Buying Second-Hand Camera Equipment in Tokyo: A Complete Guide
Recently, I upgraded my Sony A7III to the more compact Sony A7CII and was on the lookout for a lightweight wide-angle lens. Specifically, I was searching for the Sony 16-35mm F4 PZ. At the same time, David, wanted to purchase a wide-angle lens for his Fuji XT-5. For him, I was looking for the Fujinon 10-24mm OIS. Let’s use these two lenses as a reference for comparing prices in Tokyo’s second-hand camera market.
- Buying Second-Hand Camera Equipment in Tokyo: A Complete Guide
- Why Buy Second-Hand Camera Lenses in Japan?
- Shopping Tax-Free for Camera Gear in Japan
- Understanding Second-Hand Camera Gear Ratings
- Second-Hand Camera Gear in Osaka vs. Tokyo
- Second hand camera shops in Tokyo
Why Buy Second-Hand Camera Lenses in Japan?
Buying second-hand camera equipment, especially lenses, can be a smart and cost-effective choice. Lenses, even with long-term use, don’t typically “break,” aside from some wear and tear on the body. The main concerns when buying used lenses include potential humidity damage or mold, which you’ll need to inspect carefully
One key reason Japan is a great place to buy second-hand gear is that the Japanese take exceptional care of their belongings. As a result, you’ll often find used lenses in excellent condition. Many camera stores in Japan have specialized “buying centers” where they inspect equipment thoroughly before purchasing it. When selling second-hand gear, these stores typically provide detailed inspection reports, noting any issues such as “missing lens hood” or “slight dust inside that doesn’t affect image quality.” This transparency gives you peace of mind when purchasing used lenses. Some stores even offer warranties on second-hand products.
Shopping Tax-Free for Camera Gear in Japan
As a foreign tourist, you can take advantage of Japan’s tax-free shopping policy. By presenting your passport at participating stores, you can have the sales tax (up to 10%) deducted from your purchase price. This can significantly reduce the cost of your second-hand camera gear. The stores mentioned in this article all offer tax-free checkout.
Understanding Second-Hand Camera Gear Ratings
To make it easier for buyers, most stores use a rating system to indicate the condition of the product. For example, MAP Camera in Tokyo provides ratings such as:
| Brand new | A beautiful, barely used second-hand item (a top-quality classic camera). |
|---|---|
| In good condition | Used item with some wear but in good condition |
| Good product | Used item in good condition and normally used |
| Average quality | Although the appearance is not perfect, it is a good used item that can be used without any problems. |
| Damaged item | This is a used item that has some defects and functional limitations. |
| Junk | Used items that are broken and cannot be used, or that cannot be tested for functionality |
Fujiya and Lemon Camera have similar ratings, for example:
- Like new A,
- Good condition AB+
- Average condition AB-
The lower the rating, the cheaper the product. It’s important to note that a rating of “Average Condition AB-” doesn’t necessarily mean the lens is faulty; it could simply indicate some visible damage to the body, while the lens itself still produces great images. Always check the description or ask the staff about any specific issues.
Second-Hand Camera Gear in Osaka vs. Tokyo
Second-hand camera shops can be found throughout Japan, including in Osaka. During my recent trip, I visited five shops in Osaka, including Naniwa Camera Umeda, Camera Obayashi, Umeda Photo Service, Naniwa Camera Shinsaibashi, and Tokiwa Camera in Nipponbashi. I found the Sony 16-35mm F4 PZ at Naniwa Camera Shinsaibashi for ¥129,800 JPY, rated B, with some dust inside the lens. I wasn’t impressed and decided to look elsewhere in Tokyo. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the Fujinon 10-24mm OIS lens in any of the Osaka stores.
Tokyo is not necessarily better, as with second hand items it’s always a bit of a hit it or miss it. You have to be lucky that the lens you are looking for just happens to be in stock in the store you are visiting. However, from my experience Tokyo stores are bigger and offer way more inventory.
Second hand camera shops in Tokyo
Tokyo has numerous second-hand camera shops, which can be overwhelming if you’re short on time. To help, many shops list their current inventory and prices online, so you can do some research before heading out.
