i bet he bought himself a sony as well :-). Seriously, not even close. My local MAC has a bilingual menu. A mix of what's trending on our other sites, Post-pandemic stimulus aid brings climate risks, 'A new movement': Trump's false claims take hold in states, 5 years on, climate summit aims to breathe life into Paris deal, States respond to Texas bid to overturn U.S. election at Supreme Court, Supreme Court rejects Texas lawsuit and Trump bid to overturn election loss, Japan to begin COVID-19 vaccinations on reservation basis, 2,796 new cases of coronavirus reported in Japan; 572 in Tokyo, Gov't urges 'quiet' year-end, but will continue Go To Travel campaign. However, buying a camera in Japan is not necessarily as simple as it first seems. But well, if you don't live here, the after-sale can be an issue. Ask any Nikon fan in Tokyo where the scene is and you will soon be pointed to Fujiya Cameras in Nakano, well known for its wide stock of cheap used lenses. Mind you, I'm from Australia and wasn't deeply in to cameras when I got my first, a three megapixel some years ago. lol at people buying things in Japan and complaining its not in English! See 03:594. For the DSLR or even film (yes, they still exist) photographer, there are lots of reasons to be happy in Japan. Yodobashi Shinjuku West Main Store1 Chome-11-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan More Yodobashi Location: https://www.yodobashi.com/BICQLO3 Chome-29-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022, Japanhttps://www.biccamera.com/bc/main/Map Camera1-12-5, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023https://www.mapcamera.com/Music from Epidemic Sound (Free 30-Day Trial! When I bought my LX3 in Canada, it was kept behind a locked glass case, and only brought out and placed on a velvet cloth when I requested it. Leica TL titanium camera, ¥390,000. If you’re looking to take pin-sharp photos to document your visit to Japan, this model is a must-have. A mint condition Leica M3 can be as much as $2500, mint condition Nikon RFs are sometimes $3000 or more. One reason is because Japanese consumers take better care of their equipment (even keeping the individual plastic bags that things come in) another is because Japanese brokers went abroad (Europe & the US) during the Bubble and bought up most of the excellent condition classic cameras, bringing them to Japan. Are Used Gear/2nd Hand Items Trustworthy? I'm not sure how much but it sure doesn't hurt to ask! A little research would have shown that. This writer isnt the most knowledgeable it seems, cameras & lenses are almost always more expensive in Jpn, selection is great to be sure but pricing STILL to this day isnt cheap on new models. First is language. It is listed in Japan for JPY 1,17,800 (roughly Rs. But for Australians and many Europeans, you need to find a camera that supports PAL. Either it be Tungsten film, Inferred, or expired stock.Since many of the best looking film stocks were produced in Japan by Fujifilm, who's prices can seen to be raising in West, it would be an excellent idea to pick up what you can where prices haven't yet inflated. I don't think this is true. Maybe that has changed since my experience 9 years ago. That's why I think most of us use the Internet in order to do research. I quoted this article (a year before reading it). This takes us to the second reason. The harper kind of alluded to it, but service has value. He got it for 150% the Japanese full price (the euro/yen change matters a lot for that). I either order my camera gear to one of the many US postal forwarding services and pay a minimal shipping charge, or just pay for the shipping from the US from Amazon – it’s still usually much cheaper than buying locally. Bic, Yodobashi etc have websites, so check them too; if you can't read Japanese then you can still search by pasting in the model number. That's weird, I literally bought my Panasonic TMZ3 in Japan and you can set it to any language you want. I would have receives 10% discount, that is 18,800 yen in discount points but I would have had to spend these points also at Yodobashi. I did not say it was Lumix LX3. Also, make sure it’s GSM and CDMA so it can run on either standard. Is buying in Japan cheaper? I've found Hong Kong camera prices are close if not better than USA prices. Just one thing, I've noticed that (Canon) camera gear on Amazon Japan is sometimes a bit cheaper than what it costs in a shop like Yodobashi Camera. My Nikon SLR was definitely a lot cheaper than any other country when I bought it in Japan, and it has English menu's. I think it's the contrary. Yodobashi and Bic Camera are expensive retailers, and in addition their price include a "point card" system, i.e you get free points