Have $250,000 burning a gap in your pocket? Kitamura Digital camera has the deal for you!: Digital Images Evaluate
Kitamura Digital camera has about 600 areas “from Okinawa to Hokkaido” (throughout Japan). I visited their gorgeous flagship retailer in Shinjuku, positioned simply East of Shinjuku Station. They provide a full vary of each new and used picture gear, movie and providers, together with an intensive restore division, even dealing with Apple restore on the basement degree.
Picture: Kitamura Digital camera
I all the time prolong my enterprise journeys to Japan past the naked minimal wanted for enterprise, as a result of I can by no means get sufficient of the nation, its individuals and its tradition. Most not too long ago, I stayed on a few weeks previous the tip of the CP+ 2024 picture commerce present, utilizing a part of the time to discover the world of used cameras in Tokyo. There are used-camera retailers unfold all throughout the town, however the largest focus is within the Shinjuku neighborhood, inside blocks of the huge Shinjuku prepare station.
Shinjuku’s used-camera scene is wonderful; a real Mecca for film-camera lovers, with choices at each value level from a few {dollars} for a ‘perhaps it would work’ point-and-shoot to a whole bunch of 1000’s of {dollars} for ultra-rare collector’s objects.
Time allowing, I hope to write down one other story that may function a information to purchasing a used digital camera in Tokyo, which is arguably the perfect place on this planet to take action.
Hiroyuki Mizutani is the Concierge of Kitamura Digital camera’s vintage-camera enterprise, specializing in collectible Leica our bodies and lenses together with some extremely uncommon and precious fashions. The digital camera he’s holding is without doubt one of the extraordinarily uncommon olive-green “Bundeseigentum” M3 fashions made for the German authorities. (Word the black gloves, a trademark of the Classic Salon.)
Picture: Azusa Kumei, Kitamura Digital camera
This story, although, is about my introduction to the world of ultra-rare collector’s objects after I visited Kitamura Digital camera’s flagship retailer simply east of Shinjuku Station, and a dialog I had with the surprisingly younger Concierge of that division, Mr. Hiroyuki Mizutani.
Kitamura Digital camera operates a sequence of roughly 600 digital camera shops all throughout Japan, from Okinawa to Hokkaido, because the Japanese expression goes. (The phrase is much like ‘from east to west’ within the US.) They constructed a large and opulent flagship retailer in a primary Shinjuku location in 2020, timed for the 2020 Olympics.)
This pair of Leica Summilux 50mm F1.4 lenses was my first trace of what awaited in Kitamura’s Classic Salon. These have been on the extra prosaic 4th flooring, however on the then-current alternate fee, they have been priced at $15,900 and $36,700 respectively. The dearer mannequin is the unique model, produced for under 2 years from 1959-1961 earlier than being supplanted by the opposite one, which was bought with solely beauty adjustments from 1961-2004 when it was lastly changed by the ASPH mannequin.
I used to be amazed by the vary and high quality of used cameras that they had on show on the 4th flooring of the constructing (they’ve almost 3,500 objects of their stock), together with what appeared like some very high-priced objects. After seeing a Leica 50mm F1.4 lens priced at 5,500,000 ¥ ($36,700 on the time), I remarked to an worker about these costs, and he replied, “Oh, that is nothing; you must see the sixth flooring!”
It seems the sixth flooring homes Kitamura Digital camera’s “Classic Salon,” devoted to really uncommon and precious collector’s objects. I used to be blown away after I noticed an early Leica constructed for the German Military bearing a price ticket of 40,000,000 Yen, or greater than $250,000 USD on the then-current all-time excessive alternate fee. It turned out that wasn’t even essentially the most precious mannequin on provide.
I requested Mizutani-san if he’d be prepared to be interviewed about his expertise and the world of ultra-high-end digital camera collectors, and he agreed.
The “Classic Salon” on the sixth flooring exudes understated magnificence. The far wall showcases notably uncommon objects, and the low flat circumstances show featured fashions. A vertical show case and the wall behind it holding bigger numbers of less-rare collectibles are off-camera to the left, whereas the wall off-camera to the best holds newer fashions. I wouldn’t enterprise a guess on the overall worth of the gear on this one room, nevertheless it’s simply within the thousands and thousands of US {dollars}.
