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Good lens deals in Bangkok and Tokyo?


iomatic

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We'll be in Bangkok and Tokyo, and I was thinking was there a place I could get an absolute steal (not literally, of course) as opposed to the U.S. on some lenses like the CV 15? Other thoughts? I really don't want to spend time at the giant Yodobashi, as we'll probably want to enjoy the outdoors and sights!

 

Tokyo's the last leg of our trip though :(

 

Thoughts, etc.?

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I was in both of those cities this fall, and found luxury items to be much more expensive than the states due to heavy taxing. Film cost about the same in Tokyo as the states and some digital cameras slightly cheaper. Yodobashi is fun place to browse though. If you want cheaper gear Hong Kong/Singapore is the place to go.

 

I recommend getting dental work done in Bangkok though. I didn't and am now kicking myself as I need a couple of crowns and it's about $900 there vs $2700 here and the quality of medical care is supposed to be real good there. Not an issue if you have insurance of course.

 

Have fun - those are both great cities. make sure to get up early in Tokyo for the Tsukiji fish market and visit the Leica gallery/store in Ginza.

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I had a different experience to the previous appender. I have been travelling to Tokyo for 20+ years and have found the following two shops on the maps to have Leica second hand products and new products cheaper than Europe.

 

Yodabashi just sells at RRP prices..... (I use this shop to get my brochures)

 

I placed two maps of how to get to these shops on the following link

 

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/15560-introduction-m8-questions.html?highlight=shinjuku

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Of course, Leica gear may be more expensive in Australia than either US or Japan and therefore a seeming bargain to previous poster. I found cameras there to be more expensive (and I've been buying Leica gear 15 plus years now), but fun to check out the stores as the Japanese are obsessive collectors and have everything. I'm sure you can bargain down some but even then I think much better off with ebay, etc or buying from Hong Kong. On the other hand, I found Japan to be much more affordable than everyone thinks esp if you eat in local restaurants etc. Sushi can be found for mcuh cheaper (like a third the price) than US particuarly the conveyor belt style.

 

Have fun!

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Ok, here's a photo of the Leica shop on the EAST (not south as incorrectly psosted) side of Shinjuku station.

 

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/13874-l1-shoots-film-leicas.html?highlight=shinjuku

 

The prices in the photos are for both New and second gear... were December 2006, and they are negotiable

 

I did direct comparison's of prices in Tokyo Dec-06 and Paris / London Jan-07 if you know your prices, you find some great bargains in Tokyo.

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I had a different experience to the previous appender. I have been travelling to Tokyo for 20+ years and have found the following two shops on the maps to have Leica second hand products and new products cheaper than Europe.

 

Yodabashi just sells at RRP prices..... (I use this shop to get my brochures)

 

I placed two maps of how to get to these shops on the following link

 

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/15560-introduction-m8-questions.html?highlight=shinjuku

 

Hi Dugby,

 

are you talking about MAP Camera and LEMON? There was another really nice shop in Shinjuku, just across Yodobashi, but they closed a few years ago.

 

Best regards

 

Karl-Heinz

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Hello Karl-heinz.

 

No sorry, my reference to MAPS, is that I placed two street maps from maps.google.com

onto the above weblink, showing how people can find the referenced shops selling Leica in Shinjuku and the Ginza.

 

Yodabashi is a great shop for their display range. The Shinjuku Yodabashi is quite small. the Akihabara Yodabashi is much larger and has the best on display range of Photography gear.

 

However the two small shops I referenced have a much larger range of Leica gear than any of the two Yodabashi shops I referenced.

 

I also appended above, a link to a I took photo of some recent prices of New and second-hand goods in the Shinjuku store selling Leica gear.

 

Hope this answers your question.

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Hi,

 

there is a shop called MAP Camera in Shinjiku..... they have a huge selection of used and new gear.

But I think I now know the shop you have in mind - at least the one in Shinjuku.

 

Guess on my next trip I'll stay again in Keio Plaza and go shopping in the evening. :)

 

Best regards

 

KH

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