Is the NEX 7 available already in Japan?

[Peter^]

Have to go to Japan on a business trip next week. Is the NEX 7 available there yet? Would it be worth it to go down to Akihabara to try and find one? Anyone know the Japanese price?

Thanks to all who reply

 

[Adanac]

Via the rumour mill, the answer should be "no", but who knows for certain. What I've read is that early production of the camera was destined for North America first, due to transit times; later production would have been for the Asian / domestic market.

Today I also saw a note, on DPReview I believe, from an Aussie indicating Sony had notified them there would be no supply until the new year; that seems to jive with the aforementioned.

Also over the past 24 hours or so US pre-order customers have been getting email notices from Sony promising shipping on Nov 11; in Canada it appears we may see some on Nov 16 but that's been a date which hasn't changed in a while.

 

[SuperUJ]

According to Yodobashi website, it is still showing as "accepting pre-order" with "no specific available date." Yodobashi is normally pretty good at giving the specifics on available date. And the listed price is there 144,800 Yen for the kit. Locals normally get the 10% store credit discount.

 

[dufffader]

Not when I was there this week...

 

[Peter^]

Many thanks. Y 144800? I can get a better price here. I guess the times are over for gettting camera equipment much cheaper in Japan.

 

[michel v]

They've been over for a little while. When I went there in April, only the Ricoh GXR system was the same or below price than what you could find in Europe.

Worse thing is, if you buy a Nex in Japan, it is in Japanese ONLY (at least that was the case with Nex 3/5). No firmware update can change that (in fact all firmware files are the same).