Camera Clinic

Prior to Unilocal,and prior to internet reviews, my basic digital camera needed cleaned. Doug’s was recommended to me by a reputable location that collected cameras and then sent them to Doug’s for repair. Instead of taking my camera and then charging me a premium to ship it to Doug’s, the location suggested I take it directly to Doug’s Camera Clinic. Doug’s ruined my digital camera! Doug refused me a refund. I then paid to send the camera into the manufacturer (twice) to see if it could be repaired. The manufacturer couldn’t refurb the camera enough to save it. The sensor and the mirror was damaged beyond repair. Had to discard the camera after the service at Doug’s Camera Clinic. Never returning to the Camera Clinic and never, ever recommending their service to anyone else.

Fabulous and fair prices. Good old fashioned service!

Very professional people! The man who is at the counter and takes orders (sorry, I don’t know his name) produced a good impression on me when he was testing my camera and gave an accurate estimate. The technician who is also very nice, fixed my camera (Canon 550D, problem with lens — not focusing well) fast. As I was promised, my camera is like new now. They also give warranty on their work for 3 months, I think, which is great!
It’s a number one place for camera repair for me now!

The best film camera shop anywhere in the Puget Sound region. Doug is a character with decades of experience, semi-​mostly-​retired, the shop has short hours on select days. I’ve not taken a camera in that he didn’t know something about. To me he is more like an honest camera «mechanic», rather than a sterile by-​the-​book equipment «technician». He even gave me a film canister and several globs of grease to re-​lube a cheap old soviet lens I had that needed attention but he didn’t want to do it. Hahaha. He’s very upfront about NOT performing repairs if he thinks it isn’t worth it. Some are and some are not and he has very informed opinions about which is which and it certainly always worth consideration regardless of your attachment to a particular piece of equipment. I fear the day these doors close — greatly fear it.

Doug is fantastic, the customer service is outstanding! I had a sensor cleaned and a couple of weeks later I thought I messed it up again. I took it back and in minutes Doug showed me the hair that was causing my problem. Out the door in no time and no charge. The shop itself is a friendly old repair shop — endless charm and character. Very obvious that he knows his stuff from years of experience and love of the work.

Doug is awesome. Always willing to geek out a bit and very knowledgeable. Great repair service and huge inventory of stuff hanging around (although a lot of the cameras he’ll need to service before he can hand them off).

After stopping at Kenmore Camera I needed my lens cleaned (not from them but it was two years old and I could see some spots on the photos) but they take a few days and I did not want to have to come all the way back to get my camera — plus not having it for 2 – 3 days — can’t happen. :)
They mentioned this place and I called. The owner said he thinks he can squeeze me in for a basic cleaning — which he did — and I was in and out in an hour.
An old time professional who knows what he is doing. He took me back and showed me what my lens looked like (more dirt than I expected) and he told me most of it comes from changing lenses and not being sure they line up. When I move them around trying to find the proper place — I am scraping tiny pieces of the lens off and they are getting on it (along with dirt coming in during the change. He also included checking out two of my lenses and giving them an OK. after he cleaned them.
Don’t expect a bright clean shop — just the opposite — a professional working craftsmen’s place is a better expectation — someone with many years experience.

I love this place. He knows his stuff and has helped me with; Ikoflex iia, Canon AE-​1, and a Hasselblad 500c. If you own a HASSELBLAD he is your man– he used to work for them.
One experience I’ve had was with my Ikoflex iia which ‘CameraTechs’ told me I needed a complete rehaul of the camera. I took it into Camera Clinics and he took a look at it– told me everything is find and even showed me how to use it.

Had a disagreement with Doug and he didn’t seem too eager to hear my side of the story. I definitely got the short end of the stick. Still does great work I’m sure, but the legend is true.

Camera Clinic is the type of place that you just don’t see very much of anymore, which is incredibly sad. The owner, Doug, seems far more concerned about actually helping you than making a quick buck. I’ve been in there 3 times, and I’ve been helped absolutely free of charge 3 times. It’s also incredibly refreshing not to be upsold on warranties, credit cards, or other junk I don’t need or want.
The shop’s owner may come off as «rude» at times, but in reality it’s just because we’re so used to corporate drones that aren’t allowed to speak their minds (or can’t, because they lack the knowledge). Some of what he has said definitely caught me off guard, yet it was always correct, so I’d make it a point to listen to what he had to say. He obviously has a lot of experience with his craft.

