Is Japan the best place to buy classy and hard-to-find film equipment?

chip j · Mar 5, 2014

I don't have a prayer of ever going there, just curious.

Nuff · Mar 5, 2014

Euro cameras and lenses are pretty expensive there. On the other hand Japanese equipment is a great buy. Go to japan hunter website for more info.

Dr Croubie · Mar 6, 2014

I see great deals coming out of Japan on fleabay, especially for things like Toyo/Omega and Fuji stuff. Possibly a bit more expensive to buy it there in person because of shop rents and things, but then again it might be a bit cheaper without shipping, with the bonus of getting to inspect it beforehand...

Poisson Du Jour · Mar 6, 2014

I suspect there is a bit of gouging and collusion going on among the retailers of particularly second hand equipment. I've noted a lot of Pentax 67 equipment is very, very expensive for what it is. It probably pays to know a local who can do some footwork for you rather than wing it to the blinding bright lights and splash just about anywhere. My niece has a teacher friend in Tokyo who enjoys photography as a fairly serious hobby and he confirms that a lot of equipment, old or new, is "a bit on the expensive end". The Yen makes travel from Australia to Japan a very favourable proposition at the moment, but hardly worth the airfare just to shop. The scenery, remember!

ntenny · Mar 6, 2014

A few years ago I looked around the photo shops of Tokyo, and found that the prices on Japanese gear were definitely good but not mind-blowing. What was mind-blowing was the selection; basically anything ever made by Fuji, Mamiya, Pentax, etc., all the usual suspects, was on a shelf somewhere in Shinjuku. Definitely a worthwhile pilgrimage.

-NT

ozphoto · Mar 6, 2014

When $AU1.00 was buying Y99, the bargains were fantastic - especially on items that were hard to find in Au (at the time). I travelled to Japan several times for work, and the team were thrilled when the exchange rate hit that high.

Picked up a truckload of gear, film and the like (MAP Camera in Shinjuku was fantastic for used gear), and we were really sorry we couldn't bring home a lot more.

Fast forward about 4 years, and the shine had left the price of the gear - it was more in line with AU. I didn't buy much at all that time, although if I could have grabbed some LPL spare parts, I would have been thrilled to bits! The cost of those is stupid in AU - I'm seriously considering buying it direct from LPL in Japan and paying the FedEx fee; still works out cheaper and their customer service is outstanding. (Such a pity their supplier in AU is so useless. . . . . )

Ghostman · Mar 6, 2014

In my experience, and from having been there the prices aren't bargain prices but you can find just about everything in excellent condition or new. What they have is the availability and abundance of equipment.

snapguy · Mar 6, 2014

Over there

When I was in Japan I found everything to be expensive. It was not hard to find an $18 bowl of noodles or overpriced old cameras.Years ago photogs would buy Japanese camera in Hong Kong, they were cheaper there than in Japan.You have to really look around. And the prices can shift quickly due to the monetary exchange rate.

AgX · Mar 6, 2014

ozphoto said:
I'm seriously considering buying it direct from LPL in Japan and paying the FedEx fee; still works out cheaper and their customer service is outstanding.

LPL state at there website not to accept orders from outside Japan and not to ship abroad.

Nuff · Mar 6, 2014

snapguy said:
When I was in Japan I found everything to be expensive. It was not hard to find an $18 bowl of noodles or overpriced old cameras.Years ago photogs would buy Japanese camera in Hong Kong, they were cheaper there than in Japan.You have to really look around. And the prices can shift quickly due to the monetary exchange rate.

Our world must be different. When I go to Japan everything is cheap. If I want $20 noodles, I shop in Sydney. Japan it's usually around $5 to $10. $15 for some classy restaurant with great atmosphere which we do not have in australia. I guess it depends where you shop.

Even at 91yen to AUD Japan is a bargain. Not to mention if I would have to buy the same equipment from lets say USA or Japan for the same price. Get it from Japan, since on average it will be better quality. I still wouldn't buy Euro cameras there. Even if some people think that Leicas etc are expensive over there, they are still a lot cheaper than here in Australia. Not to mention the huge choice and range.

chip j · Mar 6, 2014

Thanks, folks. Very interesting. I suppose That to get a special neg carrier for my Durst Micromat I'd be better off in Italy.

Ap507b · Mar 8, 2014

Don't know if this qualifies as classy or hard to find but I have been looking at the Nikon F4's on fleabay from Japanese dealers. Even with shipping & UK import on top £ for £ they look a better deal that UK dealers for the condition they are in.

removed account4 · Mar 8, 2014

things may seem expensive when the dollar is weak
how many bitcoin is a bowl of noodles ?

chip j · Mar 8, 2014

Ap507b said:
Don't know if this qualifies as classy or hard to find but I have been looking at the Nikon F4's on fleabay from Japanese dealers. Even with shipping & UK import on top £ for £ they look a better deal that UK dealers for the condition they are in.

Yes I've been looking at f4's rom japan and there seem to b good deals.

sangetsu · Mar 9, 2014

It is said that half the Leica cameras in the world are in Japan, and a large proportion of other high-end cameras are in Japan as well. All things in Japan are expensive, but you can find good deals if you look hard enough. For the harder-to-find Japanese cameras, you can often find incredible deals. I managed to score an F2 Titan for $500, and have come across cameras which I never thought existed, like an original black paint Pentax AP. I love scrounging around the old junk shops around Japan, I have found some amazing things.

Is Japan the best place to buy classy and hard-to-find film equipment?

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