What would you buy if you went to Japan?

At the risk of sounding racist, but quoting a Japanese friend, Rinhof and Hasserbrad.

A knowledgeable photographer might find bargains (as anywhere). Otherwise.... "Not sure" is a generous assessment. The only thing we ask our non-photgrapher friends to bring us (and they are kind and generous) are tea and (dried) seaweed.

Cheers,

R.
 
red miso, senbei, and ceramics are normaly what friends ask me to bring from Japan but they are not into photography. What I would buy for myself is that odd lens that you might not be able to find elsewhere... expensive... most likely.

You might not save that much on everyday items (if any or vice versa). Film of course would be easy for your friend to pick up without having to evaluate the quality. A nice Grand Seiko would also be near the top of the list ;-)...

Casey
 
well, if it were me i'd get a bunch of monster toys /godzilla figures / robots in the toy department of one of the large department stores. Then maybe some ceramics or laquerware. Kimonos / yukatas Try to find an old Kabuki mask in an antique store. And Manga, even tho I can't read it. There are wonderful papers and paper products.
 
I was in Tokyo last fall. Enjoy yourself, but don't expect to find bargains on new camera products you can buy in the US. Twenty years ago, you could, but not now.

However, for used cameras, especially Japanese cameras, it's a different story. The most fantastic used camera shops I've ever seen. My advice is to find yourself a guide, or at the very least, take along a fluent Japanese speaker who knows something about cameras. Staff in these used shops do not speak English.

A particular recommendation is Fujiya, easy walking distance from Nakano station on the Chuo line. Nikon and Canon rangefinders, Hexars, Contax G1 and G2, Yashicas, RBs and lots of MF gear. Also, tiny second story shops near Shinjuku, but these will be hard to find, hence my suggestion of a guide.

There are a couple of elegant shops with very expensive items in the Ginza area; exotic items, more like a camera museum. Nikon rangefinders, for example, in perfect condition. Special editions. Fun to look at... But, I digress. You're sending your friend shopping.
 
210g pressings of my favorite albums.
Ultra high density cassette and 1/4" reel to reel tapes. (I heard they can be found there more easily than in the states, but it may be a rumor too.)

As for camera gear... I'd just want a Nikon S2 with 5cm f/1.4 lens or a Konica Dual Hexanon 21-35mm lens. If I had one of those it would probably never leave my M9.

Phil Forrest
 
sake, and a hello kitty pink M6TTL
hellokiity-m6.jpg
 
Loads and loads of Fuji Trebi and New Portra, a few odd camera bags here and there. I would consider a Rolleiflex but its just far too expensive over there.
 
god-jesus-toy-robot.jpg


Always wanted one of these - ever since Elvis Costello sang about them:

Japanese God Jesus Robots
Telling teenage fortunes
For all we know and all we care
They might as well be Martians
 
ColSebastianMoran said:
However, for used cameras, especially Japanese cameras, it's a different story. The most fantastic used camera shops I've ever seen. My advice is to find yourself a guide, or at the very least, take along a fluent Japanese speaker who knows something about cameras. Staff in these used shops do not speak English.

A particular recommendation is Fujiya, easy walking distance from Nakano station on the Chuo line. Nikon and Canon rangefinders, Hexars, Contax G1 and G2, Yashicas, RBs and lots of MF gear. Also, tiny second story shops near Shinjuku, but these will be hard to find, hence my suggestion of a guide.
Click to expand...

One good thing is that my nephew speaks perfect Japanese. He taught English in a Japanese high school near Tokyo. When I visited him in 2005, he told us that the best prices in the camera shops were those that were furthest from the stations :) Too bad I wasn't into rangefinders back then.

Thanks for the recommendation of Fujiya. I'll let him know.

Ellen
 
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