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Where to sell your camera gear
166 camera businesses in this directory are confirmed to buy or take trades on used gear, across 138 cities in 39 states. Below the list: what a shop will really offer you, why credit beats cash by about 10%, and how to get to the top of the range instead of the bottom.
The three ways to sell, and what each one pays
Every shop offers some version of these three. They are not interchangeable — the right one depends on whether you want money today or the most money eventually.
| Route | What you get | Typical net to you |
|---|---|---|
| Trade-in credit | Credit against something else in the shop, applied the same day | Up to about 60% of expected resale |
| Cash offer | Money in hand, no obligation to buy anything | About 50% of expected resale |
| Consignment | The shop lists and sells it for you, then pays out | Sale price minus a 25–40% commission |
"Expected resale" is what the shop thinks it can sell your item for, not what you paid or what a mint copy fetches on a good day. The spread between that number and your offer is the shop's cost of doing business: testing, cleaning, a warranty, and shelf space for gear that may sit for six months.
What consignment terms look like in practice. Pro Photo Supply publishes its schedule, and it is a fair model for the whole category: the shop takes its commission off the sale, the asking price drops 10% at 60 days and 20% at 120 days if the item has not moved, and anything still unsold at 180 days is returned to you. Consignment is a slower, higher-ceiling route — not free money.
Cash or store credit?
Store credit typically carries a ~10% bonus over the cash number. That spread is consistent across shops that publish both figures — Unique Photo, Camera Wholesalers and The Camera Store all work this way — because credit costs the shop less and comes back as a sale. A $500 cash offer is commonly $550 in credit.
Take the credit only if you were already buying from that shop. Credit is worth 10% more than cash right up until it sits unused on a gift card, at which point it is worth nothing. If you are selling to fund rent, take the cash and do not let the bonus talk you into a lens you did not want.
Local shop vs KEH, MPB and eBay
| Where | Upside | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Local camera store | Same-day cash or credit, no shipping, a person to negotiate with, and you can test the gear you are trading toward | Offer depends on what that one shop already has on the shelf; a small shop may pass on gear it cannot move locally |
| Mail-in (KEH, MPB) | Instant online quote, prepaid shipping, buys almost anything | The quote is provisional. Offers get revised downward after inspection — "claimed haze on inspection" is the standard example. Declining means another week or two before your gear is back |
| eBay / private sale | Highest gross price by a clear margin | You are the shipper, the customer service desk and the fraud department. Fees, returns and chargebacks eat the difference |
Netting it out: whichever of the first two you pick, sellers land at roughly 50–66% of resale value. The real difference is speed and risk, not a life-changing amount of money. Get a mail-in quote as a price floor, then take it to a local shop and see whether they will match it in credit.
How to prep your gear for the best offer
Buyers price down for uncertainty. Removing the uncertainty is free and routinely worth 10–20% on the offer.
- Know the shutter count on any digital body — a low count is the single strongest argument you have, and a buyer who has to guess will guess against you.
- Bring the original box, caps, hoods, straps and manuals. A complete kit resells faster, and the shop prices for how fast it moves.
- Test every aperture before you go. Fire the blades from wide open to fully stopped down and watch for lag or oil.
- Clean the electrical contacts on lenses and bodies so nothing reads as a fault on the counter.
- Bring the charger and a charged battery. A camera that will not power up is priced as broken, no matter why.
- Bring the whole kit at once. Bodies, glass and accessories together are easier to price and usually beat piecemeal offers.
What kills the value
- Fungus — the branching web inside the elements. Once it has etched the coating, it is permanent, and most buyers simply decline the lens.
- Haze — a fogged, low-contrast look through the glass. Sometimes cleanable, always discounted.
- Separation — cemented elements coming apart, visible as a rainbow or oily edge inside the lens.
- Sticky or oily aperture blades on manual glass. Slow blades are a repair, and the repair often costs more than the lens.
