buying digital camera in japan

[Alma]

hello everyone!

i am soon coming in japan (finally!), but i still do not have digital camera, so i'm thinking to buy one asap... but, i'm wondering should i buy it when i come to japan, cause i do not need big stuff, just simple plain camera, so it might be cheaper then here. also, i'm not even sure which one should i buy, Sony, Canon..., and where, etc...

i would appreciate all possible advices

thanks

 

[pipokun]

I suppose the digital stuffs are cheaper in Japan, but it is nearly impossible to get international warranty here. So it is rather hard to tell which is better for light users to buy cameras.
People would tell you more specifics when you tell what you buy in your country now.

Sony is a good company, but I choose Canon's or other cameras with SD cards.
I said sayonara to sony after their new memory sticks before.

 

[duff_o_josh]

casio offers a worldwide warranty.

 

[Alma]

thank you!

warranty! oh i totally forgot about that! oh, that worries me now...

here, i do not have such big choice... i was thinking about some Kodak Easyshare, with maybe 4.0 MP... that is the best i can find for maybe 250 euros... but i would give more for something better. like, i just found on net Canon PowerShot A520 and i fell in love with it... so, something like that would be just perfect...

Casio? any suggestions? im not familiar with those cameras...

 

[misa.j]

like, i just found on net Canon PowerShot A520 and i fell in love with it...

That's what I have. It's a neat little camera, and easy to use, but there are many cool functions you can play around with.
I reccomended it to Void before by sending her PM about the camera, and she bought it.

 

[WHEATTHlNS]

If youre not a professional photog - or really anyone that needs that extra resolution - the A75 3MP is MORE than sufficient for what you are no doubt looking to do. But the A400 is even more basic (but no slouch at all in the output department). I have the A75 and though the A95 (with the cool swivel panel) looks awesome, I dont really have a need to upgrade right now for the ability to see what Im about to take a picture of (although for some shots I can see how that would be crucial).

You can get both online through EBAY for fairly cheap (especially if you're buying from AMERICAN EBAYERS) -

However - if youre deadset on the A520 its a good camera and only uses 2AA batteries versus the 4 of most other older (and by older I mean one year older) models. So if money isnt an object (and the A520 really isnt that expensive) - you'll be MORE than set with this as a picture/movie taker.

 

[Alma]

That's what I have. It's a neat little camera, and easy to use, but there are many cool functions you can play around with.

it does seems really great! what about memory and batteries?

You can get both online through EBAY for fairly cheap (especially if you're buying from AMERICAN EBAYERS) -

However - if youre deadset on the A520 its a good camera and only uses 2AA batteries versus the 4 of most other older (and by older I mean one year older) models. So if money isnt an object (and the A520 really isnt that expensive) - you'll be MORE than set with this as a picture/movie taker.

unfortunately, i live in Bosnia, and its impossible to buy things on internet i saw it is really good price...

now i finally found what i want to buy, but still, should i buy it in japan? ill see tomorrow price here, and then decide...

thanks...

 

[GaijinPunch]

dober dan, Alma... (is that how you spell it?)

Don't buy Sony... they make good TVs, and that's it. Very poor craftsmanship these days... people buy their stuff for the features unfortunately. I have a Sony digicam which I think is crap. :/

For a camera, I would go for a Canon or Olympus, but buy something cheap enough where you won't be too made if it breaks. For 35,000 yen you can get a brand new model... better than what you can get for $500 USD in the states.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Another Thought......

Avoid any camera that takes a card called "SMARTMEDIA". They seem to be the only card out that is limited to 128MB. It seems every card but this type is available to 512MB or even 1GB. I regret my Olympus for the card limitation, but like everything else about it.

Frank

☝

 

[RockLee]

I bought my Canon in Japan, and I think it's very good and good quality.Wasn't that expensive either (compared to Belgium, the thing costs about 100$ more in Belgium!!)Indeed Sony is not much of a digicam expert ! Fujifilm, Canon and Olympus are of good quality

 

[WHEATTHlNS]

better than what you can get for $500 USD in the states.