Mizutani-san was very affected person with my lack of Japanese and the ensuing inconvenience of passing either side of the dialog backwards and forwards via our telephones. AI transcription software program and my hand-tuned translator GPT helped me flip our phrases into the story under, however the AIs had loads of problem with the uneven dialogue and the repetition in two languages as our telephones echoed our phrases.
In consequence, whereas I’ve written this up as if it have been a steady dialog, it’s, actually, closely edited for continuity; I requested Mizutani-san to look over a rigorously translated model in Japanese to verify I didn’t misrepresent something he stated, however any errors listed here are completely my fault.
It was attention-grabbing to listen to about Mizutani-san’s journey from a barista at a photograph cafe to the “Concierge” of one of many largest classic digital camera companies in Japan. I hope you’ll discover it as attention-grabbing as I did!
The start of the journey
Dave Etchells: How previous have been you whenever you first grew to become concerned about images? What sparked your curiosity? What was your first digital camera?
Hiroyuki Mizutani: The set off for my curiosity in images actually got here after I started working right here. It was really after I began working at Kitamura Digital camera that I grew to become concerned about images itself. If something, I used to be initially extra within the guide, mechanical cameras themselves, and it was as a result of Kitamura Digital camera handled such cameras that I joined the corporate; from there, I began to have interaction in images.
Dave Etchells: Was this your job after faculty? Did you begin part- or full-time?
Hiroyuki Mizutani: I began with a part-time job. It wasn’t at a college, however after graduating from highschool, I started working at Digital camera Kitamura whereas I used to be attending a vocational faculty. I believe I began in the course of the varsity yr, I used to be learning movie and theater on the time.
Right here’s a stunning pair of Leica Noctilux 50mm F1.2s, extremely prized as the primary Leica lens to make use of an aspheric factor (a double-sided one at that), and in addition attributable to solely round 1,700 of them having been produced (quantity estimates range). They have been fiendishly troublesome to make and Leica had no method of testing them till they have been fully assembled, with the outcome that solely about 50% of them ended up ok to promote. The result’s the form of worth you see right here; the Spring Sale pricing is $74,400 and $52,800, respectively. (The model with the “ft” scale in pink is much more uncommon, therefore the upper worth.)
Picture: Azusa Kumei, Kitamura Digital camera
Dave Etchells: How did you find yourself promoting cameras, what was the connection to Kitamura?
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Earlier than becoming a member of Digital camera Kitamura, I labored for some time at a photograph café, the place you can order photographs whereas having fun with a espresso. I used to be working as a barista, on the coffee-making aspect of issues, and somebody I met there launched me to Digital camera Kitamura. That was the set off for me ending up at Kitamura.
Dave Etchells: You at the moment handle the Leica enterprise for Kitamura; how did you initially grow to be concerned with Leicas? What was behind your curiosity in them?
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Initially, I used to be concerned in numerous facets, promoting many various kinds of movie cameras and even visiting clients’ houses for digital camera purchases, coping with each gross sales and acquisition of varied cameras. Being acknowledged for these efforts and having a background working with guide and movie cameras at Kitamura Digital camera have been each vital elements. Moreover, the earlier supervisor, Maruyama-san, with whom I had labored on the first retailer, performed an element in me being assigned right here. It is partly attributable to these elements – my monitor report and the reference to Maruyama – that I got here to be a part of this division.
Kitamura Digital camera’s two Shinjuku areas are on the east and west sides of the huge, sprawling Shinjuku Station. Shinjuku Station is bewilderingly complicated, as hinted at by all of the red-tinted areas exhibiting underground passageways and malls. Google Maps suggests the quickest route between the 2 shops is to go via the station. Don’t imagine it, stick with floor journey! Even Tokyo locals typically get misplaced in Shinjuku station. (If arriving by prepare, search for indicators to the principle East or West exits after which navigate to the shops on the floor from there.)
Dave Etchells: So that you labored as a form of apprentice to Maruyama-san, as you discovered the enterprise of shopping for and promoting cameras, easy methods to set costs, make gives, and so forth?
