Would you buy a camera from Japan?

Alan Gales · Jan 1, 2016

I recently bought a Fujinon large format lens from Japan and I was very happy with the sale.

Dwayne Martin · Jan 1, 2016

I bought two of my best cameras from sellers in Japan. A mamiya 6 and a rolleiflex 2.8. However I did once have to explain to my wife what the hell I had purchased for 180,000 YEN......

BMbikerider · Jan 1, 2016

It runs against my principals to buy anything off EBay. Having worked in the past in law enforcement I am fully aware that there are too many dishonest people out there and too much 'hookey' property sold or for sale. Hence I am very cautious and never buy anything that I cannot examine first. There are a number of dealers in UK with whom I will buy 'unseen', but I know that they will always accept returns if what I buy, is not up to expectations or unsuitable.

I may be loosing out on the 'odd bargain', but that is my lookout. There will always be another for sale somewhere if I really need whatever it is and I will still have my cash.

alanrockwood · Jan 1, 2016

Ebay has a buyer protection plan. It's does not always work to perfection, but it does provide a level of protection beyond just the reputation of the country and/or seller.

On the other hand, I have had mixed results from FSU sellers on ebay. Most transactions have been great. Others not so great.

Tony Egan · Jan 1, 2016

I always look for Japanese sellers first if i have a particular item in mind. They are invariably meticulous in servicing and cleaning second hand equipment. No games with shipping costs which are very reasonable to Australia. I've always been completely satisfied.
p.s. If you are ever in Tokyo with a few hours spare, the second hand camera stores in the Ginza are a real treat!

John Bragg · Jan 1, 2016

I bought a lovely Nikon F100 from Japan and could not fault the service. Shame about the Import duty, but that is life and with the strong Pound at the moment, that offsets the difference. I would not hesitate to buy from there again.

mgb74 · Jan 1, 2016

I have heard, from multiple people, that the equipment tends to be conservatively described. And, as I recall, there was a huge exodus of equipment to Japan when the yen was very high compared to the dollar (many years ago).

But I've also heard that Nikon won't service grey market cameras. With a mechanical camera that wouldn't bother me. But with an F5 - if that's true - don't know.

Old-N-Feeble · Jan 1, 2016

I've bought many things from Japanese eBay sellers and have had fewer problems with them (in fact, ZERO problems) than with US sellers. If I ever do have an issue then all my expenses are covered with eBay and PayPal protections.

Poisson Du Jour · Jan 1, 2016

ChristopherCoy said:
If you found a good, mint condition camera in original box, from an eBay seller with 100% positive feedback, from Japan... Would you buy it for the right price?

And in Japan, "the right price" is often grossly exaggerated to their benefit. So, with caution. If he/she speaks fluent english and gives you all the information you ask for re condition, use etc., yes. Just to mention it, Japan is a major source of irritation to both eBay and eBay users with Japanese sellers having a very, very poor grasp of english and even poorer grasp of grading the condition of their stock. I steer well clear of these sellers. Not to say I haven't experience some difficulty in street shops in Hong Kong and here in Australia, but that's not so common and very easily resolved.

Nodda Duma · Jan 1, 2016

Bought Nikons from Japan recently. Very nice shape, very happy with the transaction. Use common sense.

Dave in Kansas · Jan 1, 2016

I bought my Mamiya C-330 used in Japan, although I was living there at the time and it was not an ebay transaction. One thing you might discover is that the focusing guide distance will probably be marked in meters and not feet.

Dave

philosli · Jan 1, 2016

I bought 2 cameras from sellers in Japan on eBay: a Fuji GA645 and GA645W. I had great experiences with these two purchases. In fact, as what has already been said in posts above, I would look for top-rated Japanese sellers on eBay first if I were to buy a used camera/lens. In my opinion, they're better than KEH, Adorama, B&H, and many other north American used camera sellers.

Also, they ship fast with a reasonable price (about $35): 2 days from Japan to US east coast.

btaylor · Jan 2, 2016

I have bought a number of lenses/cameras from Japanese eBay sellers. Yes, their English was not very good (though a helluva a lot better than my Japanese!). All the gear was at least in the condition described if not better. I think $25-35 is realistic shipping costs to the US. I would buy without hesitation.

I have had a great experience buying hard to find photo stuff over the years on eBay, a considerable amount from FSU sellers. The duds have been rare. I also don't think I can reasonably expect 50 year old cameras to be perfect.

Cropline · Jan 2, 2016

ColColt said:
I passed up a great looking near mint Pentax 67II because I was told to shun cameras/lens from Japan or China due to possible fungus, haze, etc. I won't let that happen again...it got sold.

Haven't purchased from Japan yet but their product descriptions are usually thorough, which is a good sign. Considering that much in the way of cameras and optics originates from there, it's not hard to conceive quality items can still be found. I will be ordering from there some point soon.

blockend · Jan 2, 2016

For more unusual gear, like Nikon and Canon rangefinder lenses, or some of the later super-compact cameras, Japan seems to have an unparalleled supply, albeit at a price. Reputation and feedback is more important than country of origin in the new global market.

