Get the Picture - Buying a Camera

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Monday, November 23, 2009

Who Rates Best (& Worst) in the Chicago Area? Now You'll Know.

	Thinking of making the switch from film to digital? As with any major purchase, you'll want to make sure you get good advice so that you end up with the right camera for your needs, at a good price. Armed with our ratings of area stores and our price comparisons, the purchase should go smoothly. From Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine
	Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)	Back to Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.


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	Name	Number of ratings	Checkbook's top rating ()		What percent of customers rated firm "superior" on our survey for "overall quality"	Firm's price index score
	Name	Number of ratings	for quality	for price		Firm's price index score
1.	ABT Electronics & Appliance 1200 N Milwaukee Ave Glenview, IL 847-967-8830	61 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
2.	Alpine Camera 686 Lee St Des Plaines, IL 847-299-6181	22 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
3.	Best Buy All locations combined	248 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
4.	Best Buy 1000 W North Ave #310-B Chicago, IL 312-988-4067		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
5.	Best Buy 352 W Army Trail Rd Bloomingdale, IL 630-582-1070	11 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
6.	Best Buy 1432 Butterfield Rd Downers Grove, IL 630-620-9040	13 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
7.	Best Buy 7401 Lemont Rd Downers Grove, IL 630-663-0171	10 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
8.	Best Buy 317 N Weber Rd Bolingbrook, IL 630-759-8191		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
9.	Best Buy 1876 S Randall Rd Geneva, IL 630-845-1986		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
10.	Best Buy 4400 E New York St Aurora, IL 630-851-0122	18 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
11.	Best Buy 15854 S La Grange Rd Orland Park, IL 708-349-9251	18 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
12.	Best Buy 11 Countryside Plz La Grange, IL 708-352-5777		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
13.	Best Buy 4707 Lincoln Mall Dr Matteson, IL 708-481-9765	10 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
14.	Best Buy 6000 NW Hwy 14 Crystal Lake, IL 815-459-7874	11 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
15.	Best Buy 3351 Mall Loop Dr Joliet, IL 815-609-0771		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
16.	Best Buy 6525 Grand Ave Gurnee, IL 847-406-3914		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
17.	Best Buy 20771 N Rand Rd #J Lake Zurich, IL 847-438-6905		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
18.	Best Buy 701 N Milwaukee Ave Vernon Hills, IL 847-549-9616	23 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
19.	Best Buy 615 E Palatine Rd Arlington Heights, IL 847-590-9849	13 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
20.	Best Buy 9530 N Greenwood Ave Niles, IL 847-827-7110	12 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
21.	Best Buy 979 W Main St Dundee, IL 847-836-6040		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
22.	Calumet Photo Marketplace 1600 16th St Oak Brook, IL 630-860-7458	11 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
23.	Calumet Photographic 1111 N Cherry Ave Chicago, IL 312-440-4920	40 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
24.	Card n' Camera 561 N McClean Blvd Elgin, IL 847-697-8600	14 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
25.	Central Camera 230 S Wabash Ave Chicago, IL 312-427-5580	116 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
26.	Elmhurst Camera Image Center 535 Spring Rd Elmhurst, IL 630-834-4000	18 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
27.	Geek Squad 4100 N Harlem Ave #A Chicago, IL 708-453-0141		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
28.	Glenview Camera Shop 1767 Glenview Rd Glenview, IL 847-724-4279	10 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
29.	Helix Camera & Video All locations combined	248 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
30.	Helix Camera & Video 310 S Racine Ave Chicago, IL 312-421-6000	93 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
31.	Helix Camera & Video 223 Skokie Valley Rd Highland Park, IL 847-831-1000	47 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
32.	Holiday Camera & Video 1053 Lake St Oak Park, IL 708-386-6447	21 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
33.	La Grange Camera & Video 104 W Burlington Ave La Grange, IL 708-352-0070	16 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
34.	Office Depot 168 E Golf Rd #B Schaumburg, IL 847-839-9215		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
