Buying from Japan
Posted 15/12/2022 - 14:10
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Purchased a Pentax-k 200mm from Japan on 26/3/21, Despatched 29/3/21, Delivered 31/3/21. Tracked all the way to me. My experience was excellent.
Just passing thru
Posted 15/12/2022 - 14:10
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Yes. I bought a Q lens. No problems at all. Even arrived quicker than the quoted delivery time. And as you say, the price was good.
Steve
Steve
Posted 15/12/2022 - 15:38
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soft cases for some of my lenses. The service you get is just amazing.
Z-1p, K-1, P50
F50 1.7. SMC-FAs 24, 35, 50 1.4, 85, 135. HD-FA15-30, DFA24-70, D-FA*70-200. The SMC-FA Limited Trinity.
Metz 45 CL-4, AF500FTZ. AF540FGZ.
Some Mamiya and some Nikon
F50 1.7. SMC-FAs 24, 35, 50 1.4, 85, 135. HD-FA15-30, DFA24-70, D-FA*70-200. The SMC-FA Limited Trinity.
Metz 45 CL-4, AF500FTZ. AF540FGZ.
Some Mamiya and some Nikon
Posted 15/12/2022 - 15:48
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I've had a couple of experiences of buying from Japan. Both were good. In fact the description provided by the seller didn't do justice to what I received. So much better.
Be well, stay safe, but most of all, invest in memories
Posted 15/12/2022 - 17:20
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I have made two purchases this year and several in previous years.
I cannot fault any of the sellers - accurate descriptions, excellent communication and all purchases arrived before the estimated delivery date, with precise tracking information available. Even with the addition of customs duty/VAT and a handling charge, the prices were cheaper than UK listings.
I cannot fault any of the sellers - accurate descriptions, excellent communication and all purchases arrived before the estimated delivery date, with precise tracking information available. Even with the addition of customs duty/VAT and a handling charge, the prices were cheaper than UK listings.
Posted 15/12/2022 - 21:05
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Similar experiences as above. The most recent purchase - I ordered a lens late on a Sunday night and it arrived by FedEx on the following Thursday morning. It was described as "excellent", and I would say "like new".
Philip
Philip
Posted 16/12/2022 - 01:30
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The general opinion does seem to be very good. However, I was looking at A series 200mm macros a bit back. I noticed a couple of pictures looked similar then I began examining them. About 4 sellers were offering the exact same lens! It didn't look like laziness and use of stock photos, especially when they said things to the effect of "what you see is what you will receive." There was something going on there, without a doubt.
(shortly after that I realized that putting an A 100mm macro lens onto an F x1.7 AF adapter produced almost the same thing, so that was that).
(shortly after that I realized that putting an A 100mm macro lens onto an F x1.7 AF adapter produced almost the same thing, so that was that).
Posted 16/12/2022 - 09:43
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If you want the true Japanese experience you have to go to Japan...
I've done Yodobashi in Osaka and Bic in Kyoto (2007-2009) when they had a significant floor space given to Pentax, and you could still buy new XPans (but the Fuji version) that were already discontinued in the EU. But having worked for a Japanese company in Holland it was great, I would be going on a trip and ask a colleague where would be a good place to buy a Pentax lens, next day I get a breakdown of prices and detailed maps. Arrive in Tokyo, settle in hotel and then take four separate train journeys to suburb, so far out the train stations are marked only in Japanese characters, get off and then study the map thinking I've been sent to a Yakuza infested slum, dark alleyways, wooden houses and very dark but still following the map; then I turn a corner and faced with Neon magnificence , Fukiya cameras - I could've spent a FORTUNE! Came out with my 77mm Limited but I do recall no 200mm macros...
I then left my company to work for a Swiss company in the UK in 2009. Hopefully we'll go to Japan on holiday in 2024 and catch up with former colleagues.