Uh - hows that now. . .youre saying a 300 dollar camera in JAPAN is going to be of better quality than a 500 dollar camera in the US (not that shes able to buy in the US anyway - but just curious on this logic here).

 

[RockLee]

Uh - hows that now. . .youre saying a 300 dollar camera in JAPAN is going to be of better quality than a 500 dollar camera in the US (not that shes able to buy in the US anyway - but just curious on this logic here).

It's like this :

Japan , camera brand Canon , price 35000yen
America : camera brand 'fill in brand' , price 500$

Now, the cheaper camera can be of better quality than the expensive one in America.You understand now ?

 

[misa.j]

Woops! I'm sorry Alma, I didn't read your post carefully. The one I have is Canon Power Shot A95, but A520 seems nice too.
I just checked it. Uses widely available and cheap SD or MMC cards. (SD are faster) Takes AA batteries.

 

[ArmandV]

Call me old-fashioned, but I still prefer to use my trusty old Olympus OM-1 35 mm film (gasp!) camera. Any particular reason why you want to buy a digital?

 

[WHEATTHlNS]

It's like this :

Japan , camera brand Canon , price 35000yen
America : camera brand 'fill in brand' , price 500$

Now, the cheaper camera can be of better quality than the expensive one in America.You understand now ?

Ok - you understand we use CANON here in the states dont you?

What CANON camera costs 350 bucks in JAPAN that would cost more here?

 

[nice gaijin]

I used to sell Cameras at a major American Chain. Almost every new camera in Japan from the major companies is usually available here with a few exceptions. You will generally pay more for the same camera in Japan.

I have a sony W1, which I picked for a few reasons: good photo quality, very little shutter lag, decent lens, more manual settings than the average digital point-n-shoot, and a large LCD display. It was also small but not small enough to lose easily; my only gripe was that it used sony's cursed proprietary memory stick pro. Granted it's not a DSLR, but I got it for $300 over a year ago (nice discount, it retailed for about $400+). A quick check on the net tells me that they can be had for far less than $300 today if you're a smart shopper (without resorting to internet auctions). I was in Akihabara about a month ago, and saw my camera for about 340,000 yen.

in general, I wouldn't rate sony cameras too highly, but I'm satisfied with my W1 as a point-n-shoot. I also own a Canon S400 and a A95, but I prefer the Sony over them as my main camera until I can afford a DSLR. Other decent brands for little point and shoot cameras are Nikon, Minolta, Fuji, and Olympus. Casio and Sharp aren't too bad either. Avoid HP and Concord.

 

[Keiichi]

I have a Sony W5 and it seems pretty good with some decent manual features. I haven't used it much yet, but will soon in Japan when I can find some good things to take pics of.

Keiichi

 

[Alma]

@GaijinPunch, dobar dan to u too too bad for you crappy camera i plan to take care of my camera, no, no, it shouldnt break. that is exactly what i thought about prices, only, im not in usa, but situation here is same, or even worse, because i dont have too much choice where to buy etc..

@frank, thank you for the tip. i will remember that

@Rock Lee, thanx, u show me that i was thinking good. still havent check price here, but im sure it is more expensive then in japan

@Misa j., its ok... well i thought about battery life, but i check it (not so brilliant, but ok)... so, those cards r not too expensive?

@ArmandV, i do also love my old camera, but now for me would be great and convenient to have digital... ill name just two things: my friends and family are spreaded all around the world, its easier to send them pictures via e-mail, also planing to take part in some concourses etc, also, digitals have more options...

@ nice gaijin, thanx for tips about brand. as i said before, im not in usa, but nevermind that now. i will probably wait to come to japan to buy something. but now again i wonder about waranty....

@Keiichi, good thigs to take picture is allways around! just look bit harder

 

[ArmandV]

@ArmandV, i do also love my old camera, but now for me would be great and convenient to have digital... ill name just two things: my friends and family are spreaded all around the world, its easier to send them pictures via e-mail, also planing to take part in some concourses etc, also, digitals have more options...

