First call are a good company to deal with. I've been buying black and white film and processing chemicals from Firstcall for a few years now. I recently bought some Adox developer and fixer. It arri... See more
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Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
I've been a Firstcall customer for a number of years, going back to when Rodney was the big cheese, and throughout that time the service provided has been good. By goo, I mean they've never let me dow... See more
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An excellent company. A first rate website meant I found just what I needed quickly and easily. Faultless check out and delivery quickly and easy. I’ve been out of film photography for a while but it’... See more
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Been trading with Firstcall since the 90s when it was all mail order and now the service is better than ever. Gill in customer services is excellent and a credit to your business. Wide range of fi... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
For 33 years we’ve been offering specialist photographic knowledge and value for the Traditional, Digital and Artisan Photographer. Our strength is analogue photography. We bring a diverse and often unique range of these specialist products to market backed by unrivalled and comprehensive customer service about how to get the best from the purchases you make.
Contact info
Firstcall Photo, Spectrum Point, 164 Clapgate Lane, B32 3DE, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- 01823413007
- sales@firstcall-photographic.co.uk
- firstcall-photographic.co.uk
4.8
Excellent
99 reviews
No history of asking for reviews
This company hasn't invited their customers, so reviews may not be representative
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Firstcall photo have definitely earned…
Firstcall photo have definitely earned that name. They will certainly be my first port of all for photo equipment going forward. They were not only prompt, but also got in touch to help me get my products delivered as soon as possible. Proactive and helpful and great prices.
April 30, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Chris,
Thank you for such a fantastic review. We’re really pleased to hear the team was able to help get your order to you as quickly as possible. Providing proactive, helpful service is something we genuinely care about, so it’s lovely to hear that reflected in your experience.
We truly appreciate your support and look forward to helping with your future photo gear needs.
Kind Regards,
Firstcall
Always great!
Always great, quick, reliable delivery too. Great range of products. Highly recommend!
April 27, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Martin,
Thank you for the great review and recommendation. We’re really pleased to hear you’ve consistently had a positive experience with us, from the product range through to the quick and reliable delivery.
We truly appreciate your continued support.
Warm regards,
Firstcall Photo
Excellent Comms and service
Excellent Comms and service. There was a problem with the product (nothing Firstcall could control). They fixed it instantly. I'll certainly be back
April 13, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Spiri,
Thank you for the fantastic review. While we’re sorry there was an issue with the product, we’re really pleased to hear the team was able to resolve it quickly for you.
Great communication and aftersales support are both really important to us, so it’s lovely to hear that reflected in your experience. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Warm regards,
Firstcall Photo
Very helpful customer service with a…
Very helpful customer service with a great range of products often not available elsewhere. Can be a little pricey on delivery if placing a small order. Otherwise excellent!
April 21, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi James,
Thank you for the great review and for your honest feedback. We’re really pleased to hear you’ve found our customer service helpful and enjoyed the range of products we stock, especially some of the harder-to-find items.
I can see that some of your older orders pre-date our new shipping pricing, so let me give you the latest on those!
For smaller, lightweight, and lower value items, we offer a £4.50 Royal Mail service, which is a cost-effective option for products that can safely go through the postal network. For larger, heavier, or regulated items such as chemicals, we use UPS, which is more expensive at £9 but provides a fully tracked and insured courier service.
Both of these options are free of charge on orders over £150.
Thanks again for your feedback and support.
All the best,
Firstcall Photo
Used Firstcall Photo often.
I have used Firstcall Photo several times and have found that my purchases arrived safely and in good time. I have never had any problems with their service and will no doubt use them again.
April 13, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi James,
Thank you for your continued support and for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re really pleased to hear your orders have consistently arrived safely and on time, and that you’ve always had a positive experience with our service.
We truly appreciate your repeat custom and look forward to helping again in the future.
The Firstcall Team
Efficient service
I ordered a Valoi Easy 35 scanner, which was well packed and delivered promptly by tracked delivery. It's straightforward to use, giving good results in much less time than a conventional film scanner.
April 13, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Robert,
Thank you for the great review. We’re pleased to hear the VALOI Easy35 arrived quickly and well packed, and that you’re already getting good results from it.