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Really, it was a little bit bit totally different. Kitamura Digital camera has about 600 shops nationwide, and I labored with movie cameras at among the different shops as properly. I lived in Kanagawa Prefecture. Initially, I labored in Shinjuku, then moved to Tachikawa within the west of Tokyo, and after that, I labored in Osaka for a number of years. I labored along with Mr. Maruyama on the Shinjuku retailer over by the West Gate. That retailer known as Digital camera no Kitamura, the Shinjuku Nishiguchi store. The shop was positioned on the West Exit. [Nishiguchi means “west entrance”]
[Editor’s note: The Camera no Kitagura store still exists, just a block or so from the West Exit of the massive Shinjuku train station. It stocks a full range of photo products, both new and used. Travelers should take note of their 1-hour sensor cleaning service, available for most interchangeable-lens cameras at both locations.]
Dave Etchells: Who was Maruyama-san, was he an proprietor of the enterprise or simply an skilled worker?
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Mr. Maruyama oversees the Leica division at this retailer. The shop we labored at collectively beforehand was referred to as Digital camera no Kitamura. This Shinjuku Kitamura Digital camera retailer that we’re in right now is the flagship retailer of the whole nationwide 600-store Kitamura Digital camera chain.
Monitoring the worldwide market
Dave Etchells: How do you handle to maintain up with every part that’s occurring within the Leica world? I am positive it’s a worldwide enterprise, and it have to be exhausting to maintain monitor of what merchandise are on the market, what costs they’re promoting for, and so forth.
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Sure, that’s proper. It is fairly troublesome. As I’ve been working this retailer for a number of years although, clients have instructed me about loads of issues that the general public doesn’t get to listen to about, and I’ve managed to collect info from world wide. After doing this for a number of years now, I really feel like I’m lastly getting a very good image of what’s actually occurring available in the market vs. simply what occurs in public auctions.
A great deal of Leicas: That is only a small choice of the uncommon Leicas within the Classic Salon. There gave the impression to be 4 tiers: Essentially the most distinctive ones are showcased on the left wall, very uncommon ones are in these low, flat circumstances, extra atypical collectibles are in a tall vertical case and wall on the rapid left as you enter, and extra trendy collectibles displayed alongside the wall to the best. It’s a must-visit store for Leica collectors, no matter their degree.
Dave Etchells: Do you spend time on-line, seeing what is going on on in different international locations, what the fashions are … Is there some type of group or a gaggle of top-level collectors and sellers you work together with? I am interested in your sources of data.
Hiroyuki Mizutani: I believe there are horizontal connections amongst clients, however I haven’t got a very good grasp of what these teams are. However, we take part in on-line gross sales and well-known worldwide auctions, and naturally, we’re watching the public sale costs in all places.
Dave Etchells: So, many cameras at this degree are bought world wide, at auctions in numerous international locations?
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Sure, cameras of this degree are bought in nice numbers at auctions in numerous international locations. That is nonetheless the case now; it is difficult. Some objects hardly ever seem or seem solely very often, which might make pricing them tougher.
Lest you assume the Classic Salon shares solely historical, world-weary cameras and lenses, the wall in your proper as you enter the room has a stunning array of newer fashions in pristine situation.
Discovering cameras
Dave Etchells: We’ve talked about auctions. Are there different methods you discover the cameras to promote? You talked about going to individuals’s houses. Do you hear about them in some way, or do individuals deliver their cameras right here on the flagship retailer as a result of the corporate is so well-known? Maybe not simply huge collectors, however atypical individuals who occur to personal these cameras.
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Sure, we additionally buy cameras from individuals who come immediately right here. I discussed earlier that there are about 600 shops within the Kitamura Digital camera community; all of those retailers function buying factors for us. If a neighborhood retailer is not educated a couple of explicit mannequin, they will contact us right here [at headquarters], and we are able to inform them the right value. I believe this helps clients really feel assured about promoting to us.
“I can say for positive that there are loads of very profitable people who find themselves concerned about images. After all, there are additionally some celebrities, however once more, I am unable to share any names”
Dave Etchells: I am curious, who’re the collectors who can purchase cameras like those you will have right here on the sixth flooring? Are they celebrities? Are they enterprise individuals? Are they buyers? What do your clients appear to be, and what sort of persons are they that come via?
