Competitive Cameras

A real camera store! I live in Memphis, and there is NOTHING that comes close to this store in terms of products and service. I come to Dallas regularly to visit family, so I can come to a camera store with a full line of products! Highly recommended!

The guys here are super helpful and really nice. They always can accommodate my needs and have great prices.

These people have the worst phone manner I’ve ever experienced. It’s really too bad that my favorite camera store closed just recently. They were the nicest people and always eager to help with getting the right gear. Today I placed a call to check the availability of a lens. The man who answered could barely talk; He turned ‘competitive’ into a one syllable word and when I asked him to repeat himself, he sounded annoyed. I then asked to check if a lens was available and for how much since I’d never rented here before. He quickly put me on hold and let me sit there for a good ten minutes before I decided to hang up. They may have a great selection but their attitude towards their customers makes me rethink my decision to rent here. If you are less than a professional and unsure of what you want, don’t expect them to help you with a smile on their faces.

Having visited all the «camera stores» in the north part of the Dallas area, I made the trek to Competitive, as I was searching for some variety in tripods. Most of the chain stores just have two or three brands; these guys have everything! Not quite sure which one I wanted, the salesguy asked me a few questions about my requirements and what gear I’d be supporting, and in just a few minutes, I was on my way with the tripod of champions. This place has everything. Lighting, printing supplies, gear for the biggest gearhead and friendly staff. Best part: they don’t talk down to you if you’re an amateur, like some places do. They genuinely want to help you get what you need, and will guide you appropriately rather than try to upsell you on something you’re not ready for. It’s a hike for me, but while I was there, there was a customer who’d traveled in from Waco, so it’s the place to be in North Texas. Enjoy!

Camera equipment for the pros! Service is fast & friendly… staff is very knowledgable. I’ll bring in my equipment for repairs (very outstanding service). So pretty much 9k photos on my Unilocal profile are captured from a pretty baller lens I bought here!!! Great selection of memory cards!
«Say cheese»

The best camera store in Dallas with the biggest selection. Very knowledgeable staff. Know your stuff before you go in there if you are going to talk shop. I’ve purchased equipment there for over 10 years and never been steered wrong.

Definitely a place the serious photographer should have on their go-​to list. Had a lens that needed repair and they took care of me for two weeks which was vital for the work I do. It’s great to know that there is a good local place to go when you need that item right now.

Left an earlier review. Wasn’t complimentary. More time dealing with these guys and I have figured out that they really are pretty cool, renting equipment is easy and the sort of brusque-​ness I complained about before just seems to be normal and not directed my way.
I will happily keep using this place for all my local camera needs.

I needed an extra camera battery. They were the only place in town that had one. Sold me some UV filters for my camera lenses, too. Good prices all around. And friendly service, too. I am glad to know they are there.

These guys are great! I’m a down to business kinda person and they are exactly that. I appreciate that I can walk in with an idea of what I want and they will give me options. I can also walk in saying, «I have no clue how to work this thing» and they will always take the time to walk me thru it. Either way, I know I’m getting exactly what I need and I can always call or come in if I need any support.
It’s very obvious to me that these guys do business to make customers for life. This isn’t a cheap career/​hobby but they treat everyone at every level of proficiency the same. Eugene and the crew are solid dudes.

These guys are great. I have bought from them over the past few years and have never had a problem with them. If you want to buy from someone that knows what they are talking about and can help your learning curve these are great guys to work with.

I was wanting to try out a specific lens and this was the only place that carried it. I called in to check and right away they told me they had it — compared to other places that put me on hold and then said they didn’t carry it. Competitive Camera definitely has a great selection of lenses.
I am a beginner (just got a t5i a few days ago) and the staff was VERY helpful. Ric never rushed me and let me try different lenses over and over again without any hesitation.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a camera store since this was my first experience and just a day before I had learned what aperature meant. Needless to say, I would return and highly recommend it!

