Krabi is a province in southern Thailand that doesn’t have any large mall or specialty stores like Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Hasselblad, etc. There are a couple of stores where you can buy photography items you need in an emergency. We’ll list them here – and tell you about a place you can have your lenses fixed or cleaned.
UPDATE: Krabi will get their own CENTRAL Mall coming in 2025 at a location on Highway 4 between the main Makro shopping center and the intersection with Maharat Road. They won’t have a specialty camera store, but they will more than likely have a BIG CAMERA and a bigger selection than the one currently in the Tesco (Lotus’s) complex on the way to the airport.
Krabi Photography Stores
BIG CAMERA – in Tesco (Lotus’s) on the way to the Krabi International Airport (KBV). They have Canon, Panasonic Lumix, Sony, GoPro video cameras and accessories, Drones, Gimbals, Instant Photography cameras and film. They have lenses by Canon and Tamron. They carry some batteries, flashes, binoculars, GoPro cameras, camera bags, tripods, and other gear.
Website: Bigcamera.co.th/ Keep in mind, they don’t have as much in the stores as they have online. Call first – have a Thai call – to see if they have what you need.
Open Hours: 10 am. to 10 pm. daily. Phone: 075810192
KODAK PASSPORT PHOTOS – In Krabi Town down across from Bistro Monaco’s restaurant is a small Kodak shop where they shoot passport photos for you. It’s not expensive. Don’t let them put you in a suit jacket digitally, bring a jacket or other clothes with you.
Other Nearby Photography Stores
BIG CAMERA in SURAT THANI – At Central Mall there is a bigger Big Camera store on the second floor. This one has a big selection of cameras, lenses, flashes, and all kinds of gear. You’ll almost definitely find what you’re looking for there.
Open Hours: 8:30 am. to 7 pm. daily. Phone: 0632027160
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If you really need photography gear, you can buy it in Bangkok at one of the huge electronics floors in the malls. There are also some more photography stores in Phuket if you want to try somewhere closer to Krabi.
Be cautious about buying used photography gear in Thailand. The air is humid, and people in general don’t take care of their equipment. A gross generalization, I know, but this has been our experience. Our electronics gear doesn’t last long in the high humidity. The fungus grows quickly on lenses too!
Fixing Lenses and Cameras (Repair)
Cameras of all kinds can be fixed in Bangkok in most cases. There are offices for the major camera manufacturers there like Panasonic, Sony, Canon, Nikon. You will have to mail or drop off your camera or lens and they will mail it back to you. Often times things get lost in the mail or you are not satisfied with the price or quality of the repair and it will be a big issue to have it done the right way.
You are probably better off to wait until you’re back in your home country to fix your electronic gear.