- Gray-market bodies — imported outside the manufacturer's official channel. No US warranty, no factory service, and shops discount them accordingly or refuse them outright.
Camera stores confirmed to buy and trade used gear
Ranked by local reputation — rating weighted by review volume. Each of these businesses is documented, from its own site or from customer reviews, to buy or take trades on used equipment. Offers and categories vary by shop; call before you drive.
Precision Camera and Video
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,712 reviews
Large, longtime camera shop offering a range of photography & videography equipment plus repairs.
GigaParts
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,568 reviews
Huntsville-based vendor of computers, ham radios and related electronics.
Pictureline
4.9 ★★★★★ 1,358 reviews
Photography store offering sales, gear rentals, and educational programs.
Colonial Photo & Hobby Inc
4.3 ★★★★☆ 1,227 reviews
Jumbo hobby shop with model trains, craft supplies & cameras plus on-site framing & film developing.
Samy's Camera
4.3 ★★★★☆ 1,148 reviews
Store specializing in still & video camera equipment sales, rentals, lighting & accessories.
Glazer's Camera
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,067 reviews
Professional camera store with equipment, supplies, lighting, used gear & photography lessons.
DJI FIFTH AVENUE
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,040 reviews
Destination for aerial photography and cinematography products, with workshops and demonstrations.
Competitive Cameras Ltd
4.8 ★★★★★ 936 reviews
Longtime camera shop with digital cameras, lenses & accessories, plus equipment rental & classes.
The Camera Exchange
4.5 ★★★★★ 997 reviews
Photography store carrying major gear brands for rental or sale, plus beginner & advanced classes.
Houston Camera Exchange
4.4 ★★★★☆ 973 reviews
Established merchant stocking new & used cameras, darkroom supplies, photo gear, lights & printers.
Kenmore Camera
4.7 ★★★★★ 861 reviews
Family-run outfit since 1974 offering new & used cameras plus equipment, accessories & a photo lab.
National Camera Exchange
4.7 ★★★★★ 807 reviews
Friendly, well-stocked camera store known for knowledgeable staff and rentals.
Cardinal Camera
4.7 ★★★★★ 687 reviews
Retailer of photography equipment, including cameras, also offering on-site print services.
Samy's Camera
4.6 ★★★★★ 690 reviews
Store specializing in still & video camera equipment sales, rentals, lighting & accessories.
Cardinal Camera
4.7 ★★★★★ 666 reviews
Retailer of photography equipment, including cameras, also offering on-site print services.
Central Camera Company
4.3 ★★★★☆ 716 reviews
Storied family-owned camera shop selling equipment, film & hard-to-find items since 1899.
The Camera Company
4.7 ★★★★★ 610 reviews
Camera and photography gear shop offering new and used equipment including lenses, plus classes.
Gulf Coast Camera
4.8 ★★★★★ 580 reviews
Wide variety of new and used gear for photography as well as repair services, rentals and lessons.
Service Photo Supply, Inc.
4.7 ★★★★★ 574 reviews
Retailer stocking new and previously owned cameras and lenses as well as accessories, also offering repair services and rentals.
Pro Photo Supply
4.4 ★★★★☆ 605 reviews
Business featuring cameras & equipment for both professionals & hobbyists since 1983.
Horn Photo
4.6 ★★★★★ 566 reviews
Digital photography and film processing shop offering equipment sales, supplies, albums and photo restoration.
Biggs Camera
4.5 ★★★★★ 576 reviews
Friendly camera shop that stocks digital and film cameras plus lenses.
Pitman Photo Supply
4.6 ★★★★★ 549 reviews
Spacious electronics superstore features cameras, photography supplies & gear, plus film processing.
PROCAM Photo & Video Gear | Chicago - Aurora
4.6 ★★★★★ 543 reviews
Store selling new and used cameras, lenses and accessories, plus studio gear and offering equipment rentals and classes.
Dan's Camera City
4.7 ★★★★★ 518 reviews
Family-owned camera shop that can order hard-to-find lenses and gear; also offers classes.
