and some printer refills, photo paper etc. and they didn't really seem that expensive. Anyhow, I would imagine a small, local camera store in Berkeley would have to keep prices high to maintin what they do there.
awesome awesome awesome
People thought this was:
Want some photographer's supplies? Like film and negative sleeves. Well they have a decent film selection. Negative sleeves...not that many options, but they do have some.
Want a photo bag? They have a few good ones. They have lenses and cameras also. One time I got a magnifying loupe at Looking Glass to look at negatives with and it came with a cord so you could wear it around your neck. It's a really high quality loupe and the price was super low.
One of my photojournalism classmates used to work at this store before she got married. If you are on Telegraph Ave. and you want a couple rolls of black and white and some pro film, they have it at Looking Class. Small store with a lot of stuff inside for photographers. Helpful, knowledgeable staff.
People thought this was:
This place is awesome! I saw a lens that I wanted online, and ended up going here to get it (because it was in stock). The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, and were able to find exactly the same lens I wanted used for 70% of the price!
Only reason I took off 1 star is because their website and list of used lenses needs to be updated!
Berkeley, CA
Category: Art Galleries
Oakland, CA
Category: Photography Stores & Services
Neighborhood: Montclair Village
Category: Photography Stores & Services
Oakland, CA
Category: Local Services
Walnut Creek, CA
Category: Photography Stores & Services
This is a list of my favorite "film friendly"…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Places that earn the reputable "5 stars category"…
i'm always looking for places to shoot. i try to…
Incase you would like to do some fotografy then…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