35.	P J's Camera & Photo 662 Roosevelt Rd Glen Ellyn, IL 630-790-1133	89 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
36.	Photographic Depot 110 1/2 W Burlington Ave La Grange, IL 708-354-7800	15 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
37.	Phototronics 740 Elm St Winnetka, IL 847-446-7510	18 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
38.	Ritz Camera All locations combined	165 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
39.	Ritz Camera 1492-C S Randall Rd Geneva, IL 630-845-9074	13 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
40.	Ritz Camera 621 Chicago Ridge Mall Chicago Ridge, IL 708-422-6837	14 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
41.	Ritz Camera 9320 S Joliet Rd Hodgkins, IL 708-485-6229	12 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
42.	Ritz Camera 11043 W Lincoln Hwy Frankfort, IL 815-464-7583		Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
43.	Ritz Camera 3232 Lake Ave #162 Wilmette, IL 847-251-8363	13 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
44.	Ritz Camera 9741 Skokie Blvd Skokie, IL 847-677-9806	11 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
45.	Ritz Camera G122 Woodfield Mall Schaumburg, IL 847-995-8630	12 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
46.	Shutan Camera & Video 100 N Fairway Dr Vernon Hills, IL 847-367-4600	23 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
47.	Wolf Camera & Video All locations combined	933 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
48.	Wolf Camera & Video 750 N Rush St Chicago, IL 312-943-5531	14 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
49.	Wolf Camera & Video 9 Rice Lake Sq Wheaton, IL 630-588-0237	23 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
50.	Wolf Camera & Video 485 N Randall Rd Batavia, IL 630-761-3085	34 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
51.	Wolf Camera & Video 144 W Jefferson Ave Naperville, IL 630-778-1519	47 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
52.	Wolf Camera & Video 777 N York Rd #1 Hinsdale, IL 630-789-8801	25 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
53.	Wolf Camera & Video 4300 Westbrook Dr Aurora, IL 630-851-3300	56 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
54.	Wolf Camera & Video 205 S Gary Ave Bloomingdale, IL 630-893-9766	18 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
55.	Wolf Camera & Video 2551 75th St Darien, IL 630-910-4141	50 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
56.	Wolf Camera & Video 196 W Roosevelt Rd Villa Park, IL 630-941-9020	27 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
57.	Wolf Camera & Video 58 Ogden Ave #A-3 Downers Grove, IL 630-963-4250	25 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
58.	Wolf Camera & Video 17643 Torrence Ave Lansing, IL 708-418-0066	13 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
59.	Wolf Camera & Video 70 Orland Square Dr Orland Park, IL 708-460-9111	67 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
60.	Wolf Camera & Video 128 N Oak Park Ave Oak Park, IL 708-848-2451	16 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
61.	Wolf Camera & Video 2830 N Broadway St Chicago, IL 773-248-4308	20 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
62.	Wolf Camera & Video 1919 N Clybourn Ave Chicago, IL 773-528-5585	29 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
63.	Wolf Camera & Video 5150 Northwest Hwy Crystal Lake, IL 815-455-1700	32 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
64.	Wolf Camera & Video 1787 N Richmond Rd McHenry, IL 815-759-9301	11 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
65.	Wolf Camera & Video 31 N Skokie Blvd Northbrook, IL 847-205-0206	29 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
66.	Wolf Camera & Video 616 Davis St Evanston, IL 847-328-0111	23 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
67.	Wolf Camera & Video 105 S Cook St Barrington, IL 847-382-7444	11 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
68.	Wolf Camera & Video 206 E Rand Rd Arlington Heights, IL 847-392-2625	56 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
69.	Wolf Camera & Video 361 S Rand Rd #B-2 Lake Zurich, IL 847-550-8033	13 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
70.	Wolf Camera & Video 6695 Grand Ave #A Gurnee, IL 847-856-1823	22 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
71.	Wolf Camera & Video 500 W Golf Rd Schaumburg, IL 847-882-6210	87 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
72.	Wolf Camera & Video 357 E Townline Rd Vernon Hills, IL 847-918-0100	50 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
73.	Wolf Camera & Video 8361 W Golf Rd Niles, IL 847-967-0580	25 ratings	Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 62 local camera stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.