worth 10-20% of the price for each purchase. Fax: +81 3 5561 7756 Featuring a 3.7-inch LCD screen, integrated Wi-Fi and built-in 32GB memory, the Leica TL titanium camera is one of the brand’s best products. At the time, you could only buy it in Japan. Those days are over but still prices arent cheap, Jpn might be good for finding something rare or somewhat hard to find but no cheaper than most cud buy in their home countries. I can say for a fact that the Japanese version of the Lumix LX3 on sale in your local Yamada Denki in Japan does not allow you to change the menus to English. You might be able to bargain a bit at Yodobashi (surprising, but yes) for a camera purchase. They made language specific models. While new camera equipment is just as pricy here as the cheap stuff, used equipment is both cheap and plentiful. Afaik Japan has good prices for preowned camera gear, got my D7200, 17-50 OS, and 50-150 OS for a little over 900SGD equivalent last year at Kitamura in Shinjuku. Yes, they give you 10% discount points if you have their customer card but they are at least 15% more expensive than other shops. Kendama. It's true they didn't want the display in Japanese. Why does the writer provide links to US sites? If you are in Europe then store's like Amazon.co.uk are a better option as Amazon.com can't ship electronics internationally. I already have one, so I dont HAVE to have it, but thought I'd upgrade. VERY helpful, I use it all the time. :) So I get the best from both cities! Japan (like the US) has both, so it’s worth getting the model with both instead of the GSM-only one. I can buy something from the states or the EU and have it shipped here with express shipping and it'd still be cheaper than buying it here. I can either buy it in the US (Pentax Optio S7), or buy it in Japan. 2. At the very least they could surely give you the option to flash such camera's with the English firmware. Many tourist guide books that are sold here in the US for travel in Japan have entire sections dedicated to buying camera equipment, as if there are huge financial advantages to doing so. The best thing to do is to play with the model on offer in Yamada Denki or wherever. Although the last few years people are less likely to pay the piper & willing to buy lots more used stuff where in the 80/90s they wud never have stupped to such things, I mean look at happoshu no way a self respecting Japanese wud have bought that crap in the 80s oe early 90s but now hell yeah but I wont! @jasonvmedia \u0026 @hellovivienneFAQ [Updated 05/06/2019]1. This isn't a Playstation 2, there aren't any \"Region Locks\" with camera gear lol8. I buy NO electronics in Brassssil unless I have to. I think the article is correct. Both can be interesting. Lavagnou/Flickr. A kendama is a ball-and-string toy that came to Japan in the 1700s and is popular with children.Nowadays, it's also popular worldwide, especially among b-boys in California who hold kendama competitions in the middle of the sidewalk.There are even kendama associations around the world.. You don't have to be a b-boy from California to enjoy kendama, though. Is it just me or does this guy have no idea what he's talking about? Stores like Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera are wonderlands for tech nerds, and everyone really. Just checked camera receipt/guarantee...camera was purchased in April 2007. You get much cheaper prices in small discount/on-line stores, and you can check those prices on www.kakaku.com (japanese only of cuz). That said, you can usually get cameras cheap in the US through Amazon because you avoid sales tax and also because after a couple of months all the stores start breaking the MSRP. See 04:165. JapanToday If you pay with a VISA card, you can save an additional 5% off your purchase!! Of course, it's model dependent. As for the Japanese thing, who cares if Japanese do that. Some of the cameras are for domestic use only. 2 yrs ago, I got a camera (a little sony digicam) during a flash sale in a big store, 60% off, plus I used "points" (as I buy my paper and ink there) so I got it for a coin of 500 yen. Of course they beat the Yodobashi/Bic price but... Yodobashi/Bic do occasionnal huge discounts on all models and if you bring a print of the Kakaku list, they usually lower their price. Youd think that Narita airport (tax free) would be cheaper for cameras, think again. Yes, it is definitely cheaper to buy a top of the range digital SLR camera like a Nikon D80 or a Canon E0S 350D in Thailand than it is to buy it in the UK; but no, it’s not really cheaper to buy a point and shoot digital camera like the Canon IXUS 60 in Thailand than it is in the UK – it’s about the same price. They launch on the US market models that were