If it's not baking, expats in Saudi Arabia are into photography. I'd be surprised if you tell me right now that you don't have a camera. It wasn't long ago that I became interested in learning how to take photos with a DSLR but the convenience of not bringing one every time I step out of the house won me over. So iPhone camera it is. But throughout the years, we've seen the rise of camera-toting people and photography clubs in the city. What about photography stores then?
Well, good news to photography and videography aficionados... even those who are into vintage cameras! There's one store you should definitely check out: QOMRA.
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| Welcome to QOMRA! |
Located along Khurais Road, just beside the NCB ATM and just before you reach the intersection of Dabab Road and Khurais (to your left is King Fahd Medical City if you're coming from King Fahd Road), Qomra beckons to those with keen eyes for beautiful things seen through lenses. Without further ado, here's what's inside the store:
The first one that got my attention was their collection of Instax cameras. You do know that we love Instax right? We saw our Instax Mini 7 there selling for SR260 each while the pack of 10 films go for SR35 each. The wide format camera is more expensive at around SR300. There's even bags for the Instax and cute straps for cameras.
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| INSTAX!!! |
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| Bags for Instax and accessories for cameras |
Another interesting shelf is their items for kids and kids-at-heart. There's a full array of iPhone cases with cameras as theme. Also, there are available lenses for the iPhone or any other phone with camera! Just attach the small lens and voila! You either have a wide or macro effect. The one on the top corner of this photo is a lens priced at SR99.
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| Quirky ideas |
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| For kids! |
Can you see that Lego camera just beside the wooden mannequin? That's a real camera (not a toy, promise!). Yup, it works!
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| iPhone skin with an Instagram design. |
Another shelf that caught my attention is the vintage shelf. It's been a long time since I saw these cameras. The last one was in college when a professor in Photo Journalism was showing off his vintage camera collection!
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| Love this! |
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| Homaygahhhd! Collectors would snap these up! |
Most of the old cameras are no longer working but they're really fun to own. If I had the money to spare, I'm definitely getting these two, priced at around SR1,000+ each:
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| Land camera |
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| Kodak Instamatic with film! |
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| Starting your studio? |
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| Fujifilm cameras |
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| Sturdy tripods |
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| National Geographic collection |
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| Ready for the great outdoors? |
Again, Qomra is not only offering products for photographers. They're also selling products for you videographers and filmmakers. We haven't been interested in the other gadgets though after the Instax and vintage cameras had us at hello so... you can inquire at Qomra for your specific photography and filmmaking needs through the details below.
You might be wondering what I bought. Apart from a pack of Instax Mini 7 film, I got this really cheap jelly lens for my iPhone. C'mon, for SR19, should I even think about getting this?
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| My cutie patootie lens |
Here's a few photos I took with it.
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| Up close and personal. :P |
The left photo shows the normal size of a sweet pastry and salt in a plate taken by my iPhone. With the close up lens, I had the chance to go really, really close. Whoah, macro powers huh! The salt appeared like tiny diamonds! Haha! But since the lens is really cheap, don't expect much on the quality of the plastic itself. The Jelly Lens are come in Starburst, Vignette, 3-shots-in-1, 6-shots-in-1, etc. I was mostly interested in the macro lens because all the other effects can be done in other iPhone apps. But for SR19 a piece?! Oh yes, go get them. Now! (Because they're probably out of stock come tomorrow! LOL!)
Whether you're a traditional or modern, manual or automatic shooter, happy capturing those moments that you just won't pass by! ;) ~ Sundrenched
Qomra Pro Photography and Filmmaking Store
Khurais Road, near Dabab Street
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
T: + 966-1-4610171
Twitter: QomraPro
20 had something to say:
I've been passing this road forever and I didn't even realize that there's a haven for camera enthusiasts!
I will surely visit this and may be even feature them on my blog. :)
Thanks! :)
No problemo! I think they just opened December last year. :) Thanks for reading The Pink Tarha!
yummm...this is a great store....perfect for the tripod on my list :)
A friend passed on the link to me from ur facebook page. I have a feeling I'll be moving away from Ahmed Abdul Wahed for my photography needs. Absolutely AWESOME find......i pity my husband hehehehehehe.
will visit soon for the lego camera heeh would love to give that to my son as a gift! thanks TPT!
how's thier pricing compare to other camera store?
@Arlopez: More or less the same. However, we haven't been paying attention to the cameras. The truth is, we were there for the Instax. :P
Is the store located on the side of king fahad or on the other side?thanks
@Princess: On the other side, just before you reach King Fahd Medical City and the intersection of Dabab St. and Khurais Road. There's an NCB ATM a few stores away.
thanks got it :) is the instax mini's nice?is it worth the price?
@Princess: Yes, the Instax Mini is nice. However, I suggest you call the Qomra store first before going to check if they still have it in stock. The last time I passed by the store, the Instax shelf is empty with the Instax cameras. A friend also went recently to buy the Instax and they're already out of stock.
Is there any price difference on lenses especially canon compare it to Cam4sell & batha DSLR shops?
Thank you so much! Your blog's helpful! I would never have any idea about this store if it wasn't for this blog.
Found this while I was googling! :D
Instax cameras are available in a lot of places these days.
You can find the Instax 7s at HyperPanda for 250 riyals and the Instax 210 for 280.
I found the Instax 210 at Carefour and E-max for the same price.
I'm considering getting the 210 for the wide shots, but I'm a bit concerned about the film availability and price over time.
I'll try to give the store a visit today to see what they've got, that Jelly Lens sounds pretty cool.
Thanks a lot. :) :)
Hi Kimoll! We've seen the Instax in Hyperpanda's catalog too. The Instax can be an expensive hobby. We get our films online because it's cheaper but if we're in a hurry and could't get to wait our hands on Instax films, then we visit Qomra. Thanks for dropping by The Pink Tarha blog.
hello! just wanna ask if there's already instax mini 8? coz i was about to buy the instax 7 and to be sure about it i have searched some reviews and they said that instax mini 8 is way better than 7.
OH MY GOD... THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS! I'VE BEEN SCOURING THE WHOLE BATHA LOOKING FOR OLD CAMERAS AND I FOUND SOME BUT MOST OF THEM ARE NOT WORKING ANYMORE! OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU GUYS.
YES AND THIS IS ALL IN CAPS LOCK BECAUSE I'M SO EXCITED AND THANKFUL! HAHA YOU GUYS CAN CHECK OUT MY PAGE DEDICATED TO FILM PHOTOGRAPHY www.facebook.com/filmefotgrafico
thanks again!
Hii! I just got an Instax 210 from Qomra and I am loving it! However the only problem is that the film is really expensive given the fact that you pay 40 SR for 10 sheets. Do you know any place in Riyadh that sells Fujifilm sheets? If so please inform me! It would mean a lot :) Thank you xx
Hi Terence, thank you for reading The Pink Tarha! We love you too, haha! :)
Anonymous 5:50PM: We are not sure if there are other stores that sells the film. For our Instax, we buy them in Ebay. :) You can try sending an email to the Fujifilm office here in Saudi Arabia.
@Terence: hi I tried to go to you Facebook page but it's not showing the page. Would you mind sharing the store in batha where you found your 35mm cameras? thanks
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