PROCAM Photo & Video Gear | Detroit - Livonia
4.3 ★★★★☆ 552 reviews
Retailer stocking photo and video cameras and accessories and offering rentals, classes, repair work and printing.
Bedford Camera & Video
4.8 ★★★★★ 464 reviews
Retailer offering photo, audio & videography gear, plus special events & classes.
Bedford Camera & Video
4.6 ★★★★★ 464 reviews
Retailer offering photo, audio & videography gear, plus special events & classes.
Allen's Camera
4.8 ★★★★★ 430 reviews
Old-school retailer of new & used cameras also offering accessories & film developing.
The Shutterbug
4.7 ★★★★★ 438 reviews
Photo store stocking new and used cameras, plus film developing and printing services, as well as friendly service.
Samy's Camera
4.2 ★★★★☆ 481 reviews
Store specializing in still & video camera equipment sales, rentals, lighting & accessories.
Precision Camera & Video
4.6 ★★★★★ 428 reviews
Camera store stocking new and used equipment, offering repairs, classes, and rentals.
Rockbrook Camera
4.6 ★★★★★ 398 reviews
Camera retail shop also offering services, repairs, rentals and classes.
Delaware Camera
4.4 ★★★★☆ 405 reviews
Photography store, offering a selection of new and used cameras, plus studio equipment rentals.
Harmon Photo
4.3 ★★★★☆ 402 reviews
Enduring photography store offering cameras & gear, plus printing & developing services & classes.
West Photo
4.4 ★★★★☆ 391 reviews
Enduring shop offering camera equipment and photography supplies, plus repair services and rentals.
PIXEL Connection
4.8 ★★★★★ 351 reviews
Friendly camera dealer with a good staff, plus a rental area.
Nelson Photo & Video
4.2 ★★★★☆ 400 reviews
Well-stocked shop carrying a range of cameras & accessories, also offering classes & photo prints.
UsedPhotoPro
4.8 ★★★★★ 347 reviews
Longtime shop featuring a large selection of used cameras and accessories, as well as repairs and gear buying.
Precision Camera and Video
4.6 ★★★★★ 360 reviews
Photography store featuring a full-service lab, rental department, classes, and repair services.
Fort Worth Camera + The Print Refinery
4.4 ★★★★☆ 375 reviews
Photography shop offering camera sales, repairs, classes & a photo lab with digital printing.
Arlington Camera
4.3 ★★★★☆ 382 reviews
Family-owned camera store with new, used & vintage equipment plus supplies from tripods to flashes.
Gadget Exchange, LLC.
4.5 ★★★★★ 348 reviews
Friendly shop specializing in the sale and repair of new and used electronic devices such as phones, computers and tablets.
Camera Exchange
4.8 ★★★★★ 325 reviews
Relaxed shop specializing in new and used cameras, lenses and other gear, along with trade-ins.
Creative Photo and Digital Imaging
4.8 ★★★★★ 317 reviews
Photo lab offering passport photos, custom framing, and restoration services, plus a portrait studio.
PROCAM Photo & Video Gear | Cincinnati
4.7 ★★★★★ 315 reviews
Camera, video, and photography gear retailer offering rentals, repairs and classes.
Armadillo Camera
4.8 ★★★★★ 308 reviews
Locally-owned store, founded in 1980, offering cameras and gear, as well as printing service, plus used gear.
The Shutterbug Beaverton
4.6 ★★★★★ 297 reviews
Family-run shop offering cameras, accessories, and film processing, plus passport photos.
Bedford Camera & Video
4.7 ★★★★★ 288 reviews
Retailer offering photo, audio & videography gear, plus special events & classes.
Pasco Camera Inc
4.8 ★★★★★ 279 reviews
Long-running shop supplying digital and film cameras, plus equipment and repair services.
Stewarts Photo
4.8 ★★★★★ 256 reviews
Homey operation stocking new and used cameras and lenses, as well as gear rental and film developing.
