Has Insta ruined the art of photography? Between blurry pics of someone’s lunch, cheesy selfies and a shot of your uncle’s chin (captioned “Tuesday”), it seems like we don’t really put much effort into the quality of our photos anymore. In an age where we can take hundreds of photos without a second thought, the craft can feel less intentional than ever. But it wasn’t always this way. Back when film photography ruled, every shot mattered.
Today, that love of craft is bringing analogue photography back, especially in creative hubs like Berlin. Photographers, artists and hobbyists are rediscovering the beauty of shooting on film, from its distinctive grain to its rich, authentic tones. Across the city, you’ll find a range of dedicated analogue photography shops offering everything from vintage cameras to high-quality film and professional development services.
Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first 35mm camera or a seasoned photographer searching for rare film stock, these trusted local shops provide expert advice, reliable equipment and a curated selection of products. So if you’re looking to go retro, this guide to the best analogue photography shops in Berlin can help you find the right camera, stock up on film and access professional processing services.
Safelight
When you walk into the pink cube that is Safelight, you’ll feel like you’ve entered an exclusive futuristic club with a love for the good ol’ days. The walls are lined with a variety of analogue cameras, ranging from playful point-and-shoots to the crafty Canons, Minoltas, Leicas and much more. One of the founders is usually on site and the staff is always ready to answer your questions without judgement. So whether you’re looking to process your film, print your images or begin your analogue photography journey, Safelight has you covered. They also buy select old cameras if you’re looking to sell!
- Schivelbeiner Str. 9, Prenzlauer Berg, details
Fotokotti
Located right in the heart of, you guessed it, Kotti, this tiny shop can be best described as a Späti for film photography. Despite its small size, it stocks nearly everything you may need related to analogue photography. It’s also one of the few places you can find the necessary chemicals for developing your own film, in case you don’t want anyone to see what you’ve been snapping.
- Skalitzer Str. 134, Kreuzberg, details
Foto Meyer
In business since 1969, this family-run spot has grown into a one-stop shop for everything photography related. It offers services spanning from film developing to studio photography, and it even hosts beginners’ workshops. You can give them your broken camera to fix and, like Safelight, they’ll take unwanted old equipment off your hands. Still need some convincing? Drop by their annual Berlin Photo Fairs (Berliner Fotomessen) SCHAU and FOTOTAGE.
- Welserstraße 1, Schöneberg, details
Aperture Film Lab
Identifying as a meeting point for film photographers, Aperture is run by professionals who love what they do. Developing film, scanning and printing are their main services, but they also run their own exhibitions, creating a space for their regular customers to show off their work. In case you want to know more about their methods, the team has taken the time to explain their exact printing and developing processes on their webpage.
- Schlüterstraße 68, Charlottenburg, details
click & surr
Formerly a butcher’s shop, click & surr is the only place on this list that dedicates a whole wall to super-8 cameras and film stock. While they can’t process the film stock themselves, they have strong ties to the one-and-only shop that does process it (located in Hasenheide) in all of Germany, so if you buy your stock here, you can get a discount for when you process it. click & surr also offers workshops, and they recently opened their own photography gallery a few steps away from their door.
- Gartenstraße 4, Mitte, details