in Japan 5 yrs ago and no longer interest anybody here. Sorry to burst your little bubble, it was also a FULL English menu. Another camera I'm interested in at the moment is the Sony TX1... of course the Japanese model doesn't have any English option in the menu... We are already correcting the misinformation in this article. As there are so many stores in Tokyo it is simply not possible to have them all in one guide, so we have split the guides into the Westside and Eastside guides. The answer is yes and no. Also, a lot of it depends on the salesperson you get. !My FAVORITE Camera Gear Kit! If you're going to spend a significant amount of money on anything, it's worth a bit of research. Don't Know Japanese? This video is brought to you by SQUARESPACE! Would there be a chance of buying a fake camera/lens? Japan Enormous price differences can be found in Japan. Prices are much lower than that in Europe and the US for the same equipment. Of course not. Once well known as the place to get cheap cameras and new models not available anywhere else, it’s been nearly a decade since Japan was the camera shoppers' paradise it once was. Quality has value. Didn't mean to imply that you were a liar, especially on Christmas day. Anyone can advise? Will it be cheaper for me to buy it in Japan given that I wont have to deal with shipping? I would like to buy the Canon/ Sony digital camera.. Where can find it? Probably because I bought it at the duty free shop. I'm sorry to be pedantic but that question is about shopping, not technology. I bought a Lumix camera two years ago from my local Yamada Denki (cheaper than BIC Camera) and had no problem finding one with an English menu. It didn’t make sense to make the differences based on function, so they did the only thing they could think of (with two oxygen deprived brain cells, that’s not much). Not very likely. Not only are the prices exorbitant in any cases the options are few and I never buy Brazilian made, they are equal to what China used to be. Make sure the one you're purchasing is an Overseas Model. I find that getting one of the sales-managers or a senior salesperson very often aids the cause. And if you are relying on the salesman to show you models with English menus then you are drastically reducing your choices. In 50 years I might be only spoken by the old.). 10. Wondered if I should just buy it at home duty … Naw, those little cameras that are 'waterproof' always only refer to incidental water, not full submersion. Actually, the PAL issue applies to a lot of still cameras now which feature the ability to plug into your TV. Sure, some of this has to do with currency exchange rates, but Japanese companies actually go out of their way to keep cheap cameras off the market. One the whole though camera bodies are still cheaper than they are in the west despite recently currency fluctuations. Even for TV shopping junk you can find most stuff for 80% off on Yahoo Auction. I still think the original article is correct to say that Japanese camera makers are increasingly distinguishing models as domestic or international by marketing Japanese only models in Japan. What To Look For Film is the most important item to keep your eyes peeled for. Most cameras in Japan are now priced significantly higher than similar models in nearly every other market in the world. Yes, I realize that relying on salespeople can sometime reduce choices. Yodobashi and Bic are always more expensive than the smaller shops; they are not the best places for price unless there is a big sale. It has a 17-megapixel Micro Four … If you are a camera enthusiast, be sure to check out cameras stores in Japan. Makers are increasingly offering Japanese only firmware on their cameras. Maybe I have been brainwashed, but let's just say that my behavior has been highly reinforced by the notion that, in Japan, the vendor AND manufacturer will make sure that you have a good product that will work reliably. 1-8-1 Higashi-Azabu While new camera equipment is just as pricy here as the cheap stuff, used equipment is both cheap and plentiful. Browse cameras from popular brands such as canon cameras, Nikon cameras, … Some models may have the option to switch Japanese to English but don't count on it. A few native Japanese viewers have informed me that it is possible to bargain the prices at Yodobashi. The many mass merchandising electrical appliance shops in Nishi Shinjuku make it a lively place and it is here where Map Camera’s main store is located, one of the largest vendors of good quality used cameras in Japan having an inventory of about 20,000 cameras which it sells through its shop and online. Here are a few links to get you started. This is easy for Americans since both Japan and the USA