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From: mcb@styx.UUCP (Michael C. Berch)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Buying a camera in Japan
Message-ID: <19568@styx.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Feb-86 19:04:39 EST
Article-I.D.: styx.19568
Posted: Fri Feb 21 19:04:39 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 24-Feb-86 05:48:56 EST
References: <461@faron.UUCP> <26400006@hpcvrd.UUCP>
Reply-To: mcb@styx.UUCP (Michael C. Berch)
Distribution: net
Organization: Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Livermore, CA
Lines: 24
Summary: Don't bother

I was in Japan in November and was looking for a good zoom telephoto
for my Canon AE-1P. I was also thinking of getting a Canon Sure Shot or
Nikon One Touch for my father. Anyway, the prices for each were about 
$40-80 higher than the good discount places here in California (e.g.,
San Jose Camera or Best Products), which are a few dollars higher than
the New York mail order places. The Canon AE-1P itself (body plus 50mm
f/1.8) was $230; it can be found on sale here for about $188. Needless
to say, I didn't buy any photo equipment in Japan.

Some people that I met there were on a tour that went on to Bangkok, 
Singapore, and and Hong Kong. When I met up with them again for the
return flight to the US, those who had purchased photo equipment
mostly had done so in Hong Kong, with a few that had bought things in
Singapore. 

We compared Hong Kong prices and they were below the New York mail order
discount houses and well below the best California prices. This is
where the Japanese go to purchase the high-end Japanese cameras and
electronic goods, although they are more restricted than Americans in
how much they can import duty-free.

Michael C. Berch
ARPA: mcb@lll-tis-b.ARPA
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