When I first joined Team DSLR my first camera was from a forum member at Fred Miranda. It was a Canon 10D. I had zero clue about cropped sensor or anything else. The 10D came with an EF 28-105mm 3.5-5.6 USM kit lens. It was at a very good price. I bought it when the either the 40D or 50D hit the market.
Later on I decided to trade up. I decided to buy an EOS 5D. I didn't know about KEH or MPB during that time. So I headed to eBay. What I saw there made me sad. Many of cameras were in such terrible shape. The sellers didn't bother to even clean the dust before they posted photos.
So then I decided to look internationally. Japan. I had been warned by everyone who says I'll get burned and lose money, etc. My second camera purchase was that 5D from Japan. It came with the EOM boxes and all the accessories as well as the vertical grip, batteries, charger, documentation and all of it looked new. The camera itself was near flawless in appearance and functionality. The photos were amazing.
I was still shooting film. I decided to buy an EOS 1. KEH and MPB didn't have any in stock and hadn't seen them in a while due to the age. So I went back to eBay and searched. This was roughly 10 to 13 years ago.
I found a seller in Japan who had one he claimed was in excellent condition. It too had the OEM box, manual, strap, documents, original receipt in Japanese and a standard EF 50mm f/1.8. I took another chance and bough it.
From Japan it arrived at my front door three days later and it was immaculately packed. The camera was much better than I hoped. Barely any signs of use and still had that new 'car' smell (no pun), the lens was also near flawless. I popped in a 2CR5 battery and it fired right up. I shot one roll of film in and around my home when the prints came back I was more than pleased.
From there my further purchases of film cameras from Japan includes the EOS 1N and 1V both with the power booster, EOM boxes, accessories, paperwork, and original receipts.
Then onto the Fujifilm GW690II medium format. There weren't too many in the US for sale so I turned to Japan again. I found one from the same seller and when it arrived it too was near flawless in appearance. This sale include the camera and manual no EOM boxes this time.
However on this camera there was dust inside the rangefinder/viewfinder. I messaged the seller who immediately offered a full refund and would send me a shipping label so I could send the camera back. I declined. This camera was in too good a condition to send it back.
When I tried to get it cleaned at a Fujifilm service center here in the US they offered to do it for nearly what I paid for the camera. The seller got back to me with news that a Fujifilm service center a few miles from her home would do it. She sent me a shipping label and off the camera went. Three weeks later she messaged me with the news that the service center performed a full CLA for 13,000 Yen or roughly $90USD.
The seller then paid for the CLA and return shipping to me. Talk about customer service!
When I am in the market for used camera equipment I look at what the Japanese sellers have before I turn to KEH or MPB.
My most recent purchase from Japan was the EOS 1Ds MkII that included, you guessed it, EOM box, accessories, batteries, charger, paperwork, etc. The appearance and functionality is as it always is near flawless.
My stable of Canon cameras from Japanese eBay sellers are the EOS 1, 1N w/PB, EOS 1V w/PB, EOS 1Ds MkII, EOS 5D and the lone Fujifilm GW690II. The only other film camera I'd be interested in is a Canon film camera from the 1950s. I haven't decided which one I'd like as long as it functions.
Have any of you been brave enough to buy internationally or do you prefer home grown sellers on eBay, KEH or MPB?
