Buying a Film Camera From Japan: A Buyer’s Guide

That makes sense. Japan was home to many of the biggest camera makers of the film era, including Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Minolta and Fujifilm. There is still a large used-camera market there today.

For Australian buyers, this means Japan can be a good place to look for cameras that are difficult to find locally.

But buying a 20, 30 or 40-year-old camera from another country comes with a few things worth knowing.

Why are so many used film cameras in Japan?

Japan has a large supply of used cameras.

You'll find everything from simple point-and-shoot cameras to professional SLRs, medium format systems and high-end compact cameras.

It can also be easier to find a specific version of a camera. Maybe you want a certain colour, lens, condition or model variation.

The choice is one of the main reasons Australian buyers look to Japan.

But a camera being located in Japan doesn't automatically mean it's in better condition.

The individual camera still matters.

Japanese condition grades aren't universal

One of the first things you'll notice is wording such as:

• Mint
• Near Mint
• Top Mint
• Excellent
• Excellent+++++
• Very Good

These grades can be useful, but there is no universal grading system used by every seller.

One seller's "Near Mint" can be very different from another seller's.

And the grade often describes how the camera looks rather than how well every part of it works.

A camera can look almost new and still have a weak flash, inaccurate meter, sticky shutter, light leak or other problem.

So don't buy based on the headline condition grade alone.

Read the full description.

Look closely at the actual photos

Whenever possible, check whether the photos show the exact camera being sold.

Look for:

• Scratches and dents
• Wear around buttons and dials
• Damage around the battery compartment
• Corrosion
• Cracks in plastic parts
• Missing screws or covers
• Wear around the lens mount
• Damage to the film door
• Condition of grips and rubber parts

For compact cameras, also look closely at the lens cover and flash area.

And don't assume a clean exterior means the inside is equally clean.

Check the lens and viewfinder

Optical condition matters just as much as cosmetic condition.

Common terms you'll see include:

Dust: Small amounts are normal in older lenses and usually aren't a major problem.

Haze: A cloudy appearance inside the lens. Heavy haze can reduce contrast and image quality.

Fungus: Growth inside a lens caused by moisture. This can damage optical coatings.

Separation: When elements inside a lens begin separating from each other.

Scratches: These may be on the front or rear lens element.

A viewfinder can also have dust, haze, fungus or other marks.

None of these automatically make a camera unusable. What matters is how severe the problem is and whether it affects use.

"Working" can mean different things

This is one of the biggest things to check when buying an older camera online.

A seller might say a camera is working because it powers on and the shutter fires.

That doesn't always mean every function has been tested.

Depending on the camera, you may want to know whether the seller checked:

• Power
• Shutter
• Shutter speeds
• Film advance
• Film rewind
• Autofocus
• Flash
• Exposure meter
• Aperture
• Self timer
• LCD
• Buttons and dials
• Battery compartment
• Lens movement
• Frame counter

For electronic point-and-shoot cameras, this matters even more.

Many of these cameras are now decades old. They can contain motors, flexible circuits, LCDs and electronic shutters that aren't easy to repair.

Check for known problems with the model

Every camera has its own weak points.

Before buying, search the model and find out what commonly goes wrong.

For example, one camera might be known for failing LCD screens. Another might develop shutter problems. Another might commonly need new light seals.

This doesn't mean you should avoid the model.

It just tells you what to look for in the listing.

Think about the total cost

The listing price isn't always the final price when buying directly from Japan.

You may also need to consider:

• International shipping
• Insurance
• Currency conversion
• Payment fees
• GST
• Customs or import charges where applicable
• Return shipping if something goes wrong

This matters more as the value of the camera increases.

A camera that looks cheaper overseas may not be much cheaper once everything is added together.

Returns are harder internationally

Returning a camera to a seller in another country is obviously more complicated than returning one within Australia.

You may need to arrange international postage, complete customs paperwork and wait for the camera to reach the seller.

And there can be disagreement over whether something counts as a fault or normal wear on an old camera.

Before buying directly, check:

• Whether returns are accepted
• How long you have to report a problem
• Who pays return shipping
• Whether the seller guarantees that the camera works
• What happens if the camera arrives damaged

Keep the original listing and photos until you've received and tested the camera.

Should you buy a film camera directly from Japan?

It can make sense.

If you're comfortable reading used-camera listings, comparing condition and dealing with international shipping, Japan gives you access to a much larger selection.

It's particularly useful when you're looking for something specific.

But you're still buying a used mechanical or electronic object that may be several decades old.

The country it's coming from doesn't remove that risk.

The quality of the individual camera, the seller and the testing are what matter.

How Bokeh Club sources cameras from Japan

Japan is one of the places we use to find cameras for Bokeh Club.

Some cameras in our shop are already with us in Australia. These are shown as Ready to ship.

Others are listed as Source to order.

A source-to-order camera is still held by one of our sourcing partners when you see it in the shop.

We review the camera, its condition, the seller information and the available checks before listing it.

If you order it, we secure that camera and bring it to Bokeh Club in Melbourne.

The process is:

1. Your order is confirmed
2. We secure the camera from our sourcing partner
3. The camera travels to Bokeh Club in Melbourne
4. We complete our final check
5. We send it to you in Australia

The listing shows the expected delivery window before you buy.

It also tells you whether the photos show the exact camera and what checks have been completed.

Why bring the camera to Melbourne first?

Because we'd rather have the camera come through us before it reaches you.

When a source-to-order camera arrives in Melbourne, we have a chance to check that it matches what was ordered and inspect it before sending it on.

It also means your final delivery is from Bokeh Club in Australia rather than directly from an overseas seller.

There is an extra step involved, so it isn't as fast as buying a camera that's already sitting in our Melbourne stock.

That's why we show the difference between Ready to ship and Source to order clearly on each listing.

What if you're looking for a specific camera?

Sometimes the camera you want simply isn't in the shop.

That's where Find me one comes in.

Tell us:

• The model you want
• Your minimum condition
• Your preferred colour
• Your budget

We'll check our sourcing network in Japan and Australia for suitable cameras.

If we find one, we'll send you the details and price before you decide.

There's no obligation to buy just because you've asked us to look.

The main thing to remember

Japan is a very good place to find used film cameras because the selection is large.

But don't treat "Japanese camera" as a condition grade.

Look at the actual camera.

Check the photos. Read the description. Understand what has been tested. Look for known problems with that model. And work out the total cost before buying.

A good film camera purchase comes down to knowing exactly what you're getting.