Hunt’s Photo and Video

A really neat little shop, in a super convenient location! I went today on a quick trip to grab some film, it was really easy to find and was right near Jerry’s so us artsy people can get all our supplies in one trip!!! NICE! The prices were right too, they don’t jack up the prices even though they’re one of the only camera places around. Thanks Hunt’s! I’ll be back :)

It’s not realistic to expect a camera shop to allow people to handle cameras and lenses as the box stores do, or be liable for customer damaged product because fumble fingers dropped it. So, that’s a really poor justification to drop review points. Besides, would you risk some body running out the door with even a $ 500 lens? Having the products behind the counter allows the staff to actually engage and inform so you don’t NEED a product guide. Yeah, old school, but effective.
And my God, did the other reviewer realize the nikon d700 isn’t a current product? Of course the salesperson might think you may have left out a zero. But to walk out over it? Really lady. Go to a ford dealership and inquire about buying a ford maverick and see what happens.
I’ve had nothing but welcoming, knowledgeable staff assisting with my purchases. On two occasions the products I’ve paid for were at equal or better prices than found online from reputable sources.
This is the go-​to place for pros and snapshooter alike.

Updated june 16^th 2016, 7 months after writing this review the issue is still not resolved. Hunts DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS US AND IS NOT WILLING TO RESOLVE THIS. We have been lied to by Hunts Camera and they have lied to consumer affairs, stating it was resolved. We have contacted Consumer affairs again and will now go to small claims court. If this is the type of customer service you want then good luck.
I would rather give a 4 or 5 star review. Due to the fact I have never seen the $ 100 rebate on my Cannon printer I cannot recommend purchasing from Hunts. I have called and sent numerous emails to both Hunts and Cannon. but to date almost 6 months later I still do not have my rebate. if Hunts cares about its customers and those of us that have spent thousands with them. They need to be the advocate and get me my $ 100 rebate. I will never shop there again because they have not done anything for me on this and I do not recommend Hunts to anyone else because they did not support me to get the advertised rebate back. I had hoped they would care and I have waited 6 months and exausted all paths to get my rebate before writing this.

Terrible customer service from Paul. Miserable guy that wants to make customers feel like crap (I am a woman and that seems to be why I was treated poorly).
This was the second time I left with nothing. First time I went in looking to purchase a D700 — his reply was «you mean the D7000?» So I left.
Second time was an even worse experience. I love supporting local businesses but not this one. Skip this store and buy online.

staff are very helpful (most of them)
they do have a great selection of camera bags
sometimes its great to go in there and just talk about photography
their sd cards and uv filters are way over priced
but the bags and some lenses are about even

I’ve only been to this store twice since I am fairly new to this wonderful world of photography. Both times there I was treated very well and allowed to look around without someone overly bothering you. When you do need help the answers and knowledge is there. I just left and Paul was very helpful and friendly. I recommend this business to anyone interested in photography!

Very helpful staff. They can cover most of your photgraphy needs. Got our first DSLR for the same price it is online… plus we had the benefit of the knowledge of the staff and a discount on other items bought at the same time. Love this place. They are never pushy about selling stuff either. I will return.

many options of cameras either used or new. People are super nice and advise you locations for cameras. I loved the help

Fantastic! It is great to see an almost full service Camera Store … anywhere. So I am happy to see RI has one. If you are still one that uses Film, they have a great assortment of films and supplies for those that develop their own.
If you are one that needs a machine that can pretty much do the job for you, they have a great selection of the Digital cameras from a broad swath of brands.
Lots of filters, bags and other accessories.

I would normally give Hunt’s 3 stars, but I’m giving it a 4^th for sticking it out as the only photography store left in Rhode Island. When I’m in a bind, they usually come through with basic supplies.
Some of the staff are VERY friendly and helpful, but others give you a slightly strange feeling. I’m a woman, probably look a little younger than I am, and when I’m out running errands and stop in Hunt’s between Whole Foods and the gym, I am not always dressed in the most sophisticated manner. That being said, I am also a successful business owner and mother. I’m well studied and experienced in photography as it’s been my passion for many years. So, when I mention that I’m looking to upgrade my camera and I ask to take a closer look at one of the professional DSLRs behind the counter, I don’t appreciate the hesitation, the raised eyebrow and the skeptical question, «Ummm… are you in the market for a $ 2700 camera?»
Well, buddy, if there was a chance I was willing to spend an extra $ 400 on this camera to follow my principles and support my fellow local business rather than buy it online, yeah, you just blew it.
C’mon Hunt’s — wake up. This isn’t 1930 anymore. At least TRY to compete with the retail giants. Put those cameras and lenses out so I can check them out without the presumptuous sales pitch, and please don’t make me feel like I have to justify my worth to the ignorant dude behind the counter.