I've done Yodobashi in Osaka and Bic in Kyoto (2007-2009) when they had a significant floor space given to Pentax, and you could still buy new XPans (but the Fuji version) that were already discontinued in the EU. But having worked for a Japanese company in Holland it was great, I would be going on a trip and ask a colleague where would be a good place to buy a Pentax lens, next day I get a breakdown of prices and detailed maps. Arrive in Tokyo, settle in hotel and then take four separate train journeys to suburb, so far out the train stations are marked only in Japanese characters, get off and then study the map thinking I've been sent to a Yakuza infested slum, dark alleyways, wooden houses and very dark but still following the map; then I turn a corner and faced with Neon magnificence , Fukiya cameras - I could've spent a FORTUNE! Came out with my 77mm Limited but I do recall no 200mm macros...
I then left my company to work for a Swiss company in the UK in 2009. Hopefully we'll go to Japan on holiday in 2024 and catch up with former colleagues.
Z-1p, K-1, P50
F50 1.7. SMC-FAs 24, 35, 50 1.4, 85, 135. HD-FA15-30, DFA24-70, D-FA*70-200. The SMC-FA Limited Trinity.
Metz 45 CL-4, AF500FTZ. AF540FGZ.
Some Mamiya and some Nikon
F50 1.7. SMC-FAs 24, 35, 50 1.4, 85, 135. HD-FA15-30, DFA24-70, D-FA*70-200. The SMC-FA Limited Trinity.
Metz 45 CL-4, AF500FTZ. AF540FGZ.
Some Mamiya and some Nikon
Posted 16/12/2022 - 10:34
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Memories came flooding back when I read this. Spent time in Kobe and Takamatsu in the mid sixties (OHMS) very well treated by the Japanese people. So polite and generous toward us.
Just passing thru
Posted 16/12/2022 - 13:25
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Pwynnej wrote:
...train journeys to suburb, so far out the train stations are marked only in Japanese characters...
...train journeys to suburb, so far out the train stations are marked only in Japanese characters...
Brings back memories of a couple of business trips to Japan. Pity it was only a couple.
takuman wrote:
...in the mid sixties (OHMS) very well treated by the Japanese people. So polite and generous toward us.
...in the mid sixties (OHMS) very well treated by the Japanese people. So polite and generous toward us.
Same in the nineties. Couldn't ask for better hosts.
davidwozhere wrote:
About 4 sellers were offering the exact same lens! It didn't look like laziness and use of stock photos, especially when they said things to the effect of "what you see is what you will receive." There was something going on there, without a doubt.
About 4 sellers were offering the exact same lens! It didn't look like laziness and use of stock photos, especially when they said things to the effect of "what you see is what you will receive." There was something going on there, without a doubt.
Perhaps several sellers drawing from the same stock of items? Wouldn't be a problem for me. Many web-retailers, particularly for high-cost items, are just shop-fronts that pass orders to wholesalers that they are all using. Come to think of it, it's the same thing when I've bought a lens from the local camera shop who then passed the order down the line to Pentax. It's only a problem for me if a seller implies that it's their stock when it isn't.
Steve
Posted 27/12/2022 - 17:13
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I've always shied away from buying from Japan as I've always thought they were subject to customs taxes that put the prices up?
I think I'd much rather go out there and buy direct, mainly because #i'd like to go to that Pentax Clubhouse I've seen online. Pentax super fan it up!
I think I'd much rather go out there and buy direct, mainly because #i'd like to go to that Pentax Clubhouse I've seen online. Pentax super fan it up!
Gareth Williams ARPS
My outfit: K1ii - Pentax D FA 24-70mm f2.8 - Pentax DA* 300mm f4 - Pentax modified DA* 60-250mm f4 - Irix 15mm Firefly - Pentax FA 35mm - FA 50mm f1.4 - Tamron SP 90mm macro - Pentax AF 540 FGZ II
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My outfit: K1ii - Pentax D FA 24-70mm f2.8 - Pentax DA* 300mm f4 - Pentax modified DA* 60-250mm f4 - Irix 15mm Firefly - Pentax FA 35mm - FA 50mm f1.4 - Tamron SP 90mm macro - Pentax AF 540 FGZ II
Welsh Photographer
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My PPG
Foundation NFT
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