And of course lenses, for the simple reason that prices are ridiculously high for some reason. I was once again in the mood for a wide angle lens for my DSLR and thought I’d make note of it here.
Currently the price for Nikon’s 10-24mm f/3.5/4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX is $849.95 (Click for price today). Now at Bic Camera, one of many reputable stores here in Japan, it’s 83,100 Yen (Current link). At today’s exchange rate of 76.6 Yen, the price comes out to be $1061.29. Adorama’s highest priced shipping option is FedEx International Priority at $88.80 to Japan, so one still comes out ahead. The differential is worse if you consider a gray market lens, and the fact that a 5 year warranty is extra cost here. As another example the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm F2.8G ED is currently 182,200 Yen, or $2,378.43, which Adorama is offering for $1,886.95! These are all street prices of course.
This is nothing new as I hear custom officials in the US don’t even bother looking at camera equipment, and have noticed this personally on trips there previously. But it is a sad state of affairs!
