If you are a student taking darkroom photography (the 100 class) at Palomar, come here. All the places down in SD that are recommended by professors are pricier. If youre struggling with budget and need the classic Kodak 400-TX they stock a healthy amount. Tell your friends because these guys are great.

Super People at this Shop. Extremely Talented With Expert Repair Personnel. Well Worth the wait.

I came here in August and have been coming since. The negatives and scans I get back are professional and very high quality. If you already know what you are doing or are just starting, this is the place to go! Im always inspired to keep improving in my photography after each visit.

I love this place they have everything. Bob is super knowledgeable and friendly. He always helps me out with all my questions and steers me in the right direction. My photography wouldn’t be the same without this place!

Very rare to see old school photo processing at work. My photos were done with care and attention to detail. Excellent job with my memories. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to restore or print from any size negative.

Found some exposed B&W film and took it there to see if anything was on it. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Job was done on date promised and they didnt charge me because the film was no good. Wish I were a photographer so I could work with them again.

Great customer service! Bob is a consummate professional and clearly knows his stuff and I couldnt imagine going anywhere else for my photographic needs. Love this place!

I have had Bob and his Studio do several jobs for me. The work was perfect and they exceeded my expectations. Bob provided me with outstanding service, excellent professional advise, and made me feel like a close friend or family.The first job I asked Bob & his Studio to do for me, was to make a copy and enlarge a 1942 photograph of my Father for his Memorial Services. I cant express how happy & pleased I was with their service, finished product and with the sensitivity that they demonstrated. They won me over immediately!Thanks Bob

Amazing photo restoration and lab results. Very affordable and fantastic customer service! I would recommend them for all of your photography needs!

My VHS to digital transfer needed extra attention due to my VHS cassette - the techs handled it promptly and extra charges for the required work were very reasonable. While the work was being completed the communications from the tech were thoughtful and clear.

Great service.

Excellent service

Went in thinking my camera was in need of serious repair and expected to pay some serious bucks to fix it. The wonderful folks at Photo Darkroom were able to show me my simple mistake instead of taking advantage of the situation.

Terrible. Brought in a camera with a bad shutter. They fixed the shutter, but it came back with a flash that wouldnt work. They offered to fix it, but it took 7 months to get it back (that is not a typo). And when I got it back, the camera didnt work properly. I dont dare bring it back to them, because I might never get it back or more likely it would take months again. Also, they never seem to call you back when they say they will. It is a small Escondido shop, which is why I chose them--to support local Escondido businesses. But I couldnt be more unhappy with this experience and will never return to them.

Nice friendly staff and one of the only places around to develop film still

Great service! Repairs cameras. Processes film. Sells film and paper.

Helpful and knowledgable service

AVOID!!! HORRIBLE SERVICE, UNTRUSTWORTHY, MISSING PARTS, BAD REPAIRS!!! Towards the end of May, I took my canon camera and two lenses to Al at Photo Darkroom. Aware of Al’s lengthy repair times, I allowed adequate time to get my equipment serviced. I needed everything completed no later than July 21. A few weeks passed I emailed Al asking for an update. He told me the problem with my lens and asked me if I wanted him to proceed with the repair. I told him yes. A couple more weeks passed. Now I am getting called by the owner of Photo Darkroom telling me my camera is ready to be picked up. I asked him if the lens was also ready as I didn’t want to make two unnecessary separate trips. He said he would find out and call me later. No call. I let a few days go. I emailed Al a couple times asking the status of my Canon L lens. He finally gets back to me saying he now needs to send it out, a couple days prior to me needing it. At this point, he has had a ridiculous amount of time and NOT ONCE during this period did he contact me to let me know, I ALWAYS had to contact him. I let him know I will be in July 19 to pick up everything. I pick up my camera only to find it filthy! IN ADDITION, my lens is missing the lens hood, the camera is missing the eyepiece, and the strap is not mine!!!! The strap is barely strapped on and is absolutely filthy and my camera is covered in particles/dust of some kind. What kind of shop are they keeping??? He then proceeds to tell me I’ll need to make another trip to pick up my missing parts. I am meticulous with my equipment and never have I had my equipment in such horrible shape. Worst part, he was to repair my control dial on my camera, well, this ‘repair’, left my camera un-functional (which Al admitted himself). The control dial does not glide, manual is stuck on bulb, Av only controls the shutter speed, Tv is stuck on 30”. Today, July 21st, I went in and spoke with the owner. Al was late getting there and the owner told me he was embarrassed and we needed to confront him on these problems. Al arrived and after I told him all the problems with the camera, he proceeds with the following comments: ”Isn’t this just your back up camera?”, “You didn’t pay that much”, “You didn’t pay for an overhaul.”, “Camera is older anyway”. Who is he to devalue the importance of my camera? He was paid to repair it. So apparently I paid him $200 to for a bad repair because in his eyes it isn’t that much and I get what I paid for?? A more expensive problem? Because now I have a problem far more expensive than I ever went in with because of his “repair service”. Side note, the owner didn’t even say a word, great management…