Buying ZI from Japan

[Huck Finn]

Just want to follow up with my own post. I ended up buying from popflash because of my worry with the potential alignment problem with the ZI. Just receive it the body and lens yesterday and I'll try to see if the alignment is off this weekend.

Read my post on the alignment issue before you decide that you have an alignment problem. The layman's tests are not fooproof. Take some pictures & see if they are properly focused before you decide if there is a problem.

 

[Roland X]

I just took a look at the Map Camera website. They're offering a free Kenko MC Protector filter when you purchase selected items, and an extra 10% on items offered as trade-ins.

I've purchased several lenses over the years at Map Camera. They're always been very professional and very reliable. Highly recommended.

Jon

Thank You Jon, it realy helps! will try againg. I notice you are a Nikon RF shooter so as I am with a SP & S3. I like S3's 35mm bright line fram but the focus patch of my S3 just too dim to be usefull, I checked two more at a local camera store, it seems the same. Have you got a chance to compare S3 or SP focus patch to that of ZI? I intent to use ZI for 35mm and wider, SP for 50mm and 105.
Thanks againg!

Roland

 

[Roland X]

Roland,
From Bay area, u should be able to get a copy of either Asahi or Nihon Camera magazine from any Japanese book store, in it, hundreds of camera store ads. Most of the store sales persons don't speek English, but they're, most of the time, very reliable.
If you're making a trip there, then buy something there, cameras in Japan are not cheap.
I was in Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo, went to several big stores, I only bought some made in Japan SD, CF cards, since I have a Pentax Dslr and a Xti w all the lenses I want/need already. Had an eye for D80, what a beautiful camera, but, got to save some money for Hokkaido kani, north Japan sea crabs that is...
Good luck!

Hi Teipei
Are you referring book stores in Little Tokyo, San Francisco? Do they also sell cameras? If you are looking Nikon DSLR, I'd suggest check D200 out; I'm using one and love it. The major advantages of D200 over D80 are its compatibility to all Nikon AI prime lenses that alone will save you lot of money on lenses, plus weather seals. With D3 & D300 coming up shortly, the price of D200 will drop for sure.



Rolsnd

 

[jonmanjiro]

Thank You Jon, it realy helps! will try againg. I notice you are a Nikon RF shooter so as I am with a SP & S3. I like S3's 35mm bright line fram but the focus patch of my S3 just too dim to be usefull, I checked two more at a local camera store, it seems the same. Have you got a chance to compare S3 or SP focus patch to that of ZI? I intent to use ZI for 35mm and wider, SP for 50mm and 105.
Thanks againg!

Roland

Yes, I'm a Nikon RF shooter 🙂

I have compared the ZI focus patch to my Nikon RFs, and it is indeed very very good. I don't think any S3 (even the S3 2000 or S3 2002 Black) comes close, though I'm not so keen on the x0.72 magnification viewfinder image. Once you get used to the lifesize image of the Nikon RFs its hard to go back.

The focusing accuracy afforded by the ZI's baselength is probably overkill for wideangle lenses. Have you thought of a Bessa R2S? The viewfinder magnification is about the same as the ZI (though the baselength is much shorter) and it has an in-built 35mm frame, and the entire viewfinder covers the 25mm FOV. The focus patch on the R2S is practically as good as the ZI's, and certainly leagues ahead of any S3. They sell for 47,800 yen at Fujiya Camera.

Then again, if you want to use M-mount lenses the ZI is a fine choice.

 

[jonmanjiro]

You can access the Fujiya Camera website from the link below. Login using "nhsuser" as the username, and "password" as the password.

http://fujiyacamera.shop4.makeshop.jp/index.html

Then go to the link below to see the RF cameras. You can select from 3 pages at the bottom of the page.

http://fujiyacamera.shop4.makeshop.jp/shopbrand/006/X/

For Zeiss lenses, go to this link.

http://fujiyacamera.shop4.makeshop.jp/shopbrand/007/009/X

For LTM/M mount Voigtlander lenses, go to this link.

http://fujiyacamera.shop4.makeshop.jp/shopbrand/007/008/X

For S/SC mount Voigtlander lenses, go to this link.

http://fujiyacamera.shop4.makeshop.jp/shopbrand/007/020/X

 

[Roland X]

Yes, I'm a Nikon RF shooter 🙂

I have compared the ZI focus patch to my Nikon RFs, and it is indeed very very good. I don't think any S3 (even the S3 2000 or S3 2002 Black) comes close, though I'm not so keen on the x0.72 magnification viewfinder image. Once you get used to the lifesize image of the Nikon RFs its hard to go back.