this place is great… ima a producer who lives in Providence but 95% of my work is out of state, and when im home and I need something regarding DSLR equipment I use. I dont hesitate to go to these guys. they go the extra mile. specially me, im not too computer savy believe it or not, and they make sure I leave knowing what im doing.

I’m writing this review with the hope that it will inspire Hunt’s to be a better place to shop. Right now it’s kind of a sad state of affairs, and that’s unfortunate.
Earlier this year Hunt’s moved from their old location on Point Street, up to the University Heights plaza, right next to the Whole Foods. This move was a plus — there’s more parking and it’s in an area where I’d think they’d get much more foot traffic.
Unfortunately even though they’ve been in the store for months, the floor space still feels dark, boring, uninviting and unfinished. You certainly don’t want to go into Hunt’s to kill time and look at what they’ve got. They also keep all of their camera bodies behind a counter, so if you want to look at something or play around with something you have to wait for a sales person to be available, and then you have to fiddle around with the camera while the sales person hovers over you. I really wish they’d put all the camera bodies out, tethered to the counter like you see in box stores. I can see not doing this with $ 5,000 cameras, but there’s no reason everything else shouldn’t be out there.
Lenses are a similar situation, in that you have to wait for a sales person, have them open up a lens, have them hover over you while you take a few test shots. I say hover over you because some of their staff isn’t particularly warm and cuddly, and you get the feeling that some of them just want you to be done with it and get out. (This isn’t everybody, but some of them. Others are very nice.) Anyways back to the lenses. I don’t expect them to leave lenses out for people to play with. But how about creating some type of interactive «guide to lenses» where people can match the lenses available with their needs? Something that people can look at, read, interact with in order to learn? I understand that this is what good sales people are there for, but what if you don’t get a *good* sales person? And what are you going to do if you have to wait 20 minutes for a sales person on a Saturday morning? This all comes back to the overall feel, fit and finish of the store. It’s not an inviting, engaging or enjoyable place to be, and I think this is something that they could easily improve with some ingenuity.
Selection of camera bodies and lenses is good. Prices are another issue. I understand that it costs more to run a brick and mortar store than to simply sell online. That said, the price discrepancy between the store and online can sometimes be over the top. I bought a camera body from Hunt’s and got it for the online price. I wanted to buy a lens from Hunt’s, but not for over $ 100 more. It may be worth paying more if I felt like there was some benefit to buying from Hunt’s, but I don’t get that feeling. I’m willing to pay a bit more just because it’s brick and mortar, and I’d like to buy locally, but sometimes it’s just too much. Some prices are ridiculous. A compact flash card at Hunt’s was over twice the cost of what it could be purchased for online. I asked if we could negotiate on the price and was advised that this couldn’t be done. I was willing to pay more than the online price, but I’m not willing to pay double. Perhaps this is simply the state of the retail business and not the fault of Hunt’s, and if that’s the case it’s too bad. But Hunt’s needs to do something to make the customer feel that the services that they provide are above and beyond what you can get elsewhere, and are worth paying a bit more for.
Selection of other items is hit and miss. They seem to have a better tripod selection now. The lighting equipment still seems lacking. When it comes to accessories I’d say I have luck finding what I want at Hunt’s about 50% of the time.
So, is the point of my review to tell you that Hunt’s kind of a depressing experience? Not really. What I honestly hope for is that my review encourages the folks at Hunt’s to step up their game and make the store a place photographers want to go. Right now it’s a place where local photographers go because they need something right away, or they want to see something before they buy it for less elsewhere, or because it’s the only place in town. This store could be so much more. I hope that one day Hunt’s is a place I stop in just because I want to see what’s going on, or because I feel like it’s really *worth it* to go to Hunt’s.