As an aside from this, I really love the Minolta Autocord I bought from campy51. I got it CLA'd by Karl Bryan (in record time) and it's fantastic.
I came across a place called Japan Vintage Camera. I noticed there are Yashica and Ricohflex TLRs on their site. I am looking into a secondary TLR for using outside during winter. The Ricohflex looks interesting. I have never ordered anything internationally. Has anyone here ever dealt with Japan Vintage Camera? I have watched a handful of their Youtube videos and they are informative. Some are repair videos.
I can't remember the site that I was on but it had a very lengthy listing of items and their custom/duty charges. It was way too finely detailed and it made my head spin. I had to leave the site because I was feeling dizzy but from what I am understanding that if an item is below $800 then there will not be an extra charge for custom/duty fees? Would this be correct? Would shipping be incredibly expensive when making an order from Japan?
Thanks for any input that anyone may have.
@What About Bob - Just for fun, because I'm sure you know where this is, here is a photo I took on the Autocord on the Norwottuck Rail Trail. It's tack sharp at full size but maybe doesn't translate to the internet.
Personally I don't see the benefit of buying something ordinary from Japan, especially a Yashica Mat. For a starter you want to be able to send it back easily when it doesn't work. I'd go with some suggestions above and say the biggest bang for buck in 'cheap' cameras is a Minolta Autocord, even above Rolleicord or older Rolleiflex.
Don't you love (hate) the way so many eBay sellers show one photo of the camera (with the lens caps on), and two photos of the ratty old leather case? ;-)There seem to be lots of Ricohflexes, Rolleicords or Yashicas from North America on eBay.
This Diacord here listed as functional for a really good price, so you'll get a refund if it turns out not to be: https://www.ebay.com/itm/156543059714
Tbh it's probably worth buying even if you pay for a CLA after.
Here in Western Canada, buying cameras from Japan, even ordinary ones, is better and faster than buying from the USA. The selection is wide, generally there are more and better photos, and shipping is cheaper. As an example I perused Nikkor lenses and bought one from Japan last friday, shipping was $25 and i got a delivery notice that i'll receive it today. The same day i bought a lens shade for it....with Ebay's "international shipping" ...I'm told it will be delivered sometime between Dec 15 and 29th....
I have both lived in and travelled to Japan and the number of brick and mortar camera stores is astonishing. You can find anything and I mean anything you want no matter how obscure.
Especially when buying Rolleiflex, Leica, Nikon....the production numbers are high, and the ability to select either in person or buying in person, allows a greater chance of finding what you want in the condition/price range you're looking for. In N America, at least, there might be one or two stores in a big city with a modest used selection.
As far as risks...online, i'd rather take a chance buying from a store in Japan than an individual from N America.....
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