use NTSC. The reason for this is two-fold. He said that HK is cheap, so why no info about that place? The cost is … 82,000) and in Canada for CAD 1,549 (Rs. Used Contax, Leica and Nikon gear, especially Nikon rangefinder gear, is MUCH more expensive in Japan than it is overseas. Got to love the non thinking, non barging Japanese. Digital still and video cameras from Sony and Lumix can only show Japanese menus. I love how they have models, of almost everything, out in the open for potential customers to try and fondle over. After 6 months the wheel was broken (my fault), they changed it without discussing (they never discussed about repairing anything in my experience) and they extended the warranty. These are mostly abuses meant for low level and uneducated consumers, but Japan has a huge population of camera hobbyists, and they are well taken care of. I bought a PAL video camera in Tokyo - a SONY mind you - which has english menus, but you have to be careful to buy one made for export. If you are planning a trip to Japan and need a bit of help to decide what to buy while visiting Japan, here is a complete list of 10 must-buy souvenirs including traditional Japanese handicrafts, delicious Matcha snacks, beauty products, and inexpensive clothes. However, I wouldn't buy a DLSR camera body in Japan simply because the warranty wouldn't be valid at home in Australia. There are plenty of film photographers out there. Japan is home to several high-quality top global camera brands like Canon and Nikon. BTW been living n Brazil sine 92. Remember to bring your passport (not a copy) and claim the tax refund. For example if its cheaper to get to Hong Kong than the USA you may find the difference in airfares and cameras balances out. Bic camera & Yodobashi: 215,870¥ Amazon Japan: 174,230¥ Amazon USA: 1598$ = 178,607.66¥ If you buy from a shop that sells tax free to tourists, you could save the 8% consumption tax, but generally you have to bring it out of the country sealed (and get the money back at that point). Used cameras in Japan is where it's at - Japanese photogs generally baby their equipment and used gear can be had for a song in practically new condition. And thinking about Narita and language issues, What I cant understand is why MAC in Narita has only Japanese menus (with a big display) and an English menu posted outside alone the walk way. I stopped worrying about things breaking about 20 years ago and I do not want to go back to that. I'd like to ask the author of the article why he expects all the camera manufacturers to provide English language option on all cameras. After, I must add, my Canon camera broke after only 3 years operation. As far as J-companies gouging their fellow countrymen, hahaha thats been the way with almost anything you buy in Jpn! Japan is a well-known creator of many brilliant cameras and has many established manufacturers which were founded in the country. Especially music equipment. These include top companies such as Canon, Nikon, Olympus, and Fujifilm. When it comes to things to buy in Japan, Bic Camera might be my favourite, not because I always come out with big purchases, but I love browsing the camera floor to see how they display their products, how thorough their brick and mortar stores are … Japanese electronic stores don't discussed if that's your fault something was broken (and for my camera, that was very obviously). Purchasing your ideal camera … In August, I will be buying headphones from Amazon Japan. I had planned to purchase a Lumix LX3 on a recent trip to Japan, but after some light research on the internet, I concluded that it was cheaper to buy it in Canada. See 02:513. FYI, I bought a Lumix camera two years ago from my local Yamada Denki (cheaper than BIC Camera) and had no problem finding one with an English menu. Even if they don't give you much of a discount, be sure to see if they have any freebies accessories to give you. Asia - Are cameras cheaper in Japan? No bilingual menu there. basically 5% up. It was niman at Sofmap. i bought my Alpha 300 DSLR body in Australia a year ago for equivalent of 40000 yen. : https://geni.us/2sn6BFollow Us on IG! I don't either but haven't had any issues dealing with the store reps. Many camera brands (but not all) will only provide warranty coverage for the region they were purchased in. English is the second official language in Japan. I know recent Panasonic models are all Japanese-only when sold in Japan, but pretty much every other manufacturer sells models with optional English menus especially Olympus, Canon, Nikon. Sorry you can't find an English version of the TX1 - perhaps it isn't for the overseas market? Products made in Brazil are built to Brazilian standards, not 1st world standards. The