Das Fotoforum
Das Fotoforum is a single-location photography retailer and photo finishing service in Andernach, Germany, operating since 1990. It sells multi-brand cameras, lenses, and accessories alongside photo prints, canvas wraps, and photo books to amateur photographers, professionals, and local families.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersAndernach, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Das Fotoforum does
Das Fotoforum is a single-location photography specialty retailer and photo finishing service based in Andernach, Germany, operated as a sole proprietorship by owner Karl-Heinz Schmitt since 1990. The business operates from a physical storefront at am Markt/Ecke Bahnhofstrasse 1 with a secondary address at Kramgasse 23, supported by a small staff of approximately five employees. Its offerings span two pillars: (1) a multi-brand camera and accessories retail operation featuring Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, OM SYSTEM, Panasonic, and Sony camera systems and Sigma, Tamron, Samyang, Voigtländer, and ZEISS lenses, plus specialty items such as Feuerwear fire-hose leather goods and Hoppstar children's cameras; and (2) in-house and partner-enabled photo finishing services covering prints, posters, canvas/linen wraps, acrylic and glass prints, photo books, calendars, collages, framing, and digitization. Additional offerings include professional ID/resume portrait photography, analog film handling, equipment rental, recurring photography workshops, and the Eddy's Elchclub membership community tied to eddycam moose-leather camera straps.
The business generates revenue primarily through one-time retail product sales and photo finishing transactions, with per-unit pricing (posters from €3.95, canvas prints from €27.95, children's cameras €39.90–€119.90, flat-rate German shipping €5.00). Its go-to-market combines a traditional brick-and-mortar showroom with an e-commerce storefront on dasfotoforum.de shipping within Germany via DHL/UPS, with international shipping available on request. Customer segments include amateur photography enthusiasts (primary), professional photographers, and parents/families purchasing children's cameras. There is no proprietary technology platform; production workflow relies on third-party partners including Coppio (prints/canvas), xalino (photo books/gifts), alfo-fotobuch, and contento-shop, supplemented by CleverReach for email marketing. The business holds no external funding, operates no subsidiaries, and reports no enterprise accounts, positioning it as a stable, owner-operated specialty retail micro-enterprise.
Das Fotoforum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Das Fotoforum
- Legal name
- das foto-forum
- Website
- https://dasfotoforum.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Das Fotoforum is a single-location photography retailer and photo finishing service in Andernach, Germany, operating since 1990. It sells multi-brand cameras, lenses, and accessories alongside photo prints, canvas wraps, and photo books to amateur photographers, professionals, and local families.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Das Fotoforum industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- One-Hour Photofinishing (812922), Photofinishing (81292), Photography Studios, Portrait (541921)
- 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
- Photo Printing & Imaging Supplies Retail (Printers, Paper, Ink, Darkroom) (CRACAHAJ), Photography & Photo Production (BPAFAIAF)
Keywords
Where Das Fotoforum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Andernach
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Das Fotoforum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: Revenue generated from selling photography equipment including cameras, lenses, tripods, bags, straps, accessories, binoculars, and specialty products like Feuerwear (fire hose leather goods). Sales occur both in-store and through the online shop.
- Photo Finishing Services: Revenue from photo printing services including posters, canvas prints (Leinenbilder), photo books, calendars, greeting cards, acrylic prints, glass prints, photo collages, passport photos, portrait photography, and document digitization.
- Children's Camera Sales: Specialized product category selling Hoppstar children's cameras at various price points (39.90€ to 119.90€).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Photography Equipment Retail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hoppstar Children's Cameras |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Photo Prints and Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shipping Costs |
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Das Fotoforum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Das Fotoforum operates a single-location photography specialty retail store and photo finishing service in Andernach, Germany. It sells new and used cameras, lenses, tripods, bags, straps, binoculars, Hoppstar children's cameras, and Feuerwear accessories across major brands such as Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Sony, OM SYSTEM, Panasonic, Sigma, Tamron, Samyang, Voigtländer, and ZEISS. Alongside the retail shop, it offers in-house photo finishing services including prints, posters, canvas/linen wraps, acrylic and glass prints, photo books, calendars, greeting cards, collages, framing, ID/resume photos, portrait sessions, analog film handling, and photo digitization.
Product overview
Das Fotoforum is a single-location photography specialty retail store and photo finishing service based in Andernach, Germany. The offering is organized into two main pillars: (1) a physical retail shop selling cameras, lenses, tripods, bags, straps, binoculars, and accessories across multiple camera systems (Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, OM SYSTEM, Panasonic, Sony) and third-party lens brands (Samyang, Sigma, Tamron, Voigtländer, ZEISS), supplemented by a pre-owned equipment section and a specialty Feuerwear fire-hose-material accessory line; and (2) a comprehensive in-house photo finishing service covering photo prints, posters, canvas/linen wraps (Keilrahmen), acrylic prints, glass prints, photo books (via alfo-fotobuch), calendars, collages, framing, photo cards, and digitization/reproduction. Additional services include professional ID/resume photography, analog film handling, equipment rental, photography workshops, and a monthly Foto Stammtisch community meetup. The company also retails Hoppstar children's cameras. Together, the retail and finishing operations form a full-service photography specialty store serving both equipment and output needs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Das Fotoforum
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Das Fotoforum technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Das Fotoforum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Canon GermanycoreAuthorized dealer for Canon camera systems including EOS cameras, RF/RF-S lenses, and Canon accessories. Canon products featured prominently in-store and online shop.
