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From: hash@whuxl.UUCP (HASHIZUME)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo,net.consumers
Subject: Re: Buying in Japan
Message-ID: <263@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 1-Oct-84 09:04:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxl.263
Posted: Mon Oct  1 09:04:55 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 3-Oct-84 05:51:17 EDT
References: <1367@browngr.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs
Lines: 23


According to New York Magazine and my experience, the best places to buy
a camera is Hong Kong and New York City.  I did not go to Hong Kong, but
I did compare prices in NYC to various stores in Japan and did indeed find
that it is cheaper in NYC (tax included).  It is more fun to shop for
consumer electronics in Japan though.  
I think for any intelligent consumer should decide what to get BEFORE
buying especially anything expensive and in a foreign country (it'll
be hard to return it to the store).

As far as a 2.25" sq or larger camera, my (inexperienced) 2 cents worth is,
that the flexiblity, versatility, and cheaper price of a 35mm camera outweighs
the advantage of a 2.25" sq camera.  The larger format does not really buy
anything until you reach view camera format.  I know a few pro photographers
and they do not really use the 2.25" sq format camera even though coming
out of photography school that was THE camera to use once you hit the pros.
The larger format camera does affect the psychology of shooting, i.e. one
tends to work slower and more carefully and think more about the shot.

Good luck and have a good trip.
Mark Hashizume
AT&T Bell Labs, Whippany, NJ
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