Skears Photographic is one of Northamptonshire's longest-trading independent photographic retailers, founded in 1990 by Steve Skears as a small camera repair workshop on Bailiff Street, Northampton. The repair operation quickly attracted demand for both new and used equipment sales, and in 2002 the business moved to its current larger premises at 203 Wellingborough Road, where it has continued to expand into onsite developing and printing, ID/passport photographs, video transfers, photo editing, sensor cleaning, and photo gifts.
The business remains genuinely family-run, five members of the Skears family currently work in the shop, alongside long-serving non-family staff "we count as family". The used equipment operation comes with a meaningful 12-month warranty on serviced second-hand kit (longer than the typical 6-month UK independent standard), and the repair workshop continues as the technical foundation of the business. They also operate The Minilab @ Skears Photographic, a 24-hour film developing and printing service offering colour and black-and-white processing including disposable cameras, available both in-store and via mail order.
For Northampton-area photographers, Skears is the obvious local destination. For UK-wide buyers, the combination of 12-month used warranty, family-business culture, and the broader service offering (repairs, processing, prints) make them worth checking. The Trustpilot reviews consistently praise the repair work quality and the friendly customer service, with Maks specifically mentioned by name for excellent customer service on used equipment enquiries.
Skears occupies the established regional independent niche alongside Harrison Cameras (Sheffield, est. 1970, also offers 12-month used warranty), Mifsuds (Brixham, Devon, est. 1954), and Castle Cameras (Bournemouth/Salisbury, est. 1974), long-trading family businesses with strong regional reputations and substantial in-house service operations. Skears is younger than these (35+ years vs. 50-70+) but carries the same family-business culture and full-service offering.
Compared to MPB or Camera Jungle, Skears offers the in-person handling, repairs, film processing, and personal advice that online-only operators can't. Compared to specialist Leica or medium format dealers, Skears is broader and more digital-mainstream-focused, though they handle vintage cameras through the repair workshop. The 12-month used warranty matches Harrison Cameras as the most generous standard in UK independent retail (vs. the typical 6 months elsewhere).
For Northampton and East Midlands photographers, Skears is the natural local destination, particularly for repair work, film processing, and used kit with the longer warranty. For UK-wide buyers, the 12-month warranty alone makes them worth checking against shorter-warranty alternatives. The combination of family-business culture (five Skears family members in the shop), 35-year trading history, and the operational depth of the workshop and Minilab make them one of the more fully-featured UK regional independents.