It’s a fantastic option for speeding up film scanning workflows, so it’s great to hear it’s working well for you. We really appreciate your support.
Warm regards,
Firstcall Photo
Reliable delivery of darkroom chemistry.
April 16, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Mi,
Thank you for the great review. We’re really pleased to hear your darkroom chemistry arrived safely and reliably. We know how important dependable delivery is when you’re in the middle of a project.
We appreciate your support and hope to see you again soon.
Warm regards,
Firstcall
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Shannon,
Thank you for the lovely review. We’re really pleased to hear you were happy with both the communication and service you received.
We appreciate your support and hope to see you again soon.
Warm regards,
Firstcall Photo
Had exactly what I wanted at a…
Had exactly what I wanted at a competitive price, and got it to me very quickly.
April 1, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi, Thank you for the great review. We’re really pleased to hear we had exactly what you were looking for, and that it reached you quickly too.
We really appreciate your support and hope to see you again soon.
Warm regards,
Firstcall Photographic
Great website and good value
The website is easy to use and full of useful information on products so you can make an informed decision. There are special offers. Always worth browsing. Next day delivery if you order early in the day. They make contact with you to advise about alternative products.
April 9, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Howard,
Thank you for the great review, we really appreciate it.
Glad to hear you’ve found the website easy to use and the product information helpful, that’s something we put a lot of effort into so customers can make informed decisions. Thanks again for your support, and for taking the time to share your experience.
All the best,
Firstcall Photo
Fantastic outfit
Fantastic outfit, great service and a wide range of products. The only downside is the postage charge - you either have to put together a strategic order for free postage or pay more than the competition charges.
April 9, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi there, thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it.
It’s great to hear you’ve been happy with the range and service. We also appreciate your feedback on the postage, that’s something we review regularly.
As this review is anonymous, we’re not able to see the specific order you’re referring to. If you’re happy to, please do get in touch with us at sales@firstcall-photographic.co.uk so we can take a closer look and give you a more tailored explanation.
In general, we aim to keep shipping as fair and transparent as possible. For smaller, lightweight, and lower value items, we offer a £4.50 Royal Mail service, which is a cost-effective option for products that can safely go through the postal network. For larger, heavier, or regulated items such as chemicals, we use UPS, which is more expensive at £9.00 but provides a fully tracked and insured courier service.
Both of these options are free of charge on orders over £150. To get the best value from shipping, it can be worth tailoring your order slightly, for example, placing smaller film-only orders using the Royal Mail option, or stocking up on heavier items to take advantage of the free delivery threshold.
We’d be more than happy to look into your specific order and see if there’s anything we can improve.
Thanks again for your feedback and support.
All the best,
Firstcall Photo
Excellent range at good prices
Firstcall offer an excellent range of products at reasonable prices. I get my Adox XT3 from them which they sell cheaper than other places and which is a great, environmentally friendly developer. Quick delivery and helpful customer service. Highly recommended retailer.
April 4, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for the great review, we really appreciate it. Glad everything’s been arriving quickly and that the team have been helpful along the way.
Thanks again for your support and recommendation.
All the best,
Firstcall Photo
The best supplier for film and darkroom…
The best supplier for film and darkroom supplies - all the established brands and a few lesser known options too.
Excellent pricing and delivery options.
March 24, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Gerald,
Thank you for the fantastic review, we really appreciate it.
Great to hear you value the range, we work hard to make sure we’ve got all the trusted darkroom and film brands covered, along with some of the more niche options that can be harder to find. Pleased the pricing and delivery options are hitting the mark too.
Thanks again for your support.
All the best,
Firstcall Photographic
Good selection of products
Good selection of products, good prices, easy ordering, efficient delivery.
March 16, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Peter,
Thank you for the great feedback, we really appreciate it.
Glad to hear you found everything easy to order and that it all arrived quickly. We always aim to keep a strong range at fair prices, backed up with a smooth ordering and delivery process, so it’s great to know that came through.
Thanks again for your support.
All the best,
Firstcall Photographic
Film and darkroom materials
Had excellent service from First call via e-mail plus phone calls, products bought include Foma ortho film,Kentmere film both in medium format plus darkroom paper and Rodinal developer all well packed with on time delivery, have had no issues , they have good choice of products for the experienced photographer and newcomer to analogue photography. 5 star from me !!