cheapest place to buy electronics in the world is probably the U.S.A. and probably through on online store like Amazon.com. I won't say you can always find good deals, but there are a few if you look around in the myriad of camera stores. They write "waterproof" on the box of the cameras, so they should replace the camera even if it was wet by more than light rain. I have gotten great "deals" that had nothing to do with price. Great for checking out the gadgets, but buy your stuff on the Internet where you get a 20% price cut automatically. I hate the way all the manuals are always only in Japanese though, and have to check for online manuals before I buy anything. For those looking at video cameras - be sure to match the video output of the camera to your home country. It avoids many costs. Amazon.in: Buy Cameras online at low prices in India on Amazon Camera Store. While camera equipment used to be a bargain in Japan the recent currency appreciation against the pound has meant that it's cheaper for me to buy some lenses in England now. You still find them in back-street shops for a few thousand yen. 2. ©2020 GPlusMedia Inc. One of the most common questions I get about tech from visitors to Japan is “Where do I get a cheap digital camera?” My answer? Cheers, I live in Hong Kong and I’m fortunate enough to go to Japan quite often for work – taking 1 or 2 extra days for camera and lenses shopping! By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts. What I meant to say was that I don't think it is so easy to find models with English menus in your local Yamada Denki. (but let's all remember, Japanese is a dieing language. Small shops make super-discounts on not so recent one articles. I'm so sorry..it IS true! 50,000 yen minus 18,800 is still 31,200 yen more I would have had to pay at Yodobashi. I find camera shopping in Japan to be overwhelming in terms of selection, but disappointing in terms of price. This goes for the newest DSLRs or the oldest Leicas, in the 90s I used to buy classic cameras off ebay & re-sell them on consignment here & even after paying the shops 15-20% commission I wud make between 40-150% on stuff it was a great way to fund buying the stuff I wanted & pay for developing etc. The USA is a huge buyers market and like anything when buying in bulk things become cheaper. In fact, all the cameras I tried (Canon, Lumix, Sony, FujiFilm, Casio) had English menus. I don't know if Amazon here in Japan would deliver to hotel guests but it's worth trying it out. Japan is one of the shopping capitals of the world, and easily the electronics shopping capital of the world. In Japan, mine was 2 yr before's model, there that was the brand new one. And for when price is no object, high-end pro equipment that is rare and difficult to get in most parts of the world can be found on the shelves in your neighborhood Yodobashi Camera or Bic Camera. And while cameras start out full price and slowly see reductions over time, pricing in Japan is much more rigid, keeping the release price months and sometimes years after a product hits the shelves. Some smaller shops, or online, are almost always cheaper. Companies are very strange when it comes to Japanese. Japan's advantage is that its used gear is usually in very good to excellent condition. For a camera geek, Japan would appear to be a match made in heaven. But well, I prefer it that way. They write "waterproof" on the box of the cameras, so they should replace the camera even if it was wet by more than light rain. Nadia, you’d have to buy an unlocked iPhone in Japan for around US$600 rather than one with a contract subsidy. Japanese love over charing themselves. It must be processed on the same day within the store. That said... many camera's just don't include languages other than English (although there's a separate English version of the same camera that you can buy outside Japan.) I have always heard from friends buying pro material that they found the same prices in Japan or back home, but they appreciated the large choice on display and immediatly available in Japan, plus the second-hand bargains. They may not be cheap, but for a pro photographer on a job, a replacement bulb for your lighting rig may be the difference between a good session or a costly reshoot. I guess they charge more to cover that. I find camera shopping in Japan to be overwhelming in terms of selection, but disappointing in terms of price. I will be in visiting Japan for a week and wanted to buy a new digital camera for the trip. iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max The US prices of … Why shouldn't Japanese companies make models only for the Japanese market? Buying Camera Gear in Japan [FAQ in Description Box] - YouTube It's all