Doug is such a nice fellow. I brought in an old camera that was having problems, and he was very kind and helpful. I wanted the camera fixed, but the cost would have been more than just buying another camera. He made some alternative recommendations for me, and had a couple pentax cameras to show me. However, I harbored such deep attachment to my camera (family heirloom, traveled various countries with me…) and he was happy to fix it for me, saying that it would last another lifetime. Which, to me, was TOTALLY worth it. When I picked up the camera, he gave me a free roll of 12 exposure film so I can make sure that I’m happy with the camera. :]
When his assistant was helping to ring me up, I asked her some questions about Doug. Apparently the store has been there for over 20 years. She said Doug’s essentially retired, but continues to work there for enjoyment. Hate to think about ever not having this store here…

Thank you, thank you, thank you Doug! Our camera broke — pin on the card reader was bent and we were desperate. Our son needed it ASAP for his photography class at school. Same day service with a reasonable price. Love this place!

If you are a camera geek and looking for the odd piece of hardware that you can’t seem to find anywhere (and you’ve been burned too many times by eBay), this is your place. Same goes if you are a student wanting to learn photography on the cheap or simply own a non-​digital SLR and are wanting to get your gear back to running. Doug strikes me as honest and very knowledgable. Today was my third time (over a good many years, though) seeing him, and I walked out feeling like I got a very square deal on a trade-​in lens. I was impressed by his humble operation the first, second and this third time. His total package gets a top five star rating from me.

This place is great. It’s one of the only shops in my region that won’t sneer if you bring in an analog camera that needs repair or adjustment. These guys have decades of experience and can advise you very well on work that hardly anyone else in the business will do. They will test an analog lens right in front of your for free. They will spend time with you and give you the straight poop. In my experience they charge top retail dollar, but in some cases you might have to look 1000 miles or more to find someone else to do the job.
As someone who owns a lot of fine older European and American cameras (Hasselblad, Rolleiflex, Graflex, Linhof, Zeiss), my only concern is what we’re going to do when these fairly elderly gentlemen retire.
Use disposible Chinese digital technology I guess… ;-(

Very knowledgeable and helpful, didn’t feel like I was being sold anything. My camera was having issues. He looked at it without charging me and then gave me advice on the price to fix versus replace (small point and shoot camera). Didn’t make a dime off me, but did earn a great reputation for next time I need camera work.

My Nikon camera’s love Camera Clinic, I love & trust Camera Clinic and my chili’s love Camera Clinic. Every visit leaves me with more photographic passion and security, they have got my back! Thank YOU so much for your friendly experience and advice!!!
Deanna Rose

Camera Clinic rocks! Took my 40D here for a sensor cleaning and they were very fast, affordable and professional. Couldn’t ask for much more! Thank you!

Very unassuming storefront, previous negative reviews have commented on the front desk cluttered with old camera parts.
Who cares what the store looks like! These guys can fix cameras and do it for half the price of Glazer’s. Brought in a Nikon 18 – 200 from my D300 where the lens screws had vibrated loose. It was fixed in under two hours for $ 41.61. Unbelievable experience!

As a professional photographer, I need to trust my equipment with a specialist who can get the job done fast. My Canon 5D Mark ll dropped on the ground — the lens broke at the connection point and the camera needed internal repair. This was a BIG job and Doug’s confidence, professionalism and knowledge put me at ease. I knew this would be an expensive fix and his estimate seemed reasonable for the complexity of the job. Camera Clinic technicians had to take the body apart and re-​calibrate all the chips and settings. *** I got my camera back in under ONE week! and it is working great.
For my lens, the part is backordered from Canon– SO Doug offered to rent me an equivalent professional quality lens for an extremely reason price — what fantastic customer service!
I highly recommend Doug at the Camera Clinic, he understands that these are the tools of my trade and he has taken all measures to have my camera and lens back to me in great working order as soon as possible.

I received a very nice, pre-​owned «prosumer» camera from my brother for my birthday. When it arrived in the mail, I was unable to open the battery compartment. My brother did a quick Google search, and suggested the Camera Clinic.
It’s a very unassuming storefront in a decaying strip mall, around the corner from the Crest. Inside, a pleasant jumble of camera equipment and other assorted oddities. I was greeted cordially by the man behind the counter – the owner? – who reminded me of a older and slightly disheveled Terry Pratchett.
I told him the problem, he took the camera from me, and in a second had popped open the compartment. «You have to work out more!», he said. Then he took pity on me, and asked if I wanted him to put a small amount of oil on the compartment lid. When I said yes please, he disappeared into the back of the store, and came back moments later. He showed me the newly greased portions of the camera, and also a spring that he had bent back into place.
I thanked him, and before I could ask what I could pay him for his help, he disappeared into the back of the store.
It was a good experience. He knew what he was doing, he did it, and he didn’t charge for it, I suppose because he thought it was an inconsequential service. I left happy.