While it may be true that you can more speedily email photos with a digital camera, but we film types can do the same. Many photo labs can put your prints on CD-ROM for you. Also, I can scan my own prints and edit them at the same time before sending them around.

What other options do you speak of? I have toyed with buying a digital camera, but thus far I don't see anything they can do that I can't do now.

 

[Alma]

While it may be true that you can more speedily email photos with a digital camera, but we film types can do the same. Many photo labs can put your prints on CD-ROM for you. Also, I can scan my own prints and edit them at the same time before sending them around.

What other options do you speak of? I have toyed with buying a digital camera, but thus far I don't see anything they can do that I can't do now.

well, i cannot scan my prints at home (dont have scanner), photo labs are ok, but i have to extra pay, and it is more easily to do it at home, just conect cam to computer, and thats it.

about options... since i have just simlpe plain old amateur camera, i can just shoot and wait to see if thats going be as i wanted.. now i dont have zoom, shooting modes, exposure control, shutter speed control, white balance, photo effects, etc, what i will have on digital. now i wonder why i waited so much for this.

 

[pipokun]

Canon PowerShot A520 is about less than 200EURO right now. Considering the Canon's 6 Month Product Cycle, you may get a bigger bargain here. But I'm still wondering which is better, at home or in Japan.

When do you leave your country?

 

[Alma]

ok, i just found out prices. A520 here is about 290 euros (but also i have to buy battery charger)... and i guess extra memory card. also, available is IXUS 40... and its about 250 euros (Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, battery and charger supplied)... but i prefer A520... i think... (well, there is more shooting modes)

thing is, if i can find something even better then this in japan for this price, i think i even wont care about warranty. or should i? oh...

i am leaving in five days. ill be in japan sept 7th, and i will stay in osaka, in kansai language institute for two weeks... but also will visit kyoto , tokyo etc...

 

[WHEATTHlNS]

I would do some research on what the A520 can do and what the A75/70 cant do that the A520 cant. If the CANTS arent deal-breaking, I would take a look at those models -

Steve's Digicam

This is a great website if you are looking to compare camera models - pretty much every camera that is worth owning STEVE has reviewed, along with sample pictures and shooting modes.

 

[willuknight]

If youre not a professional photog - or really anyone that needs that extra resolution - the A75 3MP is MORE than sufficient for what you are no doubt looking to do. But the A400 is even more basic (but no slouch at all in the output department). I have the A75 and though the A95 (with the cool swivel panel) looks awesome, I dont really have a need to upgrade right now for the ability to see what Im about to take a picture of (although for some shots I can see how that would be crucial).

You can get both online through EBAY for fairly cheap (especially if you're buying from AMERICAN EBAYERS) -

However - if youre deadset on the A520 its a good camera and only uses 2AA batteries versus the 4 of most other older (and by older I mean one year older) models. So if money isnt an object (and the A520 really isnt that expensive) - you'll be MORE than set with this as a picture/movie taker.

i have an a75, great camera. only 2 things i don't like about it.

1) maximum movie time of 30secs in high quality, or 3min in low quality.

2) can't use device as a usb drive, you can't load anything onto the camera via the pc

3) doesn't work as a webcam

if those don't bother you, then go for it

 

[GaijinPunch]

Wheatthins: The Camera's always come out in Japan before anywhere else (the JP ones anyway) and are usually cheaper than the current ones in the US. Canon (I believe) has an 8.1 megapixel camera out you can get in Akihabara for 37,000 yen. I've not tried to find the closest thing but saw just a few hours ago at the store here in Hawaii that a Canon 4 megapixel one is $250. AFAIK, there is no 8 megapixel here yet. Not that megapixel makes it a better camera, but is the easiest way to make the comparison.

Alma: My sister lives in Zagreb (that's how I know the one word. ). She says that electronics selection is not that good, so I assumed that Bosnia would be similar, even though not the same country. My boss from my old company is Bosnian as well, and I remember him saying that there wasn't a good selection there. I also think tarriffs are high there, right? In that case, I would recommend buying one in Japan, and throwing away the box and saying you bought it before, so you don't pay taxes on the way in.