February 26, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi William,
Thank you for the fantastic review, it’s great to hear this.
We’re really pleased everything arrived safely and on time, and that the team could help both over email and on the phone. It sounds like you’ve got a proper darkroom setup going there.
We work hard to make sure there’s a good range for both those starting out and more experienced analogue photographers, so it’s great to hear that came through.
Thanks again for your support, and enjoy the shooting and printing.
All the best,
Firstcall Photographic
I have been using Firstcall for years
I have been using Firstcall for years. They have always provided excellent service. Earlier this year, I was looking for bulbs for my De Vere enlarger, and they went out of their way to help, even though they didn't stock the right ones. HOWEVER, a couple of months ago, I mistakenly ordered too much D76 film developer (with expiry date December 2027, and out of stock on their website.) I didn't think about returning some of it until last week. When I spoke to someone at Firstcall, they said I'd missed their 14 returns window, so they wouldn't be willing to take it back. Disappointed by their inflexibility on this one.
March 25, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for your review, and for your continued support over the years, it’s genuinely appreciated.
We’re really pleased to hear that your past experiences with us have been positive, and that you’ve found our team helpful.
Regarding the D-76 developer, we completely understand why you reached out to ask if we could assist. As discussed, the order was placed on 30th July 2025, so the items had been with you for just over 8 months before the return was requested.
Our standard returns window is 14 days, and while we do always try to be as flexible as possible where we can, there are limits to what we’re able to accommodate. This is particularly important with chemical products, as once they have left us, we’re unable to verify how they have been stored. Even if unopened, it would not be appropriate for us to resell returned chemicals to another customer without that certainty.
We do appreciate you taking the time to speak with us about it, and we’re sorry we weren’t able to offer a different outcome on this occasion.
If there’s anything else you need, or if we can help with advice on getting the most out of the developer you have, we’re always here to help.
All the best,
Firstcall Photographic
Great company very fast delivery great…
Great company very fast delivery great customer service on another matter
Highly recommended
March 11, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Mike,
Thank you for the kind words and recommendation, we really appreciate it.
Great to hear everything arrived quickly and that our team could help on your other query too. That’s exactly what we aim for.
We hope to see you again soon.
All the best,
Firstcall Photographic
Proper service
I wanted something they did not stock from Jobo and they sorted it for me. Friendly communication and getting the job done. First class service like in the old days when and dealer would get you anything from a distributor they dealt with. Good to know some places believe in service still.
March 19, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi David,
Thank you for the kind words, it really does mean a lot.
We’re big believers that good service is our number one priotiy, so we’re always happy to help track down the right kit where we can. It’s great to hear that came through in your experience.
We really appreciate your support and hope to help again soon.
All the best,
Firstcall Photographic
Easy to find what I was looking for and…
Easy to find what I was looking for and it arrived in the mail quickly - both time I've used them - well packaged.
Had to laugh at the email asking me to leave a review though - addressed as "Hi {first name},"! :-) Regardless, happy to recommend.
February 27, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the great review, and for pointing that out, gave us a chuckle too. We’ll get that little gremlin sorted. Really pleased to hear you found everything easily and that your orders arrived quickly and well packaged both times. That consistency is exactly what we aim for.
Thanks again for the recommendation, and for keeping us on our toes.
Firstcall Photo
First call are a good company to deal with.
First call are a good company to deal with.
I've been buying black and white film and processing chemicals from Firstcall for a few years now. I recently bought some Adox developer and fixer. It arrived promptly and is exactly what I ordered. I find the Adox FX39 11 developer works consistently well with Fomoplan film. I like the fact I can buy it in smaller quantities, as I tend to do a few films at a time and then none for a few months, so although the small bottles are not as economical there is less wastage.
February 26, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Firstcall Photo
Hi Allan,
Thank you for such a thoughtful review, it’s really appreciated.
It’s great to hear you’ve been using us for your film and chemistry over the years, and that everything arrived promptly and as expected. Your comments on the Adox FX-39 II are really helpful too, especially around using smaller quantities to avoid waste, that’s a great way to work if you’re developing in batches.
Thanks again for your continued support, and we look forward to helping with your next round of film.
Firstcall Photo
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