Camera Solutions

I took my Canon PowerShot SX10IS into Camera Solutions for repair because I kept getting a lens error message. I left it there and was told that I’d get an email with an estimate within about a week. I was pleased that they were on time, and gave them the go-​ahead to fix my camera. I was told it’d be about 10 days or so, and was again pleased that that’s just what it took. I picked it up today, and cleaned and fix. The problem was the optical circuit board, and the repair is under warranty for 90 days. That’s fair.
I’ve had this camera for 7 years and absolutely adore it. I appreciated the fact that the lady at the counter told me there’s no sense getting a new camera if I love the one I have; she didn’t try to sell me a new camera. Major points.
The technician who waited on me today was very pleasant; he had on a Hawaii t-​shirt, which I loved, and we talked about our love of Japanese food while he finished up the transaction. He was the one who fixed my camera, and I really liked the personal contact.
I’m really pleased with all aspects of getting my camera fixed, and I know that this is where I’ll go if I need more repairs or more camera equipment. It’s a long drive for me, but definitely worth it.

I went into Camera Solutions the other day to look at my options for a new lens fr my Nikon camera. I spoke to not only a sales clerk who was well versed in «camera speak» but also the store owner and repair technition himself. Each employee had plenty to say as far as imput to find the perfect lens to fit my needs as a portrait photographer.
I was able to try out lenses, and find out every bit of detail I would possibly need to know about each lens. Every question I asked was answered with an extensive explanation. Even though I wasn’t planning on purcahsing a lens that very day, but to go home and do more research, I felt as if the empolyees had done my research for me! I felt very comfortable purchasing a new lens based on their recommendations. One of the empolyees had studied photography, and understood exactly wat I needed.
I am so happy with my purchase, and feel so comfortable with Camera Solutions to also clean my lenses as well. When I have an upcoming shoot where I might want to use lighting equipment, or higher quality lenses out of the ordinary, I visit the shop for a detailed explanation of what to rent, and then I am able to do so right there at a very reasonable price! I am able to take on bigger jobs, and do so succesfully, without cutting into my profit so considerably with the purchase of all new eqipment. Instead, I just rent from CS!
I am so pleased with this locally owned business, and will be a loyal customer for a long time!

Terrible experience, bad enough that I signed up for Unilocal to warn of this spot.
Was traveling in the NW, passed through Portland and dropped off my Hasselblad there with the intention of picking up when passing through town again a month later. They did not finish the repair as promised so I had to do the rest of my cross country trip without my favorite analog body or lens. Then they mailed it to my spot on the east coast and THE CAMERA STILL WASN“T FIXED. They mailed it back to me in the same condition as I dropped it off, and a month past the promised repair date. THEN REFUSED TO REFUND MY MONEY!!! Made me send it back to them to do the repair they said they do 2.5 months earlier. 3 week repair took 3 months and two cross country mailing. THE WORSE CAMERA REPAIR EXPERIENCE IVE HAD IN 20 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS.

Fixed a lens I thought was impossible to fix. My Micro USM Canon 1.4 seized up and made a grinding noise as you moved the focus barrel (I now know this was from impact) and at the time I was extremely upset. A friend thought he could fix it for me and took it, brought it back, not fixed and full of WD40. :(NEVER let non-​photographers touch your lenses, even if you think it’s beyond repair. It would have been much cheaper to fix the USM, but cost about $ 225 because of the labor to clean it! Nightmare, but Camera Solutions did a great job. I have my lens back that I thought was lost for all eternity. HIGHLY recommend taking in your broken lens. Probably cheaper to repair than to replace. –edit, I’ve taken the same lens there twice. Much cheaper the second go-​round since it was just shock damage this time. Those micro USM’s are fragile. Thanks guys! Great work!

I get my cameras cleaned once a year, and I always bring them to Camera solutions. Most recently they also updated my firm wear and give a shutter count for both bodies. For two digital SLRs the cleaning, shutter count, and firmware upgrade was over $ 200. I am happy to pay to have my cameras cared for by an expert. Their turn around time was one day. Perfect.