Checking prices online
Before visiting physical stores, checking prices online is a great way to compare prices across different shops. My favorite websites of camera stores in Tokyo that have their inventory online are Fujiya Camera in Nakano and Map Camera in Shinjuku. Both sites are in Japanese but are easy to navigate using Google Chrome’s translation feature. Be sure to check for “online-only” items that might not be available in-store. Fujiya Camera also provides detailed inspection notes for each lens, including any issues with dust or wear.
Camera shop visits in Tokyo
As I already saw online that both Map Camera and Fujiya Camera had a whole bunch of inventory of the particular lenses I was looking for and my time in Tokyo was limited, I decided to go to two areas: Shinjuku (for MAP Camera and a bunch of other stores that do not post their inventory online) and Nakano (for Fujiya Camera). These two areas are only minutes away from each other using the metro.
Shopping second hand camera equiment in Shinjuku
Shinjuku is home to several well-known camera shops within walking distance of each other. My first stop was Lemon Camera, a small store with a hidden entrance above street level. I was thrilled to find the Sony 16-35mm F4 PZ lens in AB condition for ¥115,000 JPY—lower than any online price I had found. However, I wanted to compare prices elsewhere, so I decided not to buy it immediately. Note that Lemon has various other stores spread out over Tokyo.
Next, I visited Kitamura Camera which is actually a chain as well. Kitamura is quite big and they have different brands per floor. While the store was organized, I was not impressed with the stock and prices of the lenses I was looking for.
Across from Kitamura, I found Map Camera. I had quite high expectations from this shop as they post their inventory online. They had the Sony 16-35 F4 PZ here, but the price / quality ration couldn’t match the one I found at Lemon. They also had a few Fujinon 10-24 OIS’ here, but the well priced ones had some dust or other minor issues. There was one very well priced one for 42.700 JPY, which optically was in great condition. However this particular one had some significant dents on the body.
Note that all lenses can be tried on your own camera body or a one from the store before you decide to purchase the lens.
Down the road I also visited Five Star Camera, but didn’t find what I was looking for. However, Fize Star Camera and several other camera shops, have so called camera junk stores. In these shops you’ll find really old (often damaged) cameras, lenses and sometimes cables or chargers for dump prices. It’s fun to have a look at those if you are interested in analog vintage camera.
As I had already checked prices at Fujiya in Nakano online and didn’t expect to find a better deal for my Sony 16-35 F4 PZ there, I made my way back and decided to purchase the one I found at Lemon. The shop attendant provided me with a flashlight to inspect the lens and let me try it on my own camera body. The tax was deducted right away in the store and shortly afterwards I left the store with my new lens.
Fujiya Camera in Nakano
My next stop was Fujiya Camera in Nakano. Located just a few minutes walking from Nakano station, in a side alley of the famous Nakano Broadway. Fujiya is my favorite store in Tokyo, offering multiple floors of camera equipment, including a “camera junk” store nearby. I made my way to the first floor of the main store where the Fuji gear is sold, and I couldn’t believe the amount of Fujinon 10-24 OIS lenses they had in stock here! It seemed they had even more in store than I saw earlier online. Prices were also lower than the shops I visited previously in Shinjuku.
I found an AB quality one for 41.800 JPY (in better condition than the similarly priced one at MAP in Shinjuku), but I also found an AB+ one for 45.100 JPY which I decided to buy for David. They even provided warranty on this particular one! As I didn’t have a Fuji camera body myself the store attendant let me use on of theirs in order to try the lens. The check out (tax free again) was easy and shortly I was on my way to have some well deserved lunch. I had some delicious gyozas and sliced pork belly at this place, just a short walk from Fujiya. Highly recommended if you’re in the area.
Other areas to shop second hand camera gear in Tokyo
The above shops are just the ones I visited during my most recent trip to Japan. It’s worth noticing that there are tons of other second hand camera shops located all over Tokyo (and Japan!). As a matter of fact many years ago, during my first visit to Japan, I found a great deal for a second hand Olympus lens for the camera I was using back then in a second hand camera store in Akihabara Electric Town, where you’ll find plenty of stores too.
With my new lens in hand, it was finally time to capture some shots of the Tokyo Tower! Don’t miss our guide to the best Tokyo Tower photo spots.
I would love to know your experiences and personal recommendations too, feel free to leave a comment below!
Visited: January 2025.