- FujifilmcoreAuthorized dealer for Fujifilm camera systems including X-series cameras and GF lenses.
- NikoncoreAuthorized dealer for Nikon camera systems including Z-series cameras and NIKKOR lenses.
- SonycoreAuthorized dealer for Sony camera systems including Alpha series cameras and FE lenses.
- OM SYSTEMcoreAuthorized dealer for OM SYSTEM (formerly Olympus) camera systems.
- Panasonic LumixcoreAuthorized dealer for Panasonic Lumix camera systems.
- SigmacoreAuthorized dealer for Sigma lenses including Art, Contemporary, and Sports lines.
- TamroncoreAuthorized dealer for Tamron lenses compatible with various camera mounts.
- SamyangcoreAuthorized dealer for Samyang lenses.
- VoigtländercoreAuthorized dealer for Voigtländer lenses.
- ZEISScoreAuthorized dealer for ZEISS lenses and ZEISS binoculars.
- FeuerwearminorReseller of Feuerwear products made from recycled fire hose, including bags, backpacks, wallets, and accessories.
- HoppstarminorAuthorized dealer for Hoppstar children's cameras (Popcorn, Rookie, Expert, Artist models).
- xalinominorThird-party provider for photo books, calendars, greeting cards, and photo gift products.
- Eddy's ElchclubminorExclusive membership club created by the store, featuring Eddycam camera straps made from elk leather. Unique worldwide membership opportunity.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Das Fotoforum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MPB: UK-headquartered specialist in used photo and video equipment with European operations. Directly comparable to Das Fotoforum's 'Die Gelegenheit' (pre-owned equipment) offering, and adjacent on the broader photo equipment retail side.
- Jessops: UK photo specialty retailer selling cameras, lenses, accessories and offering photo printing services. Comparable to Das Fotoforum in the multi-brand enthusiast camera-retail-plus-finishing model, although operating in a different geography.
- Foto Koch: German specialty photography retailer with a strong Berlin base selling cameras, lenses and accessories. Similar to Das Fotoforum in mix of premium-brand camera retail, in-store consultation, and online ordering for enthusiast customers.
- Foto Erhardt: Established German photo specialty retailer offering cameras, lenses, accessories and photo services from major brands. Comparable in product breadth, multi-brand dealer status, and orientation toward enthusiast and professional photographers.
- Calumet Photographic: Specialty photography retailer with German stores carrying cameras, lenses, lighting and studio gear across major brands, plus photo finishing services. Directly comparable to Das Fotoforum in multi-brand camera retail and target professional/amateur photographer segment.
- Ringfoto: German cooperative/network of independent photo specialty retailers selling cameras, lenses and photo services. Das Fotoforum itself references ringfoto.de in its site data, indicating it is part of or affiliated with this network—making Ringfoto the closest direct peer in business model and channel.
Broad incumbents
- Amazon (Camera & Photo): Largest online camera and photo equipment retailer in Germany with broad SKU coverage and aggressive pricing. A primary online competitor to Das Fotoforum's e-commerce channel, especially on commodity accessories and unbranded photo products.
- Saturn: Major German consumer electronics chain with broad camera and accessory assortment. Overlaps with Das Fotoforum on equipment retail but lacks its specialty finishing, workshop, and photography-community positioning.
- MediaMarkt: Large German consumer electronics retailer carrying cameras, lenses and photo accessories alongside TVs, audio and computing. Competes with Das Fotoforum on camera/equipment sales but does not offer specialist finishing or workshop services at comparable depth.
- CEWE (CEWE Fotobuch): Europe's largest photo printing company (photo books, calendars, prints) operating a national retail and partner-store network in Germany. Directly competitive with Das Fotoforum on photo books, calendars and prints via scale, brand and online configurator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Das Fotoforum social profiles
Digital presenceDas Fotoforum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Das Fotoforum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Das Fotoforum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Das Fotoforum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Das Fotoforum
What does Das Fotoforum do?
Das Fotoforum operates a single-location photography specialty retail store and photo finishing service in Andernach, Germany. It sells new and used cameras, lenses, tripods, bags, straps, binoculars, Hoppstar children's cameras, and Feuerwear accessories across major brands such as Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Sony, OM SYSTEM, Panasonic, Sigma, Tamron, Samyang, Voigtländer, and ZEISS. Alongside the retail shop, it offers in-house photo finishing services including prints, posters, canvas/linen wraps, acrylic and glass prints, photo books, calendars, greeting cards, collages, framing, ID/resume photos, portrait sessions, analog film handling, and photo digitization.
Is Das Fotoforum a public or private company?
Das Fotoforum is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Das Fotoforum founded?
Das Fotoforum was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Das Fotoforum based?
Das Fotoforum is headquartered in Andernach, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Das Fotoforum make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retail Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are photo Finishing Services and children's Camera Sales.
Who are Das Fotoforum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MPB, Jessops, Foto Koch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet Photographic and Ringfoto. Broad incumbents are Amazon (Camera & Photo), Saturn, MediaMarkt and CEWE (CEWE Fotobuch).
Does Das Fotoforum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Das Fotoforum.
What industry is Das Fotoforum in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAHAA, Camera & Lens Retail (Photo Cameras, Lenses & Optical Accessories), with a secondary code of CRACAHAJ, Photo Printing & Imaging Supplies Retail (Printers, Paper, Ink, Darkroom). Its NAICS code is 812922 and its SIC code is 3861.