On August 21, 1957, Robert (Bob) and Rose Pallman opened their store in downtown Indianapolis: Roberts Distributors.
They had no money (they couldn't even afford the apostrophe for the name), but a lot of spirit, and they poured their heart and soul into this small family-owned business. More than 60 years later we are still going strong.
In the beginning, they sold everything from jewelry and luggage to small appliances and fishing poles. Then, in 1968, things took an interesting turn: Bob bought a little section of catalog to see if he could sell cameras. The store had one employee who was taking a photography class in high school. He said, “I think I can sell those things!”
In 1976, Bob and Rose’s son Bruce Pallman took over the day-to-day operations for the business. Bruce's focuses for Roberts became our expert photography knowledge, and making our customers feel like family. After a while, our little store in Indianapolis was making a name for itself and we were getting calls from photographers around the world!
Fast forward a bit to January 2012, when we added a used camera buyer to our professional staff and opened the door to a new division of the business: UsedPhotoPro. From starting with just a staff of four, UsedPhotoPro has quickly become one of the largest places to buy, sell and trade quality used camera equipment in the world. Our huge selection of used camera gear is backed by a 180-day warranty and the Roberts Camera reputation for honesty and support.
Don't love buying online? We understand! Give us a call at 1-800-726-5544 and we can help you over the phone. Or if you are in the Indy area, stop by and see our beautiful store for yourself. We understand that life's special moments don’t happen twice. That's why it's important that you can work with someone you trust. Our top priority is making sure that you get the best customer service possible, and that you are not only buying the right equipment for you but that you also know how to use it. We want everyone who shops with us to feel comfortable and confident in their purchase and know they have someone to call for questions & support anytime!
We're still proudly family owned and operated. The industry (and the way people shop) has changed, but we believe that by continuing to make our customers feel like family - and by having the best, most knowledgeable, and maybe the funniest staff in the business - we can keep this very special place moving forward.
We have been family owned and operated since 1957. Today, Bob and Rose’s granddaughter, Meredith Reinker, is the owner/operator of Roberts.
We have a staff of some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the business. Many of them have been with us for over 20 years.
Our prices are competitive, and if you find a lower price from another authorized dealer, we will always do what we can to meet this price.
Located in the heart of the Midwest, we have quick and easy ground shipping to most destinations in the continental 48 states. Most Products on both sites are covered by FREE shipping policies.