Ap507b · Jan 2, 2016

I have seen warnings for potential fungus in gear coming from Japan due to being long term in a humid climate but all I have bought has been as described & has worked perfectly. Have had a Nikon F2A, a 50mm F1.4 Nikkor S & a finder for an F4 from Japan via ebay in the last year & wouldn't hesitate to buy again as long as it's coming from a dealer & their seller feedback is good.

Helinophoto · Jan 2, 2016

The only fungus-infected items I've bough from the Japanese marked, was a Rolleiflex automat f3.5 ($25) and a Yaschicaflex C ($20), they were bought in one of the stores in Ginza directly.
- The seller warned an recommended against buying them, and also stated that they were not very nice cameras, again and again, but I insisted on buying them anyway =)
Taking lens on the Rollei was for the most part ok, but both cameras smelled pretty moldy =)

I would guess that if a Japanese seller on eBay sell an item with fungus, they will state it (if they even list it).

In any case, one can check the feedback on any sellers (even FSU-countries) and if they seem to have over-all great feedback and the negative feedback is more or less from difficult buyers, I usually feel pretty confident on the purchase. My FSU-gear has been holding up very nicely from the people I've shopped with so far. (3 jupiter-8 lenses and two zorki's) and many even have free shipping. \o/

rmjranch · Jan 2, 2016

I used to shoot professionally with a F5 and Hasselblad equipment. The worst conditions, boat pictures, salt water and sand, slide film. I bought my F5 with a professional discount in 1997 for $2700, body only. Using the CPI index that is $4100 today!!! The camera never failed and I really am VERY hard on the equipment. A few years ago I saw the ridiculous low prices for F5's on eBay and private sellers. I can buy a $4000 camera for around $300 to $400!!!! I have tried, but never owned, an F6, about $2000 new today. IMHO I would rather have an F5 since it is a battleship. Anyway, since I like to change film types, thought it would be fun to have extra bodies. I bought a few F5 bodies that had a 30 day return policy. Sent them off to Authorized Photo Service in Morton Grove IL. (I have NO connection with them except a long time satisfied customer). They can tell you if worth keeping. Total CLA was $232. Regardless of where you buy the camera, it needs to go for service. This is a 20 year old mechanical/electrical piece of equipment. I would check with them, before purchase, if there is a difference in Japanese F5's. If you do not figure the CLA cost in your purchase, then I think you might be dissatisfied. I have 3 F5 bodies and they are super. I bought mine in the USA, only because there were so many choices on Ebay, and I knew I was going to send them out for a CLA. Just my 2 cents

Sirius Glass · Jan 2, 2016

rmjranch welcome to APUG

David A. Goldfarb · Jan 2, 2016

I've had no problems buying from Japan. As long as the item can be shipped for a reasonable price, there's no reason not to.

Ian Grant · Jan 2, 2016

I take offense from having a very moderate, level headed, reply in this thread deleted.

It was not remotely off topic because it raised issues of buying from different countries including the US, and a few (just a small number) US sellers are the worst in my experience.

Basically it's no different buying from Japan compared to the US, the advantages are the Yen has dropped compared to the Pound and Dollar so items are much cheaper in Japan for some of us at the moment.

The other issue raised was those selling only to CONUS, that's easy to get around , be polite and ask b=nicely, get a 3rd party to buy for you (I've done this a few times). It's largely laziness of US sellers who can have packages picked up by the Post and can't be bothered to go to a Post Office to fill out very simple customs forms for export.

Ian

pschwart · Jan 2, 2016

Ian Grant said:
I take offense from having a very moderate, level headed, reply in this thread deleted.

Agreed, moderation has been heavy-handed in this thread.

Ian Grant · Jan 2, 2016

pschwart said:
Agreed, moderation has been heavy-handed for this thread.

Yes while the offending post was over the top and abusive calling people posting Conus only adverts as racist it did highlight and important issue. This IS an International forum it's not an exclusive US forum and some US moderators (and the owner) live outside the Conus Zone

Ian

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 2, 2016

Ian Grant said:
The other issue raised was those selling only to CONUS, that's easy to get around , be polite and ask b=nicely, get a 3rd party to buy for you (I've done this a few times). It's largely laziness of US sellers who can have packages picked up by the Post and can't be bothered to go to a Post Office to fill out very simple customs forms for export.

Ian

Call it laziness if you want but for CONUS when I can print a label at home in seconds and then just drop the package over the counter in a few seconds, and then have accurate and trackable results that's the way I go. Otherwise I don't have time to deal with it, let alone the forms, or waiting in line or coordinating for the USPS to pick it up, etc. I've sold overseas in the past and admittedly it went well most of the time (the extra effort with forms and lines, drop off/pick up not withstanding), there was 3 instances however when the packages got "lost" and could no longer be tracked once they left the US, and this left both sides bitter and frustrated let alone the time I had to allocate to deal with whole situation with multiple (dozens?) of emails back and forth and even implicit accusations that I never sent anything at all. In one instance I refunded the whole amount as the jerk would simply not let it go, the other two I refunded half as I felt bad. Still not definite the items did not actually arrive in the end either. I lost money AND equipment in the end.

Sorry. I know it's not fair to those outside the US. Just ain't gonna do that again. Not worth my time or the frustration.

georg16nik · Jan 2, 2016

My post was deleted as well!
Perhaps, International forum carry some special meaning, when we talk about Japan, CONUS?
Good luck, APUG.

Would you buy a camera from Japan?

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