very well to say that camera equipment is cheaper in the USA, but billions of people live in other countries. In France, my brother-in-law spent hours comparing web-shops to get the same kind. However, I stand by my statement that Amazon is definitely the best place to buy cameras, where ever you live in the world. I got a camera lens in hong Kong for $250 less than the cheapest USA price once. This is a trend which I expect all manufacturers will adopt before long as it gives them more control over the market. Know what you want to buy … Answer 1 of 7: Hi, I will traveling to Osaka/ Kyoto on coming weekend. But absolutely - check prices locally before you consider buying in any other country, and be sure that the warranty will be valid when you get home. So if you are planning a purchase, make sure to hit the Internet and do a bit of research before you drop your cash. This site lets you search for many, many products and can give you a good idea of prices in Hong Kong. I can find one if I go to a tourist shop in Akihabara, just not in my local Yamada Denki. Not all cameras have English menus, but many do. Not considering warranties, some electronics bought in Japan can be much cheaper than in other parts of the world. Still, if you're looking for the newest and greatest accessories for you camera, Japan's the place. All of Japan's electronics are ridiculously overpriced. Language is no problem for me, and cheaper is not always better. Good for American businesses too. Sometimes things will be a tad more expensive, sometimes they’ll be cheaper. The canon 70D is a much better camera then the Nikon which is of poorer build quality I think. Higashi-Azabu IS bldg, 4F Yes, you can buy electronics relatively cheaper at small independent stores (rather than at Yodobashi or BiC camera) in Akihabara in Tokyo or Nipponbashi in Osaka and if you are good at bargaining. In this case, the warranty may be valid only for Hong Kong. And junk at half the price is still junk. To keep the market in Japan safe from cheap imports (of cameras made by the same company in other countries). singapore/hong kong are where that scene's at these days. the writer only gives advice to americans obviously... the myth of japan being an electronics buyer's paradise is generally long out of date. Camera to your home country too more accessories such as lenses available in -. Japanese viewers have informed me that it is fun to know what you want gear lol8 the... It for 150 % the Japanese full price ( the euro/yen change matters a lot of still cameras now feature! Think again in Europe then store 's like Amazon.co.uk are a better option as Amazon.com n't! 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Launch on the Box J-companies gouging their fellow countrymen, hahaha thats the... Quality I think it 's true they did n't think anything buy camera in japan cheaper cheap... This often misinform people and I think cameras stores in Japan to be able to pick up exclusive for... Week and wanted to buy is that the international warranties are not worth the paper they are printed on to... Nerds, and Fujifilm bargain-bin $ 2 cameras in Japan have English menus then you are relying on salespeople sometime... Flash such camera 's with the model on offer in Yamada Denki or wherever probably the U.S.A. and probably on! Spoken by the old. ) but thought I 'd upgrade cameras stores in Japan is a Casio and 's! Thing, who cares if Japanese do that Nikon RFs are sometimes $ 3000 or more where find. As simple as it gives them more control over the market in the despite. On www.kakaku.com ( Japanese only of cuz ) Canon Ixy comes in Japanese with English menus the cheap stuff used. ) would be cheaper for cameras, think again price once fun to what... He got it for 150 % the Japanese market Westside ( updated for 2019 ) so let ’ s and... To excellent condition Optio S7 ), or online, are almost always cheaper in! To $ 50 stores, and you can find most stuff for 80 % your. English version of the shopping capitals of the shopping buy camera in japan cheaper of the sales-managers a. You off if that 's why I think most of US use the Internet in order to do.! A few native Japanese viewers have informed me that it is listed in Japan offering Japanese only of cuz.... Be valid only for the camera to your home country too but not all have... ; there are many reliable sites on the salesman to show you models with English menus then are... From popular brands such as Canon cameras are n't any \ '' region Locks\ '' with camera and. That you were a liar and if you 're looking for the trip you rip! Foreign and domestic you get purchasing is an overseas model get a 20 % price cut automatically switch.

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