What Roberts Camera does

Roberts Camera is a privately held specialty retailer of photography and videography equipment, founded in 1956 and headquartered at 220 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, Indiana. The company operates a hybrid distribution model combining a single physical retail storefront with a global e-commerce platform at robertscamera.com, supplemented by sister brands UsedPhotoPro (used and trade-in equipment), Roberts Photo Lab (photo finishing powered by Photo Finale), Rental House Indy (short-term equipment rentals), and Roberts Place, all sharing a unified customer login.

The core product portfolio spans new and used mirrorless, DSLR, point-and-shoot, and film cameras, plus lenses and accessories from major manufacturers (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Leica, OM SYSTEM, Hasselblad, Pentax, Sigma, Tamron, Zeiss, Laowa). Adjacent categories include tripods and supports, memory cards and storage, lighting and studio equipment, video rigs and drones, audio gear, bags and cases, filters, and sport/field optics. Pricing is per-unit with wide spread (accessories under $20 to Leica kits above $10,000), with financing offered through Affirm (including 0% APR for qualified buyers) and free shipping on orders over $49.

Roberts Camera serves a horizontally segmented customer base — professional photographers, amateur/hobbyist photographers, content creators and videographers, educational institutions, and government/military buyers — with a dedicated Pro/Gov/Ed sales division for institutional procurement. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales (new and used), usage-based rentals, professional services (repairs, lab printing, classes), and B2B institutional sales. The company emphasizes customer service via phone support, trade-in/trade-up programs, content marketing through photography guides co-developed with Sony and Canon, and active engagement across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Threads, and Bluesky. Roberts Camera is independently owned with no disclosed parent company, external funding, or venture backing.

Name

Roberts Camera

Legal name

Roberts Camera

Website

https://robertscamera.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Roberts Camera is a privately held, Indianapolis-based specialty retailer founded in 1956, selling new and used cameras, lenses, video gear, and accessories across its e-commerce platform and single retail store, with complementary used-gear, rental, lab, and repair services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photography Equipment Retail

NAICS

Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423410), Photofinishing (81292)

SIC

Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861), Services-Photofinishing Laboratories (7384)

akta.pro primary industry

Camera & Lens Retail (Photo Cameras, Lenses & Optical Accessories) (CRACAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lighting & Studio Equipment Retail (Flash, Continuous, Modifiers, Backdrops) (CRACAHAF), Video Camera & Production Gear Retail (Camcorders, Cinema Cameras, Rigs) (CRACAHAB), Gimbals, Stabilizers & Camera Support Retail (Tripods, Sliders, Mounts) (CRACAHAE), Action Cameras & Adventure Imaging Retail (CRACAHAD)

Keywords

• Camera equipment retail
• Photography gear store
• Used camera sales
• Photo lab services
• Equipment rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (New Equipment): Retail sales of new cameras, lenses, lighting, accessories, drones, audio equipment, and other photography/videography gear from major manufacturers including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Leica, OM SYSTEM, and many others.
2. Used/Refurbished Equipment Sales: Sales of pre-owned camera gear through UsedPhotoPro platform, with trade-in and trade-up programs allowing customers to exchange equipment for credit toward new purchases.
3. Equipment Rentals: Short-term equipment rental services operated through Rental House location for photographers and videographers needing gear on a temporary basis.
4. Photo Lab Services: Online photo printing and lab services powered by Photo Finale for developing, printing, and finishing photographic work.
5. Repairs, Cleanings & Calibrations: Professional camera and lens repair services including cleaning and calibration to maintain equipment performance.
6. Classes & Events: Educational services including photography classes and events operated through dedicated platform at classes.robertscamera.com.
7. Professional/Government/Educational Sales: Dedicated B2B sales division for professional photographers, government agencies, and educational institutions with specialized procurement needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Roberts Camera is a specialty retailer that sells new and used photography and videography equipment, including cameras, lenses, lighting, audio, drones, and accessories from manufacturers such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, and Leica, through its e-commerce site and physical Indianapolis storefront. The company complements retail with trade-in and trade-up programs via UsedPhotoPro, online photo lab services powered by Photo Finale, equipment rentals, professional repairs and calibrations, photography classes, and a dedicated B2B sales division serving professionals, government agencies, and educational institutions.

