Job Discussion Forums

Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

I'm in the market for a digital camera. Ideally something in the 5 megapixel range. I was wondering if the technological advances and lower prices (if existant) warrant waiting to buy such a camera in Japan rather than in Canada. How much further ahead are they as far as digital cameras go?

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

I'm not sure about prices in Canada but I bought my digital camera here and at that time it wasn't even available in Australia. When I went home recently and checked prices, the same model was much more expensive in Australia so I suppose I got a pretty good deal.

I had no problems getting an English instruction manual for it (cost 500yen) and just downloaded the English software from the Nikon website too. And all that in a small camera shop in the relatively small town where I live so I'm sure in a big city you could do it easily too.

As Das Fads · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 44

two words. WAIT. oh sorry that was only one.

Seriously, range and price is better here, many of the digicams have English as an option, and if they don't it doesn't really matter...hey it's digital, you can fark up as many shots as you want in experimenting.

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

SofMap in major cities has 'used' cameras a a fraction of the cost...I bought a brand new Canon 4 MP for 200$ CDN less than a 'new' one.

You can find the English versions of the manual on line if you buy Canon.

Save the money...WAY cheaper here....WAY!!!
And much better selection.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I'd say the prices are about the same. I live in Japan, bought a digital camera 6 months ago and am now on holidays in Canada. I've been looking at prices here and they seem about the same as Japan. Sales are probably the biggest factor.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

The short answer is this: like other people said, prices will be similar... I really haven't noticed many electronics being much cheaper here in Japan than back in Canada.... With the exception of cell phones.... What you get and the price is comparatively amazing!

But anyway, I digress. The choice is yours, but you will find in Japan, a much larger selection, more brands, types, etc..etc.... Especially if you go hunting in a place like Akihabara...

Now, here's the downside... Everything on the camera is going to be in Japanese, with little chance of any English instructions or assistance.

Having said that, you will also notice that most likely the drivers and software will be in Japanese also. But if that doesn't bother you, don't be deterred. Word of advice: NEVER ask a Japanese salesman whether something will work with an English Operating System.... The answer is always, NO! (Without exception)... However, reality dictates otherwise... For most applications and hardware, I've found that Windows is Windows.... And as long as it says on the box it can handle your particular variety of it (WinME, 98, 2000, XP).... it will likely work.... Although there may be some gobbelty-gook that neither you (nor your computer) understands..... So far, I've bought a CD-RW and an Epson printer, both local models that don't export out of Japan.... But the actual device driver itself was in English (lucky me) even though I had to go through gibberish screens on the install CD for the Epson.

I also had my film developped in a local shop (Yes, I actually STILL shoot a conventional camera) and had them put it onto a photo CD (much cheaper than getting prints made). This too was all in Japanese (as in the software to view the pictures)....(Fujifilm, by the way)... Well, I can still use the software, even though all I see is gobbelty-gook, and if I don't want to go through the hassle, they were kind enough to save everything as a JPEG, so my favorite viewing program works great!

Lastly, the school has a laser printer on its LAN network.... This time the device driver itself was Japanese, but my computer thinks it's OK.... I just can't read the options (though selecting them in the pull-down bars works)...

SO, there you have it.... Hope that helps..... Smile

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

mrAndrew · Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 12 Location: Portland, Oregon

I have a question about the "gabldigook" sorry if misspelled that Rolling Eyes

. Are the menus in katakana for the most part? I just finished an intensive Japanese 101 course and am continuing to self study, I can read the Kana and I am planning to get a new labtop and set it up with japanese O/S, do I need to be very Kanji savy to do this. Same question with the software for the digicams.
Thanks in advance
mrA

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

No... Really, man.... I don't mean 'kana' I mean gobbletygook!

Although programs like IME can help your computer read Japanese, things like install programs and drivers still tend to appear as garbage characters on the screen (and not kana). My understanding is, that the only way to get things to display properly is to have an actual Japanese OS....

Hence, the reason why most salesmen will try to discourage you from trying the product if they know you have a computer with an English OS..... At least that's been my experience, although you'll notice I have a slight difference in opinion regarding this experience with a previous poster.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Oh.. sorry man... .didn't notice you mentioned you ARE actually getting a Japanese OS. In that case, it will work..... Everything will display 100% fine.

As for my own dealings with a Japanese OS -- yeah, there's a fair bit of katakana, but like any Japanese text, they certainly will throw in a fair share of hiragana and kanji too.

I'm just a newbie when it comes to Japanese, but I know that quite often even some of the fairly conversational Japanese-speaking foreigners call in the Japanese staff to translate when the silly machine is spewing errors in Japanese all over the screen... Smile

G-luck.......

Wink

Guile · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:03 am Post subject:

Canuck: i'd certainly buy one over there. even if it's something like an Olympus with no language switching options right on the camera, you can likely have the shop send it to the manufacturer and get it flashed to an English version before u take it home.

JimDunlop: both my laptop (a japanese one, but completely re-installed/configured by me with english WinXP) and my desktop PC bought here in Canada can display and input Japanese characters no problem... u just have to install all the Japanese language support stuff via 'control panel -> regional and language options'