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Effectively, after all, I can’t share any particulars as a result of that will be personal buyer info. Whereas I can’t give any specifics, I can say for positive that there are loads of very profitable people who find themselves concerned about images. After all, there are additionally some celebrities, however once more, I am unable to share any names.
The 2 most uncommon specimens in the principle Classic Salon showroom are this pair of olive-green M3 Bundeseigentum (“federal property”) fashions made for the German authorities. The one on the left is from the primary manufacturing batch, and the one on the best is from the third. These inexperienced M3s are exceptionally uncommon, as solely 300 or so have been manufactured, and it’s estimated that solely 142 stay. Costs will range with the market, however in the event you’re searching for a first-batch Bundeseigentum in good situation, you must have at the very least $250,000 in your checking account.
Picture: Azusa Kumei, Kitamura Digital camera
Dave Etchells: I hold coming again to the query of the way you determine what costs to placed on the cameras. That have to be particularly difficult within the case of very uncommon cameras, that don’t seem in the marketplace fairly often.
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Sure, it’s actually tough, nevertheless it’s the identical fundamental reply: We monitor public sale costs world wide, observe what comparable cameras have bought for, and regulate the value as acceptable given the route of the market (which is usually upward). For very uncommon cameras, they might not change palms fairly often, so it requires a deep understanding of the market to understand how demand might need modified because the final sale of one thing comparable.
One-in-a-million finds
Dave Etchells: I think about that you’ve got tales about some notably thrilling acquisitions or gross sales. Are you able to share any of them?
Hidden away from the principle showroom, the Classic Salon’s “VIP room” has the rarest of the uncommon fashions on show and locked in cabinets, for unique viewing by top-tier collectors. Mizutani-san requested that I not reveal particulars to most people, but when $75,000 for a Nocticron 50mm F1.2 or $250,000 for a well-used Bundeseigentum M3 quantities to mere pocket change for you, you would possibly discover one thing extra to your style and funds right here.
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Effectively, I really assume promoting each digital camera is thrilling. Particularly when clients use the digital camera to take photographs and are happy with it, that’s after I really feel actually glad to be doing this job. Once they deliver photographs they’ve taken into the shop, taken with a digital camera that I bought to them and present them to me, that makes me very glad.
Dave Etchells: I can think about that’s rewarding, feeling that you simply’ve contributed to somebody’s enjoyment of images. Had been there moments whenever you have been stunned by what somebody introduced in to promote, although?
“I by no means imagined that one thing so extraordinarily uncommon would simply present up at one in every of our shops”
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Oh sure, one time I used to be very stunned. I received a query from one in every of our shops a couple of digital camera somebody had introduced in that was extraordinarily uncommon. It was so uncommon that I had solely ever seen it talked about in magazines and books, by no means really on the market anyplace on this planet. I sadly can’t title the digital camera as a result of it grew to become a part of a non-public assortment, and the proprietor requires strict confidentiality, nevertheless it was a really uncommon mannequin certainly. I’m sorry I can’t inform you extra about it, however I by no means imagined that one thing so extraordinarily uncommon would simply present up at one in every of our shops. I’ve additionally had very uncommon cameras introduced into this retailer right here as properly.
Kitamura Digital camera’s flagship retailer is a good place to purchase a full vary of used cameras, each movie and digital, with upwards of three,500 merchandise in inventory on their 4th flooring. In contrast to most used digital camera shops I visited in Shinjuku, Kitamura gives a full 6-month guarantee on the used gear they promote. The costs are a bit greater consequently, however I personally assume the reassurance is properly price it.
Enterprise is booming
Dave Etchells: How is the used-camera market typically going lately? When you needed to guess, how far more used movie digital camera quantity is Kitamura Digital camera seeing now in comparison with, say, 2019, earlier than the pandemic?