Cardinal Camera
4.6 ★★★★★ 265 reviews
Retailer of photography equipment, including cameras, also offering on-site print services.
Bedford Camera & Video
4.7 ★★★★★ 255 reviews
Retailer offering photo, audio & videography gear, plus special events & classes.
Looking Glass Photographic Outfitters
4.5 ★★★★★ 264 reviews
Longtime hub for digital cameras, film, photo equipment & supplies, plus a darkroom for rent.
Milford Photo
4.6 ★★★★★ 258 reviews
Camera store offering a huge selection, as well as repairs, prints, and restoration services.
Jack's Cameras Inc
4.6 ★★★★★ 240 reviews
Friendly camera shop featuring a range of film and digital cameras, lenses and accessories, plus photo-printing options.
Also worth a phone call
These shops are documented to stock used gear, but nothing in our data confirms they buy from the public. Used inventory has to come from somewhere, so they are worth calling — just do not assume.
Selling camera gear by metro
Cities with more than one confirmed buyer — worth getting two offers before you accept one.
- Sell camera gear in Portland, OR
- Sell camera gear in Austin, TX
- Sell camera gear in Los Angeles, CA
- Sell camera gear in New York, NY
- Sell camera gear in Charlotte, NC
- Sell camera gear in San Francisco, CA
- Sell camera gear in Tulsa, OK
- Sell camera gear in Allentown, PA
- Sell camera gear in Chicago, IL
- Sell camera gear in Maspeth, NY
- Sell camera gear in Mobile, AL
- Sell camera gear in Orlando, FL
- Sell camera gear in Phoenix, AZ
- Sell camera gear in Salt Lake City, UT
- Sell camera gear in San Diego, CA
- Sell camera gear in Seattle, WA
Questions people ask before selling
- What will a camera store pay for my gear?
- Plan on roughly half of what the shop expects to resell it for if you take cash, and up to about 60% of that resale figure if you take store credit. The gap is the shop’s margin: it has to clean, test, warranty and shelve the item, and some of it will sit for months. A body that sells used for $1,000 is therefore a ~$500 cash offer or ~$600 in trade credit. Consignment pays more on paper but takes a 25–40% commission and you wait for an actual buyer.
- Should I take cash or store credit?
- Store credit typically carries about a 10% bonus over the cash offer — that spread is standard across shops that publish both numbers, including Unique Photo, Camera Wholesalers and The Camera Store. A $500 cash offer is often $550 in credit. It is only worth taking if you were already going to buy something from that shop; credit you never spend is worth zero.
- Is consignment worth it?
- Sometimes. The shop lists your item, takes 25–40% of the sale price, and pays you when it sells. Pro Photo Supply publishes a typical schedule: the asking price drops 10% at 60 days, 20% at 120 days, and the item comes back to you unsold at 180 days. That structure works for unusual or high-value glass with a thin buyer pool, where the extra reach is worth the wait. For a common body that any shop can price in 30 seconds, take the cash or the trade.
- Do camera stores buy film cameras?
- It depends entirely on the shop, and it is the first thing to ask on the phone. Broadly: clean film bodies with a working meter, and sharp fungus-free manual glass, are wanted. Dead point-and-shoots, fungused zooms and anything needing a repair worth more than the camera usually are not — a shop cannot resell what it would have to fix first. Our listings flag which businesses are confirmed to buy or trade used gear; they do not tell you which formats each one wants.
- Should I sell locally or ship to KEH or MPB?
- The money ends up similar — sellers net roughly 50–66% of resale value either way — so decide on time and risk. Mail-in buyers quote online, then inspect on arrival and revise the offer downward if they find something ("claimed haze on inspection" is the classic), which means you either accept a lower number or spend another week getting your gear shipped back. A local shop gives you same-day cash, no shipping risk, a human to negotiate with, and the option to walk out with credit against a lens you have actually held. eBay grosses the most and leaves you handling fees, shipping, returns and fraud.