The Film Discovery Club (Looking Glass Photo)

What's in the box: The site does not list box contents, but the club's name and the store's focus on film suggest a selection of film stocks to try.

Looking Glass Photographic Outfitters is a Berkeley camera store that has served photographers since 1971. It has a shop at 2095 Rose Street, an online store, camera rentals, used gear, classes and a film lab. The Film Discovery Club is sold under the Looking Glass name, but the store's main site does not explain how it works. It does not say what arrives each cycle, how often it ships, what it costs, or how to pause or cancel. Check those terms before you sign up. The shop behind the club is easier to judge. Looking Glass processes 35mm, 120 and disposable camera film, and you pick your scan and print options before dropping the film off in Berkeley. That makes the club a good fit for Bay Area shooters, who can shoot a roll and bring it back to the same store. Elsewhere in the US you can still order from the online store, but the lab service is set up around drop off. The store also runs classes, photo outings, a newsletter and a community photo contest. That suggests it cares about helping people enjoy film, not just selling it. Still, it's hard to rate a club with so little published detail. It's a promising idea from a long established local shop, so confirm the details directly before you commit.