Camera Solutions, in many ways, blew me away. I generally have stayed away from the Portland, OR camera stores for reasons ranging from insane markups and unprofessional car salesman like staff, to poor selection of professional level supplies.
Camera Solutions definitely did not fall into this category. I actually stopped by simply to meet up with a friend and help her select some lenses, and get a lens cap to replace one that I had lost earlier that day. While there the salesman who assisted me not only did so while politely demonstrating his exhaustive knowledge of the equipment, but also took the time needed to get to know my needs as a photographer, and my friends needs as a photo enthusiast, simultaneously.
His recommends were concise, to the point, respectful, and not based on the cost of the equipment. He was even kind enough to provide me with information regarding repair services and CLA services for my 35 mm film camera collection. The most surprising result of this recommendation was to learn that their location provides full service, using OEM parts, for the cameras I own which range from the more common Canonet’s all the way to vintage Leica SLR’s and rangefinders. To top it off the pricing was very reasonable as well!
Will I go back? Hell yeah I will! I love their service, selection is limited due to space but of good quality, and pricing is more than reasonable!

This summer I wanted to check out Oregon International Air-​show in Hillsboro and since I had my stock 18−55mm lens on my Canon, I thought that if it didn’t cost too much I should rent a «better» lens. I came across Camera Solutions when I Googled camera lenses for rent in Portland, OR. There, I was able to rent a really nice zoom lens for about $ 30 –35. I picked up the lens on Friday and had to return it on Monday (since they are closed on Sundays). Thats almost 4 days of shooting! To say the least, pictures from the air show turned out better than I anticipated. Thank you Camera Solutions! I will be back in the future!

I am always pleased with Camera Solutions’ customer service and their work. They quote me a flat rate for repairs and the work is done well… no bad surprises. I have used them many times over the past 14 years for repairs to my professional gear. Highly recommended!

Went in to look at a couple lenses that I am considering buying. I called a few stores ahead of time and discovered that Camera Solutions had both in stock, unlike most of the few remaining camera stores stores on the west side of town. The service was excellent. They let me try them out with my camera body, and answered my questions without making me feel like an idiot, or trying to pressure me in any way.
Pricing on the lenses was equivalent to what I’ve seen online, give or take a little, and the pricing on the filters was as good or better. I was considering purchasing online, but as I just discovered, the number of camera shops has been dwindling (most likely due to online sales). It is getting more and more difficult to find a good camera shop to have cleanings and repairs done.
Also, being able to try out new equipment is critical IMO when purchasing such expensive and delicate equipment… and you just can’t get that online. If anything is wrong with the equipment and it needs to be returned, I’d MUCH rather have a local shop to support my return or exchange than have to hassle with RMA-​ing, re-​boxing and shipping back.
Even if it’s not as convenient as ordering online has become, it is important to invest in the local shops that provide good service so they stick around and return the favor by supporting us. I was definitely impressed with the service, and plan on making my next purchase here instead of online.

I had a broken mount on one of my lenses and went here to see what it would take to fix it. The guy there was really nice. He took the lens to the back and upon coming back out front said $ 55. Unfortunately, money is tight for me right now so I asked if I could just get the part and if he thought I could replace it myself fairly easily. The part was $ 18 and he said that I should be able to do it myself. He did remind me that if they worked on it they would be able to identify anything else that may have broken inside so I wouldn’t be frustrated if my repairs didn’t get it all. I was very tempted to have them do the repair but overall cost dictated just buying the part. I was a little disappointed that their lead time is 1 – 2 weeks which also played a part in my decision.
As a side note, what impressed me the most was upon leaving, my 8 year old son started asking questions. He asked the lady that works there if they had any books. She stopped what she was working on and answered him, yes. My son said, I was hoping to find a book to read about photography while my dad is at work so I can learn more and also so I can use it for my reading time everyday. As she was walking around the end of the counter to show my son their selection of books she asked, what kinds of things do you like taking pictures of. My son answered, outside stuff like birds and sunsets. She took him over and showed him two different books that looked like they would be a perfect fit for him. Cool, he said. Um, how much are they? She walked back behind the counter and as she scanned each one and set it on the counter she told him the prices.
What was cool about this is that she dedicated her attention to my son and not me. She treated an 8 year old with the same respect that any customer would expect.
While our purchases there today were not large, I am expecting to shop there in the future and will definitely recommend them to others.

