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Buying cameras in Japan
Japan is a paradise for all of us who enjoy taking pictures. All the major camera brands are Japanese, that’s good because prices for lens and cameras are much lower here than in other places. Furthermore, Japanese people in general like photography a lot, and that’s good for the market. You can find zillions of specialized shops, second hand cameras shops and there are even huge shops filling medium size buildings only with cameras. My advice is, go to Akihabara and compare the prices in different shops, sometimes the difference is pretty big. The cheapest shops are usually in the little streets (not in the main Akihabara avenue). Here are some pictures I took in Yodobashi (A good place to look stuff, they have almost all new models), and also pictures inside Mapcamera, a shop with all kind of old lenses and cameras, even from 50 years ago.
D60 a gogo
Canon area
Compact cameras
More compact
Canon EOS
Sigma
Pentax
Sony Alpha
S5 Pro
D300 panel
Canon EOS Digital
Canon and Nikon
There are many Hasselblad and Leica in there
Only Leicas
More Leicas
Did you notice the “?” in the price? That means that depending on the day and your skills to negotiate the final price than vary a lot.
More interrogation marks.
And more
The entrance to the forth floor in a building with five floors, all full of photography goodies. Mapcamera.
I love that you can test lenses and cameras all you want before buying. I took this picture using a 10mm lenses from the shop. I did not buying but I’m thinking to do it.
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Comments
Kialaya
23 April, 2008
God, I am caught in between “i love it oh, all those marvelous cameras to play with, I want go there” or “arrgggg, I would go mad with so many things to choose from, no no no, i don’t want to go there, i would freak out”.
ryan
23 April, 2008
You got my hopes up by taking pictures of attractive girls looking at the cameras - thought you were going for a themem for a moment.
Ah. . .how I miss akihabara right now.
Neil Duckett
23 April, 2008
I love Yodobashi …. i stop by once a week …. i got pulled up the last time i took a few photos though.
Marcos
23 April, 2008
Nice blog!
If it’s not in that store probably doesn’t exist
Lee
24 April, 2008
I guess you know about it already Hector, but Fujiya Camera in Nakano is a fantastic little place. Great prices for new and second hand stuff. Very helpful staff too.
http://www.fujiya-camera.co.jp/
Dan
24 April, 2008
i just bought a camera from sofmap and they gave me a 13000Yen discount because because i brought in a paper showing that amazon had it for a different price. so they gave it to me for that price and i didn’t pay shipping and i got the 10% points!!! oh the internetz.
kirai
24 April, 2008
Dan: great! I should do the same, the Amazon strategy
Windbell
25 April, 2008
I kept triggering the security alarm tag they had on their cameras by accident over at Yodabashi.
How did you manage to snap pictures? Did you slot your CF card into the cameras on display to take pictures?
Peter
25 April, 2008
I was dumbfounded when I saw all the cameras on sale when I went to Akihabara for the first time… I wouldn’t mind returning.
kirai
25 April, 2008
Windbell: I use my camera with their lenses. You can also ask them for a specific lens that maybe is not on exposition.
Edward
28 April, 2008
My candy store. ^^; I need to remember to search Amazon before my next visit.
happy_gajin
17 March, 2009
Don’t go to BIC Camera. I was shocked when I bought a Sony digital music player in Akihabara, and then a few days later I say the same player for ~$150 more at BIC Camera in Ikebukero.
Michael
23 April, 2009
Hi guys..im looking for the Canon EOS 5D MarkII and the 70-200mm EF IS USM f.2.8 lens. can anyone suggest a cheap site in japan?..most of them are in japanese and i cannot understand anything.
Trying to get them from japan somehow. would appreciate your help
sanea
20 September, 2009
Hi all!!!
Please help me with an advice…i will go to Japan at the end of october..and i really want to buy a camera (reflex) from there. What is the most recommended place to buy one? What model i can buy with 700-1000euro?
And what about taxes? How much are they??
Thank you!
Valldeperas
29 September, 2009
One day I’ll buy one (more or less) pro camera. It happens to me that seems too xpensive here, and dunno xactly if have enought things to take photos to. Just know it’s a interesting thing I just want to try…