Hiroyuki Mizutani: Evaluating the used movie digital camera market to 2019 earlier than the pandemic, principally, the amount of products and the variety of objects accessible has been lowering yr by yr. Nonetheless, I imagine the rarity of this stuff has been rising. Completely, sure; since I began working, I believe the variety of individuals utilizing movie cameras has tremendously elevated, and I discover this to be very pleasing.
The Panon Digital camera Shoko firm (very loosely “Panon Digital camera Specialists”) is finest identified for its line of Widelux 35mm panoramic cameras with rotating lens assemblies. They started with medium-format panoramic fashions although, beginning with the Panon 50A in 1952. That is an AIII mannequin, launched in 1953; a 50mm lens rotates to seize a complete area of view of 140 levels.
Dave Etchells: What do you see for the way forward for the collector’s market? Is it rising, holding regular or declining? Do you see youthful individuals coming into the Leica market, albeit maybe not but clients for the Classic Salon?
Hiroyuki Mizutani: I believe that is an unknown world, even for us. We’re glad to see many various varieties of consumers come, together with younger, prosperous ones. I believe that lots of the younger people who find themselves shopping for used movie cameras right now are simply getting began of their lives. After they’ve made more cash, maybe a few of them will grow to be collectors.
It occurs that I am answerable for this flooring, however basically, I’ve all the time favored the cameras on the fourth flooring as properly. Subsequently, I introduce them to numerous individuals and interact in promoting them as properly. I believe it will be nice if I could lead on the circulate of individuals in that method, getting them concerned about cameras on the 4th flooring after which later getting them concerned about classic cameras. I hope that the classic world will grow to be an increasing number of thrilling as time goes on.
Conclusion
Seeing Kitamura Digital camera’s Classic Salon and speaking with Mizutani-san was an interesting glimpse into the world of ultra-wealthy Leica collectors. Contemplating the costs new Leica our bodies and lenses promote for, I had all the time assumed that Leica gathering can be a dear pastime, however I had no concept simply how expensive. It is exhausting for me to wrap my head across the type of wealth it will take to think about spending the value of a modest home simply to fill a niche in your assortment of uncommon cameras. What actually introduced it dwelling for me, although, was the sheer variety of cameras and lenses that Kitamura Digital camera has on this class. It appeared {that a} price ticket of $20-30,000 was simply the start line in a room with 100 or extra objects on show, and much more precious ones tucked away and proven solely to VIP clients. Much more than the amount of classic gear Kitamura Digital camera themselves have on show, speaking with Mizutani-san made me understand simply how deep the classic Leica waters run. For a critical participant, it is not only a matter of proudly owning a 50mm F1.2 Noctilux, however whether or not they have each the red- and yellow-lettered variations of their assortment. For some M3 our bodies, the distinction between having a white or black frame-counter dial can imply one other $50,000 – $100,000 on the value, and naturally, what assortment could possibly be full with out each variations?
“Speaking with Mizutani-san made me understand simply how deep the classic Leica waters run”
I used to be intrigued by Mizutani-san’s personal story, too, a path that led from pulling espresso pictures at a espresso/picture cafe to managing one of many premier classic digital camera companies in Japan and maybe the world. Past all this, although, Kitamura Digital camera’s flagship retailer was only a enjoyable place to go to. The Classic Salon is well worth the journey only for the expertise of seeing row after row of uncommon cameras and lenses with stratospheric costs. For me, although, the 4th flooring was much more attention-grabbing, with its rows of crisp wooden and glass showcases stuffed with previous however functioning movie cameras of each type possible. (They’ve loads of used digital gear, too; it is simply that I used to be extra within the movie aspect of issues.) For a photo-tourist on a buying expedition, Kitamura Digital camera has loads to supply; their costs for used gear are a bit greater than you will discover in lots of the different retailers round Shinjuku. Nonetheless, there is a essential distinction in that Kitamura ensures its used gear for six months, whereas many of the competing shops work on a consignment foundation, which suggests they famously have “20-20” warrantees (20 seconds or 20 paces, whichever comes first). As a lot as I loved visiting Kitamura Digital camera’s flagship retailer, although, I’ve to say I am glad I do not dwell anyplace close to it: My checking account would too rapidly flip into piles of previous picture gear that have been simply too attention-grabbing to go up 🙂