The focusing accuracy afforded by the ZI's baselength is probably overkill for wideangle lenses. Have you thought of a Bessa R2S? The viewfinder magnification is about the same as the ZI (though the baselength is much shorter) and it has an in-built 35mm frame, and the entire viewfinder covers the 25mm FOV. The focus patch on the R2S is practically as good as the ZI's, and certainly leagues ahead of any S3. They sell for 47,800 yen at Fujiya Camera.

Then again, if you want to use M-mount lenses the ZI is a fine choice.

Hemmm

It is very interesting looking around at Fujiya Camera website, thanks for the links other wise it would be difficult to get around. Is R2S a Nikon mount model?

 

[jonmanjiro]

Is R2S a Nikon mount model?

Certainly is!

 

[ERV]

I bought a used chrome ZI-M from Matsuiya on Sunday and it arrived in NYC on Wednesday morning. His communication was great and I didn't even have time to check the tracking number.
It was a birthday gift for my wife however she wasn't as impressed with it as I was..
She has an M6 and 35 cron that she rarely uses and I thought she would like aperture priority and the large viewfinder . She has trouble focusing her M6 due to her eyesight and shoots Canon digital these days.
I have an M6 and M5 and have owned an M2 and M4, and the ZI is a very nice camera. Its well made and well designed, has a large rangefinder patch and one frameline visible at a time, and the AE is really cool. Its a deal for the money, I think.
So I guess I'll keep it and her M6 in service for her. I already stole her rigid 50mm cron, however she made me buy my own 35mm lens. I bought a ZI 35mm biogon, which is another great deal..

 

[Anupam]

ERV, you are a lucky guy!

 

[Frankie]

Buying a ZM from Japan

Buying a ZM from Japan

I'm itching to import a ZI body and a Zeiss Sonnar 50mm ZM from Japan to US. Does anyone know if I will need to pay import duty and how much? It's selling for only US$1159 in Japan. About US$320 less expensive...

BTW, I'm new to rangefinder...

******

About a month ago, I bought a ZM via eBay from MatsuiyaStore in Japan at the buy-it-now price of $1159.

Matsuiya responded within hours acknowledging receipt of Paypal payments and another email within 24 hours confirming shipment with EMS tracking number…I wish any of my face-to-face purchases from retail stores were as attentive. The goods arrived at my door within a grand total of 4 business days.

There is no tariff in camera/parts in most countries…there is no point. CanadaPost was not even interested in examining the shipping documents, so no brokerage fees (flat $8) and no sales taxes (GST 6% and PST 7%). I reckon I saved about $200 from the better pricing and lucky no taxes.

The shipment was well packed with air cushions in addition to the original foam insulated factory box. All in-the-box items are included…battery, strap, manual and warranty card. The manual was in Japanese, but downloading an all language copy from Zeiss was easy enough. Besides, the ZM is so simple that I don’t “need no stinking manual” anyway.

The ZM came with a hand-signed Zeiss inspection certificate, stating the camera serial number and inspection date. I am sure…amongst other standard inspection tasks, the rangefinder was checked and with an instrument; and not by eye by some guru retail clerk. Indeed, the rangefinder alignment was perfect, horizontally and vertically throughout all distance to infinity. I believe Zeiss, having been in the optically business for over 150 years, knows optics better than any one of us. The factory spec. is there for a reason.

Yes, the warranty was Japanese, and repairs had to be returned to Matsuiya first. But, where is the neighbourhood ZM service depot anyway? What is the difference between shipping to Japan versus shipping to WhateverTown USA? Matsuiya’s communications in English is excellent, better than most indifferent retail clerks I have come across.

Contrary to many “opinions” expressed in this thread and elsewhere, Japanese retailers are honourable and their respects for customers are exceptional. I have experienced that often and first-hand, having been to Japan more than 20 times since 1988. You would be astonished to see a retail clerk showing in-the-box goods with white gloves…bowing and Arigato throughout.

And, don’t worry about grey-market or fake goods…there is no grey-market in Japan for Japanese-made goods 🙂, and fakes are illegal. Ever wonder why in Tokyo-Narita airport, ample warnings to Japanese travelers are posted that imported fake goods would be taxed at real retail price?