buying ZI in japan?

[pai]

i'm really enjoying my R4A, and am thinking of getting a ZI to keep it company.

will be heading to Japan in a few weeks, is it a good idea to get one there instead of singapore? (looking for the black one)

any advice from the experienced rf fondlers? thanks!

[chiif]

It's better to buy in Japan. Check out Fujiya-Camera.co.jp or MapCamera.com. Map Camera does VAT rebate but their ZI bodies are slightly more pricey even after the rebates, but for other digital gears, Map is cheaper.

Fujiya Camera is my favourite, last heard they still have a few RD-1s over there. ZI bodies are also cheaper over there.

Check out this post and put aside 2 days for camera shopping!
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=381440

[jazzyboi]

Alternatively, u can try Lemon Sha at Ginza area. it's on the 7th Floor above a church. Saw that they have plenty of ZI. Bring cash, they give extra discounts for cash payment. :-)

[pai]

wow thanks for the replies. sounds like japan is camera heaven.

what kind of prices should i expect, and er is there any way to draw money there? not sure i like the idea of bringing that much spare cash in.

[chiif]

Originally Posted by pai wow thanks for the replies. sounds like japan is camera heaven. what kind of prices should i expect, and er is there any way to draw money there? not sure i like the idea of bringing that much spare cash in.

It's better to bring cash from here. Exchange rate in Japan or bank exchange rates might not be so favourable.

You can draw money from the ATM with cirrus logo.

Personally, I prefer to bring cash, I personally feel it's relatively safe in Japan... and yes, it's a photography heaven. Not difficult to understand why, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Panasonic, Ricoh, Sony.... where could they originate from?

[benny]

Whilst it's great shopping in Japan due to sheer variety, prices for ZI seems to be better in Hong Kong. But in Japan, it's possible to find used set in very, very good condition. Also, it's best to bring cash indeed. If not, you don't get cash discount, in addition, there 3 to 5% surchange as well!!! I didn't have cash with me and found out the hard way. Actually, I had cash with me, but they didn't want my Singapore dollars. Only Japanese Yen. Shame.

Cheers,

[Daikoku]

Japan is safe enough country
never had any problems bring reasonably big amount of
cash when i go there every year..

just 2 months ago i got a used silver ZI from there for S$1000
condition super...like not even used before
chiif saw it
but i think isnt easy to get this type of price from mapcamera
or any of the shops
more like S$1200
mine was an isolated case and i didnt get it from a shop

very hard to exercise self control when there's so much
eye candy there in the shops...
for me i mean...
Cant wait to go again...which is Dec/Jan

[FortyNine]

mapcamera shows a v v mint black ikon for abt SGD 1150. happy shopping!

http://www.mapcamera.com/sho/search....00750&class=05

[benny]

Hmm.. It's 2 grades below mint. Scratches are on the lens mount, but exterior is in exc+ condition. But it comes with full packaging, including instructions (in Japanese), warranty card (till Mar 2009), camera strap, eyepiece, body cap.

Surprisingly, it's the silver version of the ZI that's very hard to find. The black ones are a dime a dozen. The Black Zeiss Ikon SW is so sexy looking.

Cheers,

[FortyNine]

hmm.. you're right. i misread the japanese category. I'm looking for a silver ZI as well. can't find a real mint one in other jap websites as well.

ebay matsui brand new going for USD 1250. Onshore Japanese street price probably USD 1100 to USD 1150. Heard a CSer picked one up from HK at USD 1100 recently

[FortyNine]

wat's puzzling me is the Ikon and ZM lenses have been around since 2005. Yet the 2nd hand variety and availability is pretty limited. Do people luv their Zeiss so much they dun sell ?

[chiif]

Originally Posted by FortyNine wat's puzzling me is the Ikon and ZM lenses have been around since 2005. Yet the 2nd hand variety and availability is pretty limited. Do people luv their Zeiss so much they dun sell ?

Yup... U are right!

[FortyNine]

what strikes me is Zeiss is a German company reporting its profits in Euro. Since Zeiss started its ZM in Japan in 2005, Yen has depreciated against Euro by 10-15% and is getting worse by the day. meaning Zeiss profit margin has been cut by that amount. No company wants to make less money on a well-accepted product. I think continual price increases are inevitable

[chiif]

Slightly different case here.

Zeiss Germany gave Cosina the rights to manufacture Zeiss ZF ZM ZS ZK lenses & ZI bodies and the right to market in Japan. For international market, Shriro does the marketing.

Only the DESIGN & SPECIFICATIONS are from Zeiss. Material, lens, coating are all from Cosina. Hence it is basically the same quality as Voigtlander lenses, but cost 2x more. You pay for the design and the so call "name".

The Japanese pays the Germans the license for the Zeiss name. Hence, currencies differences doesn't make a lot of difference here.

I don't work for Cosina, but from my observations and discussion with the marketing & sales people, this is what I understand.

Pricing is determined by the distributors on individual countries basis, hence, in this case Shriro. Who is the sole distributor and is oblivious to the grey market existance.

The other day when I went to an optician to make a pair of glasses, the lady kept pushing Zeiss lens to me, knowing that I'm into photography, saying that Zeiss lenses are very very good. And I told her... Zeiss these days don't make lenses themselves, they are all OEM today.

[FortyNine]

I think the catchphrase is "The Japanese pays the Germans the license for the Zeiss name."
Zeiss's P&L is from the license. And they will be concerned with the Euro profit of this license. Afterall, what's the point of licensing Cosina to use Zeiss name and sell in Yen if Zeiss dun make enough Euros from it ?

Like the Yashica - Contax brand, the brand license may be for 20years with the cost of the license renenwable every 5 years, 10years? And the license value will be subject to currency fluctuations etc etc. So it still all points to a upward price increase for me. Cos ZM is already 3yrs into the product cycle.

[jazzyboi]

Originally Posted by chiif It's better to bring cash from here. Exchange rate in Japan or bank exchange rates might not be so favourable. You can draw money from the ATM with cirrus logo. Personally, I prefer to bring cash, I personally feel it's relatively safe in Japan... and yes, it's a photography heaven. Not difficult to understand why, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Panasonic, Ricoh, Sony.... where could they originate from?

Well, a few tour package trips to Japan before, the tour guide told us that it's a Japanese culture to try to use cash to do payments in the shops. Their thinking is that those who uses credit cards, do not have money, so only those with cash payments, are deemed as having real money richness. Just to clear the doubt why they prefer cash payments over credit cards or some places don't even accept credit card payments.