A7 and A7R Shipping from Amazon Japan, $300+ less than US retail

[monza]

Amazon Japan - A7 in stock, ¥ 134,800 ($1350)

 

[Knorp]

Very tempting, but how to avoid customs and consequently import duties ?

Kind regards.

 

[Vivek]

Bart, That is one worry (here but not the US, I think). The bigger problem is trying to read everything in Japanese. :shocked:

 

[monza]

Never had any duties from Japan shipments to USA; Netherlands…I would guess that isn't the case

 

[Ron Pfister]

The other problem is that Amazon doesn't let you ship this item to an address outside Japan (I tried). Shame!

 

[monza]

Yes, gotta have a friend to forward it, or there are companies that will do so

 

[SKueh]

Any difference between the US and Japanese version? I remember on the early day of NEX 7 when US supply was short, people found out there was some differnce on the video system on those that came directly from Japan. What about warranty?

 

[monza]

Japan uses NTSC for video.

 

[Ron Pfister]

Japan uses NTSC for video.

We've left NTSC behind with SD, but the difference is the frame rates:

60i/p for former NTSC countries
50i/p for former PAL/SECAM countries

FileAL-NTSC-SECAM.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[monza]

and perhaps Japanese-only menus on these cameras.

 

[Ron Pfister]

and perhaps Japanese-only menus on these cameras.

I don't think so, but changing from the likely Japanese default menu language to another may prove to be a challenge...

 

[monza]

If it's Japanese-default, with other language options, that's easy. If it's Japanese-only, now that's a true challenge!

 

[mmbma]

do they have shipping options to the US? I doubt it

 

[mmbma]

If you can't figure out the Amazon JP page, use Rakuten.com. They are the #1 electronic seller, and they have both A7r and the A7 in stock, free shipping to USA

 

[yatlee]

I think it's Japanese manual only.

 

[neil]

I tried a Japanese version. The menu system is locked to Japanese language only. It cannot be changed to another language. Good value if you can read Japanese.

Neil

 

[roanjoh]

How do you say Mirror lock up in Japanese?! Oh wait, this camera don't have one! LOL! Seriously, I hope the US market will not be short stocked!

 

[gurtch]

I just did a Google search, and down loaded the complete A7R/A7 Instruction manual, in English.
Dave

 

[neil]

In Tokyo the sony a7r started to sell last Friday. On that day the three shops I walked past had the camera in stock. Today I walked past two of the shops again and the camera was available. Looks like there is a good supply of these cameras. There is no problem with getting one if you have the money to buy !

I managed to resist the urge to buy for all of 45 minutes after the shop opened.
( even after warning myself not to buy yet another camera. )

Neil

Ps.

The Leica WATE seems to work really well. At 16,18 and 21 mm there is NO color smearing in the corners.
Corners are sharp by f8. They are good at f5.6. A little soft at f4.
Amazing result considering its a 36 meg sensor.
Any cast or vigneting can be corrected by software.
Hope capture one supports this camera soon for LCC.

Pps.

The Leica 24 mm f2.8. Asph. Also seems to works well.
Corners are sharp by f8. They are usable at f5.6.
Again a good result considering its a 36 meg sensor.

I am too embarrassed to post the example shots as it's a picture of a building wall.

 

[Vivek]

Neil, Brick wall shots are more useful than the 100s of cat snaps appearing on Flickr. Post them.