Chicago camera stores by neighborhood

IL
Camera Stores in Arlington Heights, IL	Camera Stores in Aurora, IL	Camera Stores in Barrington, IL
Camera Stores in Batavia, IL	Camera Stores in Bloomingdale, IL	Camera Stores in Bolingbrook, IL
Camera Stores in Chicago, IL	Camera Stores in Chicago Ridge, IL	Camera Stores in Crystal Lake, IL
Camera Stores in Darien, IL	Camera Stores in Des Plaines, IL	Camera Stores in Downers Grove, IL
Camera Stores in Dundee, IL	Camera Stores in Elgin, IL	Camera Stores in Elmhurst, IL
Camera Stores in Evanston, IL	Camera Stores in Frankfort, IL	Camera Stores in Geneva, IL
Camera Stores in Glen Ellyn, IL	Camera Stores in Glenview, IL	Camera Stores in Gurnee, IL
Camera Stores in Highland Park, IL	Camera Stores in Hinsdale, IL	Camera Stores in Hodgkins, IL
Camera Stores in Joliet, IL	Camera Stores in La Grange, IL	Camera Stores in Lake Zurich, IL
Camera Stores in Lansing, IL	Camera Stores in Matteson, IL	Camera Stores in McHenry, IL
Camera Stores in Naperville, IL	Camera Stores in Niles, IL	Camera Stores in Northbrook, IL
Camera Stores in Oak Brook, IL	Camera Stores in Oak Park, IL	Camera Stores in Orland Park, IL
Camera Stores in Schaumburg, IL	Camera Stores in Skokie, IL	Camera Stores in Vernon Hills, IL
Camera Stores in Villa Park, IL	Camera Stores in Wheaton, IL	Camera Stores in Wilmette, IL
Camera Stores in Winnetka, IL

Subscriber Comments/Reviews

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

Subscriber from NAPERVILLE, IL wrote about BEST BUY, Aurora, IL on 11/14/09: I've bought several cameras and accessories from Best Buy. The staff is always helpful and..........

Subscriber from HUNTLEY, IL wrote about WOLF CAMERA & VIDEO, Crystal Lake, IL on 11/14/09: Manager of this store is a super asset........

Subscriber from AURORA, IL wrote about WOLF CAMERA & VIDEO, Aurora, IL on 09/15/09: No longer a "home base" for amateur photographers. Expensive!.......

Subscriber from DOWNERS GROVE, IL wrote about WOLF CAMERA & VIDEO, Downers Grove, IL on 08/19/08: I was sold an empty box and I realize that I hadn't checked it, but..........

Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote about CENTRAL CAMERA, Chicago, IL on 08/15/08: They are succeeding in keeping this business a skilled trade rather than a commodity service,..........

Subscriber from NORTHBROOK, IL wrote about HELIX CAMERA & VIDEO, Highland Park, IL on 08/14/08: Excellent price, good back up, nice people........

Subscriber from WHEATON, IL wrote about P J'S CAMERA & PHOTO, Glen Ellyn, IL on 08/13/08: I'm not a tecnical person and need help in developing digital photos. While always willing..........

Subscriber from WHEATON, IL wrote about BEST BUY, Bloomingdale, IL on 08/12/08: THE GEEK SQUAD WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL ON MY CAMERA REPAIR. MOST TIMES, IT IS HARD..........

Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote about CALUMET PHOTOGRAPHIC, Chicago, IL on 08/04/08: Great - only issue is sometimes it's hard to get someone to answer a question...........

Subscriber from WOODRIDGE, IL wrote about P J'S CAMERA & PHOTO, Glen Ellyn, IL on 07/14/08: Good selection and knowledgeable staff........

Subscriber from AURORA, IL wrote about ABT ELECTRONICS & APPLIANCE, Glenview, IL on 10/26/07: I drove 40 miles because of this company's reputation only to find no help with..........

Subscriber from AURORA, IL wrote about BEST BUY, Aurora, IL on 10/26/07: The employee in the camera department is very very knowledgeable and helpful. She spent a..........

Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote about WOLF CAMERA & VIDEO, Chicago, IL on 09/23/07: Staff varies widely in attitude and knowledge.......

Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote about HELIX CAMERA & VIDEO, Chicago, IL on 09/11/07: I just wish they were closed to my home........

Subscriber from FOX RIVER GROVE, GA wrote about WOLF CAMERA & VIDEO, Crystal Lake, IL on 04/22/07: I have dealt with 3 members of their staff and management ... each experience has..........

Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote about HELIX CAMERA & VIDEO, Chicago, IL on 10/11/06: A little pricey, but you should have to pay for the good advise.......

Subscriber from ELMHURST, IL wrote about ELMHURST CAMERA IMAGE CENTER, Elmhurst, IL on 09/19/06: Photo quality exceeds any other developer where I've had photos developed.......

See more comments at Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK.

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