I was fortunate enough to be referred to Camera Solutions for my lens rental needs! I needed a lens at the last minute, and they came through! I wish they were open later, but that is my only gripe! Both people who waited on me — on renting and returning — were friendly and informative. The lenses I rented were both in superb condition, and they were really reasonable with their rental fees. I would absolutely rent with them again!

They took a while and a false start but they fixed my Nikon when Associated camera couldn’t. They have my business hereafter.

My Canon 5D needed its sensor cleaned, and there aren’t many places in Portland to get that done. Pro Photo Supply recommended I go here, so I did.
Upon entering the store, I was greeted with many signs behind the equipment for sale that read, «If you plan to buy *online*, don’t waste our *time*.» I suppose that is supposed to be a clever rhyme. Not to mention that «online» and «time» don’t actually rhyme — but my reaction was, «Maybe the reason I go to online storefronts is that they don’t antagonize their potential customers.»
So I walked up to the counter and said I needed a sensor cleaning. The fifteen-​year-​old behind the counter told me it would be $ 65. I asked, «Can you tell me about the process you use to clean the sensor?» He was confused by this question so spun around and asked the woman in charge. She replied, «We don’t tell you how to clean the sensor. That is a service we charge money for.» This frustrated me even more than the rude signs. All I was asking for was a description of what I was paying $ 65 for, but she assumed I was trying to learn how to clean a sensor for free. Once I corrected her that I just wanted to know what I was paying for, she gave me some marketing mumbo-​jumbo about how cleaning a sensor is veeeery complex and complicated and should not be approached by amateurs. Basically, her answer to my question was designed to scare me into paying them rather than trying it myself.
So, in fairness, they did clean my sensor, and from what I can tell did a good job of it. But the whole experience left me feeling unsatisfied as a customer. Next time I need a sensor cleaned, I will seek out other local options.

THIS PLACE IS HORRIBLE FOR REPAIRS. Go to ASSOCIATED CAMERA REPAIR on Sandy Blvd (read review).
About this place:
1) They say estimates on camera repairs take 1 to 1.5 weeks, (Associated Camera Repair, within 24 hours, Canon Factory Repair in Illinois, 3 – 5 days)
2) They charge $ 24 for an estimate, (Associated Camera Repair is free. Sending it to the Canon Factory Repair in Illinois is free)
3) It takes about 3 weeks to get cameras fixed (took me 2 business days at Associated Camera Repair, Canon Factory Repair in Illinois is 7 – 10 days)
4) Camera Solutions estimated cost to fix my camera was more than Canon Factory Repair in Illinois and much more than Associated Camera Repair.
Support local business, get your camera back much sooner and pay less to have your camera fixed by going to ASSOCIATED CAMERA REPAIR.
Or, you can ship your camera to the company’s factory repair and get it fixed faster and cheaper.

A nice little shop. Friendly people and quick turn over time on sensor cleanings. They charge a little more for full frame sensors which I thought was a little weak, but whatever. Not a very large selection, but they did have some used gear. I imagine I’ll be using them for sensor cleanings at the very least.

I’m unable to afford expensive equipment for my camera, but love the ability to try out new lenses. They have the option of renting a whole new set as well. Obviously, you’ll need to put down a deposit, but it’s just a hold — not a charge on your card.
The service is attentive, the owner is a kind gentleman. The place is in a good area, but I HATE having to rush myself there to return my equipment after work. I do like the fact the weekend is considered 1 day when renting on Friday to Monday.
Try the place out, rent your equipment before you plan on investing — it’ll be time before I’ll invest though… So this is closest to it.