Product overview

Roberts Camera operates as a comprehensive photography equipment retailer offering both new and used camera gear through a multi-platform approach. The core offering centers on camera bodies (mirrorless, DSLR, point-and-shoot, and film cameras) and lenses from major manufacturers including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Leica, Olympus/OM SYSTEM, Hasselblad, Pentax, Sigma, Tamron, and others. The product portfolio extends to camera accessories (tripods, memory cards, bags, lens accessories), video/audio equipment, lighting and studio gear, and outdoor optics. The company provides complementary services including a trade-in program (via UsedPhotoPro), photo lab services (powered by Photo Finale), equipment rentals, professional repair services, photography classes, and dedicated sales programs for professional, government, and educational customers. The business model combines e-commerce operations with physical retail presence in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New and Used Camera Bodies Retail offering spanning mirrorless system cameras, DSLR cameras, point-and-shoot cameras, and film cameras (including instant cameras from Fujifilm instax and Polaroid, 35mm cameras, and disposable cameras) from major manufacturers such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Leica, OM SYSTEM, Hasselblad, and Pentax, sold to consumers, professionals, government, and educational buyers.
• Camera Lenses and Lens Accessories Interchangeable lenses (prime and zoom, across wide-angle, standard, telephoto, macro, and fisheye categories) plus teleconverters, lens caps, lens hoods, filters, and other lens accessories from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Sigma, Tamron, Olympus, Zeiss, Leica, and Laowa, in various mounts.
• Lighting and Studio Equipment On-camera and off-camera lighting (flashes, LED continuous lights, strobe lighting), flashtubes and lamps, radio trigger systems, studio backgrounds, stands, booms, clamps, softboxes, reflectors, umbrellas, diffusers, and other light modifiers for studio photography.
• Video and Audio Equipment Video cameras, camcorders, action and 360 cameras, drones and drone accessories, gimbals and stabilizers, video cages, shoulder rigs, monitors, vlogging kits, phone rigs, plus microphones, audio recorders, headphones, speakers, and mixing/engineering equipment.
• Tripods, Supports, and Camera Stabilization Tripods, monopods, alternative camera supports, tripod heads, quick-release plates, mounting plates, sliders, and video gimbals/stabilizers for stabilizing cameras during shooting.
• Memory Cards and Storage Memory cards (SD, CFexpress, microSD), memory card readers, hard drives, and flash drives for photo and video storage workflows.
• Bags, Cases, Straps, and Power Accessories Camera shoulder bags, backpacks, holster bags, storage and transport cases, rain gear, wearable camera gear, camera straps, replacement parts, grips, batteries, chargers, portable power stations, cables, adapters, and wireless transfer devices.
• Sport and Field Optics Binoculars, monoculars, scopes, and rangefinders for outdoor observation, plus lens filters (UV, polarizing, ND, and specialty filters) from various manufacturers.
• Trade-In and Trade-Up Program (UsedPhotoPro) Program operated through UsedPhotoPro allowing customers to obtain free online quotes, receive free shipping labels, and trade in used camera equipment for credit toward new purchases, with additional manufacturer partner trade-in bonuses offered throughout the year.
• Online Photo Lab Services Online photo printing, photo processing, and film services powered by Photo Finale, accessible via a separate login at robertsphotolab.com.
• Equipment Rentals Short-term camera and equipment rental services operated through the separate Rental House Indy location for photographers and videographers needing gear on a temporary basis.
• Repairs, Cleanings, and Calibrations Professional camera and lens repair services including cleaning, maintenance, and calibration to maintain equipment performance.
• Photography Classes and Events Educational photography classes and events operated through a dedicated platform at classes.robertscamera.com, supporting skill development across various photography disciplines.
• Professional, Government, and Educational Sales Dedicated sales program providing specialized procurement support, volume purchasing options, and tax-exempt workflows for professional photographers, federal/state/local government agencies, military, and educational institutions.

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UsedPhotoProcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister company and brand operating as the dedicated used equipment platform. Offers free online quotes, free shipping labels for selling gear, and attends shows/events for in-person equipment buying. Shares unified login with Roberts Camera account.
• AffirmminorOthersFinancing partner providing buy-now-pay-later options at checkout. Offers 0% APR for qualified buyers with payment options through lending partners affirm.com/lenders.
• Rental House IndianapolisminorOthersSeparate rental operations location offering short-term equipment rentals for photographers and videographers needing gear on temporary basis.
• SonyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partner supporting photography guide content, specifically motorsport photography guide featuring Jaden White's equipment recommendations.
• CanonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partner supporting photography guide content, specifically sports photography guide featuring Maddi Sponsel's equipment recommendations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• B&H Photo Video: The largest US camera and electronics retailer, combining a flagship NYC superstore with a dominant e-commerce site. Directly comparable to Roberts Camera in product mix (cameras, lenses, lighting, video, audio) and customer base (professionals, hobbyists, content creators), but at much larger scale.
• Adorama: Major NYC-based camera and electronics retailer with a strong e-commerce presence and physical showroom. Competes head-to-head with Roberts Camera on new and used gear, rentals, and pro/B2B services, with overlapping manufacturer brand portfolios.
• KEH Camera: Specialty used photography equipment retailer with national e-commerce reach. Most directly comparable to Roberts Camera's UsedPhotoPro division — competes for the same trade-in sellers and used-gear buyers across the country.
• Samy's Camera: West Coast-based multi-store camera retailer with full product, rental, and education offerings. Comparable business model to Roberts Camera including physical retail, rentals, classes, and pro sales, though with broader geographic footprint.
• Mike's Camera: Multi-store regional camera retailer with locations across the Western US. Offers new/used gear, rentals, classes, and printing services — substantially the same model as Roberts Camera but with multiple physical locations.
• LensProToGo: National photography and videography equipment rental specialist. Directly comparable to Roberts Camera's Rental House Indy division, competing for the same professional and videographer rental demand online.

Regional players

• Norman Camera: Midwest/US regional camera retailer with new/used gear, rental, and repair services. Comparable niche positioning to Roberts Camera with overlapping trade-in and service offerings, focused on a different regional footprint.
• Camera West: Regional camera retailer in the Western US selling new and used photography and videography equipment. Comparable in product mix and customer base though serving a different geographic territory.
• Porter's Camera Store: Long-established Iowa-based camera retailer with new/used gear, classes, and repair services. Comparable independent specialty retailer model, though smaller and more geographically concentrated.

Broad incumbents

• Amazon: Dominant mass-market e-commerce platform that lists every major camera brand and accessory Roberts Camera stocks. While not a specialty camera retailer, it is the most important pricing and convenience competitor for Roberts Camera's online business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/robertscamera
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RobertscameraStore
• Facebookfacebook.com/robertscamera
• Instagraminstagram.com/robertscamera
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roberts-distributors

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roberts Camera