Samy's Camera: Wide gear, expert staff, and in-store service for photographers.
Samy's Camera, located at 431 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, is a multi-floor electronics and photography store offering a wide range of gear. Customers praise knowledgeable staff who help beginners and pros alike, assemble gear for pickup, and offer honest guidance. The store is noted for a large selection and efficient purchases, though trade-in offers and some service experiences vary by location.
431 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA
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Browse the latest cameras, lenses, lighting, and video gear with expert staff assistance for all skill levels.
Rent high-quality cameras, lenses, and accessories for short-term projects, though inspect items thoroughly upon pickup.
Sell or trade your used photography equipment, with valuations that may vary compared to other retailers.
Convenient same-day pickup for online orders, with reservation options subject to store policies.
Personalized advice from knowledgeable staff to help you choose the right equipment for your needs and budget.
Overall rating
Truth Hurts
NOT GOOD. We bought several D batteries from Samys and they were all old and none worked. We rented an important camera lens for our shoot and it was defective. We used to love renting from this place, but unfortunately it's gone down hill. There are other camera places. Avoid Sharegrid too.
David K
As someone who knows absolutely nothing about cameras, flashes, equipment etc. Damion at Samy’s made my experience phenomenal. Not only did he educate me on the difference between certain equipments and cameras, he gave me his honest opinion on what equipment I would need without breaking the bank. Damion was amazing and probably spent over an hour with me helping me out and making sure I got the proper help and education I needed. Whether you are very knowledgeable in this realm or a begginer like me, this is the place to go to when it comes for camera equipment etc. ask for Damion he will go out of his way to help you out!!
Matt Curaming
This location is unbelievable and disappointing. I was trying to get a product that explicitly stated a 2 item limit on the website so I drive to the Fairfax location trying to get the product. When I get there, I get this nonsense “in-store specific policy” that they can only sell 1 item as a limit. It was not really a store policy and apparently it’s at manager’s discretion and they might be able to sell 2 with verbal approval. Lo and behold with my luck, per the employee selling me the product, the manager recently stepped away for a coffee or something. Now I’m stuck getting no approval. I ended up getting 1 item since this “policy” prevented me from getting 2. I give the employee my information so that they can get back to me to see if it’s possible to buy that additional one. I get a call a few hours later with an exuberance in my voice that it was approved by the manager. I tell the employee that I am picking it up a few hours later in the afternoon because I was occupied at the time of the call. I figured, hey, he literally has a piece of paper with my full name and number on it so he’s going to place a hold on it after saying I will swing by (which they do state in the website you can reserve to place on hold). They also cannot take the payment over the phone so I’m trusting this guy. That was my biggest mistake. Also, side note…. what a miracle that a non-written “policy” was lifted. Anyway, it took me about 20 minutes to drive to the store, gleeful and thankful, that I was going to get it. GUESS WHAT?! The employee, in fact, did NOT hold the item and I drove there for naught. I am at my last straw with this location, it’s so sad because the actual company is overall great, it’s just that this branch is not. I’ve purchased & picked up for people in this location and it always bugged me that some employees didn’t seem like they want to be there and some were even snobby when I was inquiring info about film cameras. I let these instances go because I figured all establishments have those going on and no one/no place is perfect but this most recent experience is again the last straw. Employee at the LA location stared at me and that’s it. I am all out of luck, I guess… good luck on the drive back home EMPTY-HANDED and your tail between your legs. Didn’t even call the manager out or anything. Not really expecting compensation, but an apology and mistake being acknowledged with the ridiculous “policy” would’ve been great at the time. Now I am just filled with resentment. I do not care if you’re a local and love this location, I advise you to go to the Pasadena or Santa Ana location because guess what?!?! There is a PART 2 to this story! I called the Pasadena location, they can reserve TWO items AS STATED IN THEIR WEBSITE BECAUSE THAT IS THE ACTUAL WRITTEN POLICY. Thank goodness for the chill and helpful employees at the Pasadena location. I hope they thrive in success and continue to provide excellent service. Samy’s Pasadena is lucky to have them. I’m just one person and it won’t make a difference, I guess, but I am incredibly disappointed at the level of service at the Fairfax location and will not be a returning customer here. Ending this saga got me thinking, IT IS SO HARD TO FIND AMAZING CUSTOMER SERVICE THESE DAYS.
Michael Ellis
I recently visited Samy’s Camera in Los Angeles and was impressed by the facility itself. It is a really nice space that is thoughtfully organized across multiple floors to cater to different creative needs. Whether you are looking for lighting, video equipment, or traditional still photography gear, the layout makes sense and the product displays are well put together and easy to browse. The buying process for new gear is efficient. The staff members I spoke with were helpful and clearly knowledgeable about the items in stock, which made the experience smooth. It is definitely a great place to stop by if you want to get your hands on the latest equipment. However, I did have one notable downside regarding their trade-in process. Their valuation for used gear is not competitive compared to other major name-brand companies. In my case, their offer fell short by about $300 to $400 (which was not used retail). When I showed an associate the legitimate competitive offer I had received elsewhere, they simply dismissed it and told me to just go with the other company. It was disappointing to see a lack of willingness to work with a customer who had a documented, better offer. Aside from the trade-in experience, it’s a solid shop with a great selection. I would recommend it for new purchases, but you might want to look elsewhere if you are trying to get top dollar for your used equipment.
Josh Blum
I bought all the equipment for my podcast room from Samy's Camera, and the experience was amazing. They had everything I needed in stock, and their customer service was top notch. The staff was super helpful they gathered everything for me, brought it out, and loaded it into my car. On top of that, they gave me a great price and even threw in an extra discount. Same day pickup, great selection, and outstanding service highly recommend!