If you want to be treated like a shoplifter, or charged 30−50% more than B&H or adorama for the exact same item, then this is your store. Ive been assisting and shooting in Dallas for over a decade and theres a reason nothing is marked for price in the store. If you or the photographer youre assisting spend $ 25k+ a year in here, youll get your butt kissed and good pricing. Until then, youre treated like dirt, mislead, overcharged or just plain made to feel like your business isnt welcomed because you asked how much a pocket wizard costs. VERY «if you have to ask, you prob cant afford us» snobbery amongst them. I occasionally go in here because i cant order from b&h due to time constraint or arlington camera doesnt have it in stock. I live EAST of Dallas and will pass this store to go another half hour drive to shop elsewhere if possible. If you need rental gear be prepared to pony up cost of new one until you cone back, UNLIKE any other rental house in Dallas.

Poor service, terrible efficient. I gave them my lens for repairing last year, and it took me 3 months to get it. I didn’t get any call from them and I went there by myself, they said your lens has no problem, it is your camera broken, and they charged me $ 25 for shipping fee. I have the warranty of my camera but I rather go somewhere else to spend some money for a better service

I have been renting from Dallas Camera for quite awhile with no problems, and frankly, its been a wonderful experience. The owners were always incredibly nice and helpful and I love taking my business there. However, I needed a lens that was already rented out at Dallas Camera, so I decided to try Competitive Cameras instead.
It’s open on Saturdays, and they usually have what I need in stock. The pricing is comparable to other places in the area. They are extremely knowledgeable about their products and quick with a response to any questions you dare ask. They also buy used equipment, which is cool.

Fantastic shop. Owner didn’t try to upsell. Wish they had process more readily visible

As has been remarked, this place is great if you’re already a professional and know what you’re looking for. However, if you’re a beginner and want advice and friendly help deciding on a camera, I’d go somewhere else. The customer service is very curt and impolite.
Furthermore, as a videographer looking to rent lights, Competitive Camera did not have what I needed. At the time of my visit, they only carried strobe lights for photography and didn’t have any sort of continuous lighting available. If you need lights for video, this isn’t place for you.
Also, as a side note, they require first-​time renters to have a credit card. That shouldn’t be a problem for most people, but be warned: if you only use debit cards, then you’re out of luck.

We had a very poor experience at this store.
We specifically drove way out of our way in order to get what we thought would be a knowledgeable and helpful sales staff. What a disappointment!
We are looking for a new camera. We are new to «big» cameras and we told the salesman that we knew very little about cameras; that we have a few simples ones at home but that we wanted to «upgrade» to something larger and better. That is all we said before he immediately pulled out an $ 800.00 Nikon and said that was the right camera for us.
Whoa — wow! He never took the time to ask us any questions or learn anything about the type of use we had in mind. He never spoke of the features, pros /​cons, etc.
We promptly left, disappointed.

Have to agree with another reviewer about Ramsey. I used to assist for a photographer and if I went in with him I would get a better price, hence the «good olé boy network». Sure, run your business how you want, give special prices to who you want… You’ll not be getting MY BUSINESS, Yelly Yellerson.

Great selection, very knowledgeable staff that is willing to help you out.
After reading the reviews for this place I knew something was up – some people have complemented the knowledge and selection while others have claimed snobs run this place — I figured these were probably very smart employees who probably only come across as condescending if you don’t know what you want. Well, I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t have patience either with a customer who walked in and wanted to buy a Canon full frame camera for $ 200 and a bunch of lenses for $ 25, either. Get real, people.
These guys have the right stuff you need if you’re a camera enthusiast or professional photographer or filmmaker. Their prices are competitive and if these guys know you know what you’re doing they treat you with the respect you deserve.
I asked for a specific kind of lens and the guy offered me some choices. When what I wanted wasn’t around, he asked me what kind of price range I was looking at, and when I told him my range he smiled and said, «okay, come back after Christmas» and joked that he liked me because he wasn’t telling me to take a hike. That tells me these guys probably get visited a lot by the wrong kind of customer (i.e. the person who just wants a point and shoot) who hopes to get a DLSR for $ 50.
Good place for the knowledgeable photographer or person who wants to learn how to become one. Not the place for Black Friday shoppers without a clue.