Chantal Currid's Photography Page

Photography supply shops in the Bay Area

For bulk buys and expensive items I nearly always buy from B&H - I've heard bad things about other mail order suppliers, but have never had any trouble with B&H. For smaller purchases, here are some photo shops in the Bay Area that I have bought stuff from and would go back to in future.

Fault Line, 945 B Street, Hayward, CA.

Tel (510) 583-9788 10 am - 6 pm Mon to Fri, 10 am - 5 pm Sat and 10 am - 8pm Wed
Fault Line (formerly First Light) sells darkroom supplies (film, paper, etc.). It also has a darkroom, for black and white prints, that you can use for an hourly fee, all you have to bring is paper and your own negatives. Their darkroom is scheduled to open May 1999. The prices are great, with some things cheaper than B&H.

Looking Glass, 2848 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley.

Tel (510) 548-6888
Looking Glass has a wide range of photographic supplies. It also has a darkroom you can rent hourly. They offer a 3% discount for cash and checks (rather than credit cards).

Calumet, 2001 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

Tel (415) 643-9275
8 am to 6pm Mon to Fri
A friend of mine got a good deal on a second hand lens here. I have only been there once so I can make very little judgement except that I found the staff very friendly and helpful. They have a free parking lot and a website at www.calumetphoto.com

Adolph Gasser, 2nd Street, San Francisco, CA94142

Tel (800) 994-2773 or (415) 495-3852
Adolphs has a wide range of stock and has its own free parking lot across the street (very useful near downtown San Francisco).

Aperture Film Center, 127 Main Street, Los Altos, CA 94022

Tel (415) 941-1500, 9 am to 5.30 pm Mon to Fri.
Good film prices and friendly service.

Amsterdam Art, 1013 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710

Tel (510) 649-4800 Amsterdam Art, which also has stores in San Francisco and Walnut Creek, is a good place to buy matting and framing supplies (they are an art store not a photographic supplies store).

This list will be updated as I find more shops worth recommendation.