jcwall396 Loc: Roswell, GA

I'm planning a trip to Philly in May and wondered if there are any awesome camera stores there, similar to B&H in New York?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Unique Photo.

Ctrclckws

I've been to Unique Photo in NJ, if the Philadelphia is similar, lots of photography toys.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Silly boy, B&H is a mere roughly 2 hour drive from Philadelphia. I have driven it several times.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

jcwall396 Loc: Roswell, GA

LOL......we were just there in December over the Christmas holidays. And I had w-a-y too much fun there! But good to know it's that close in case I have a sudden inexplicable GAS attack! Unique Photo looks good - I'm putting that on my list!

Crweber Loc: West Chester, PA

Nothing in Philadelphia any more, have a cheese steak and take the train to NYC and go to B&H

Stan Fayer

There is plenty to photograph in Philly but the old camera shops are gone. Osceola Hurts, John Taws, Joe Livingoods, Malinas, etc.

gwilliams6

The ONLY camera store in the Philly area that is worth the trip is Allen's Camera in suburban Levittown, Pa. It is my fav mom and pop camera dealer and also the fav dealer of Jared Polin, known on youtube as Fro-Knows. It is where Jared Polin got his start, and Jared still does his yearly contest winners' gear giveaways at Allen's.

I have shopped at the big guys B&H and Adorama in my long professional career, but still the best IMHO with the best personal attention and service is the family-owned and operated Allen's. Ask for the owner Brandon and tell him Gerald Williams sent you. They have all the best new gear, and the biggest collection of top-quality used gear to take a look at, or even purchase. Trust me you will find some bargain gem of top-quality used gear to fit your brand if you venture there.

https://allenscamera.com/

A couple of the videos Jared Polin has made at Allen's

I Gave $5,000 to a Random Photographer…WHAT GEAR DID THEY BUY?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8HH4O3nO0U

Spending $1,000 CASH to make the BEST CAMERA KIT POSSIBLE | How did I do?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3gVETY1xMo&t=58s

Cheers and best to you.

FYI, I was a staff photographer on the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspaper for over 29 years and we have been using Allens since 1980. Also as a longtime Professor of Photography at a state university, Allen's outbid both B&H and Adorama on our university's big orders for DSLR and Mirrorless camera kits (Nikon and Canon cameras, lenses, bags) for our students to use. All my Sony gear and most of my Nikon and Canon gear has come from Allen's also. Allen's carry all brands, new and used.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Unique is

gwilliams6

Allen's Camera is in suburban Philly and worth the trip. Better attention and customer service than at B&H in my opinion, and I have shopped them all in my 50 years as a pro.

And Unique Photo is still there in Philly also.

Cheers and best to you.

msettanni

Bryn Mawr Camera Shop, just west of Philly (20 mins from center city), is excellent. It's not the size of B&H, but then what is? It does still sell film and develops and prints film but, like any photo shop today, focuses on digital. Also, there's a knowledgeable and courteous staff. There are a number of smaller photo stores in Philly proper that tend to cater to the several fine-art photography departments at Temple, Penn, University of the Arts and others. In my opinion, these stores are a cut above some of the ones mentioned above, but, as I said, just my opinion. Enjoy your trip and safe travels.

gwilliams6

No need to deal with the drive and with all the traffic in and out of NYC, and forget trying to park in Manhattan for less than a fortune. (I lived and work as a photographer for many years In NYC and Long Island)

Allen's camera , outside Philly is all they need and free parking. Much more personable attention at Allen's, with less pressure to buy, buy, buy that you often get at B&H, Adorama. Hey I have shopped at all of them over the past 50 years.

Cheers and best to you.

daeod Loc: Levittown, PA

Allen's in Levittown! My family and I have shopping there for over 35 years!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Actually, that may have been true but not anymore.
Unique Photo, the closest thing to a camera superstore in New Jersey has recently opened a branch in Philadelphia located at 28 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

jst226 Loc: Philly

Bryn Mawr Camera (western suburbs), a well stocked pro.store. but not 1000th that of B&H.