The 7 best film photography stores in Hong Kong

Hidden from the busy hubbub of Ladies Market in Mong Kok, Kobo Camera is a small film photography store that has an extensive selection of products for film photography. Aside from brand new cameras available for purchase, they’ve also got a curated selection of vintage cameras and lenses that you can pick out if you’re up for a challenge. Their staff members are more than willing to walk you through every step to make sure that you select the right film camera. Whether you’re a casual hobbyist who wants something light and easy to carry around, or a professional looking to upgrade your gear, you're bound to find something in this store.

With a few branches around the city, Imageplayground is a one-stop-shop for all your film camera needs. Shop here for film photography necessities like disposable cameras, Polaroids, and point-and-shoot cameras. The shop also provides services to develop or scan film rolls in-store, which you can pick up after a few hours or digitally collect the pictures through Whatsapp. Aside from film photography products, they also sell Japanese homeware, trinkets, snacks, and pet products too.

Dot-Well Photo Workshop has a variety of services available with affordable prices to match, including film developing, film scanning, laminations, and more. The shop also promises to develop your film within an hour, with options of collecting them on a disc or USB. If you don’t want to head back to the store, they can send you the photos through Whatsapp too.

Dot-Well is also a great place to check out if you’re looking to buy a film, a new camera, or need a quick equipment repair. Their small store is packed with camera parts, photography gear, as well as a range of disposable and reloadable cameras for under $200. Despite rumours last year of the shop shutting down, thankfully, the store is still up and running and is a personal favourite of ours!

Sourcing the majority of their products from Japan, including well-known brands like Nikon, Canon, and Pentax, the store stocks a comprehensive collection of film cameras mainly for 35mm and 120mm film formats – great if you’re looking to pick out an affordable camera for the first time.

Showa also offers affordable film processing, repair services, and has an array of film available, including popular brands like Kodak and Fujifilm, as well as lesser-known ones such as Cinestill and Fomapan. If you’re new to film photography, don’t be afraid to ask their staff for advice, they are always more than happy to help pick out the best gear for you and can even run you through some of the basics of film photography!

Arguably the cosiest film camera store in the city, HKCamera carries a wide assortment of film cameras and screening devices to better your experience. Their prices for film development are slightly higher than some of the others on this list, but their expertise and welcoming environment certainly makes up for it. This store is probably your best bet if you are new to film photography and looking to buy an actual film camera, but they also stock disposables if that's what you're looking for. 

Established in 1973, Sunrise Photo Co has been around the Sham Shui Po neighbourhood for decades. Apart from photo printing services, the shop also boasts a range of secondhand cameras where customers can find an impressive range of top-quality film cameras and lenses, as well as some of the oldest models on the market. And if you want to put any of your old cameras up for sale, the shop will happily take you through the process too. Even if not for the cameras, the shop’s adorable cat mascot will also make your trip worthwhile.

Catering towards the more experienced and advanced film photographers, this minimalistic shop based in the heart of Causeway Bay sells a variety of higher-end film products, cameras, and accessories. From high-quality Leica film cameras to your standard point and shoot camera, Meteor stocks a range of products with higher price tags than other stores, which might seem intimidating to entry-level photographers. That being said, this is a fantastic store if you’re looking to upgrade your equipment and move away from the standard, beginner-level film world. Just make sure to be conscious of the steeper prices!