OldShooter

Has anyone dealt with this company? I'm interested in a used lens they have on eBay where they have very high activity and rating.

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Never heard of them.

BebuLamar

I’ve been there. Nice, extremely wrll stock but very tight with place in at least 3 stories if not 5.

asaya Loc: Syracuse, NY

I have purchased a couple of items through them (Lenses) product just as described in ebay ad's prices are reasonable

erickter Loc: Dallas,TX

I was at their store in Tokyo in Feburary 2020. They're legit. 5 story bldg. tons of new and used gear. Did some price checks. In line with market, but no deals that day so didn't buy anything.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

With all due respect, why not buying here? I assume you live in this country.

In the first place most reputable dealers here will send you the lens you want in a few days, it will take longer from Japan unless you want to pay a small fortune for shipping. If there is something wrong with the lens you have to send it back to Japan while if the lens is bought here you will have a minimum of 3-6 months warranty and returning the lens will also be a few days...if you have to return it. If you need to talk to someone at the store usually they have a toll free number. Try that in Japan.

For a few dollars more I prefer to make business here and many times buying here is cheaper and gives me peace of mind.
Just my personal opinion.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

I used to buy from them all the time when I lived in Tokyo. Absolutely reputable and with a six month guarantee.

Collhar Loc: New York City.

BebuLamar

The OP was buying used and perhaps the store in Japan has a sample that matches the OP need. I found many used item listed on ebay from Japan are of better condition than those in the US.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

Because, is an used lens that probably he is not able to get in the US.
If you would check on Ebay camera items gear you'll see that many times the item is mostly available only from Japan at the condition that you want and many times at serial number you're looking for.
I have bought quite a few items from Japan because just those reasons. Moreover, yours and some other posters sense of nationalism is misguided. We live in an global economy, regardless were/who you buy from someone here in the US is making a profit that helps the economy.

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

Why don't you check them out on Ebay? They usually have a list of about 4,000 items, well priced and described. Very professional and reliable.

goldstar46 Loc: Tampa, Fl

[quote=OldShooter]Has anyone dealt with this company? I'm interested in a used lens they have on eBay where they have very high activity and rating.[/quote
=========================================================

Hi Old-Shooter... Just thought I would 'chime-in' with an opinion & respond to your question...
...... My response is "Where's the BEEF" in buying from MapCamers ?????

To begin with, No, I have never heard of MapCamera on the eBay network and I do a lot of buying there
... But, from time to time, just like you, I have continued to give consideration to buying from Japan

SO, I have revisited the issue today & I did a search for a EF 300mm F/2.8, which is something I want...
... And I found one at the below link which is being sold my MapCamera

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EF300mm-F-2-8L-IS-II-USM-16/353062959890?epid=1502891782&hash=item5234313b12:g:rvIAAOSwl4xegZb5

The above listed "Used 300 MM" is selling for US $3,849.79 - It is missing a 'Hood' and 'Lens (soft) Cap'
....AND, it make NO mention of if this includes or Excludes the carrying case ??? & has signs of use ??
... The purchase of a Canon ET-120 Hood on eBay is going to cost you around $ 500 bucks ?? see below

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-ET-120-WII-Lens-Hood-Genuine-Original-for-EF-300mm-400mm-200-400mm/264701274683?hash=item3da16cea3b:g:9RUAAOSwKKpel6OU

The next question you must ask yourself... Do you know for a 'fact' that the IS or Image Stabilization in this 'Use Lens' has NOT been damaged and/or compromised... ?? This is a big lens, it weights a lot, and very easily be 'out of focus' because it has been 'mis-handled'...?? This is something which you will never have an answer for even when you actually have it directly in your own hands... unless you actually send the lens to CPS and find out/ or actually have the lens IS calibrated... Here, you will spend about $200-300 Plus shipping and insurance of a 20 LB package via FedEx to Canon Repair...'CPS'....NO... I would NOT use any local outfit !!!! CPS is BEST

NOW....... As our dear friend "Paul Harvey" would say... Here is the rest of this story...

I can buy the same above lens as a "Refurbished" from Canon USA, for $ 4,391.. and it include the below:
---------------------------------------------------------
... EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Refurbished
... 52mm Drop-in Gelatin Filter Holder 52WII
... Lens Cap E-145C
... Lens Dust Cap E
... Lens Wide Strap B
... Lens Hood ET-120WII
... Lens Case 300B
... Strap For Hard Case
... Instruction Manuals (CD-ROM)
... 1 Year Refurbished Camera Limited Warranty

Please NOTE, the above includes the Lens Hood, the Lens Cap, and the Hard Case,, AND, a 1 year warrant.... NOT a six month warrant... which I might add is a U.S.A. Warranty...NOT a Japanese Warranty which requires you to ship the unit back to the seller in Japan ????

SO, as I stated in my original statement above......... "Where's the BEEF"... for now BUY... U.S.A.

==== I hope the above words of guidance will help in your decision... especially when you just don't know if the IS has ever been compromised...

NOW, you may question the use of the term "Refurbished"... by Canon USA... Let me say this... I have been a 'Canon' owner and user since 2010 and a member of the Canon Professional Service (CPS) group for over 6 years... I have a number of close contacts inside of CPS and my last four purchases has been 'Refurbished' from Canon...

Canon 'Refurbished' means one of two things... A) The equipment is an item or items which have been sent back to Canon directly from an Authorized Canon Dealer because of some reason,, or B) the item is a unit which has been sold through Canon, and then, 'Returned' within the allow 14 day allowable return period.. Under each of the above circumstances, the item goes back to a 'Different Division' of Canon, and the unit is maliciously inspected and/or reconditioned to put the unit back into 'Original Manufactured Condition" THEN, it is sold with a "Full 1 Year Canon USA Warranty"... I have NEVER, EVER, been disappointed by buy 'Refurbished' directly from Canon...

Per 'Christa' who is a moderator & Admin for Canon 'Community' website, she said what is listed below:

Here's what we qualify as a refurbished product here at Canon:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Products are returned to Canon for a variety of reasons, including overstock balancing, miscellaneous returns from retailers, suspected mis-operation, and minor damage to the box. The products that are serviced have undergone rigorous function and cosmetic inspections by trained Canon technicians and fully meet new product operational specifications and selected cosmetic standards established by Canon U.S.A. Inc. These refurbished products must pass a comprehensive quality assurance inspection before final packaging and shipment to customers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

So, Old-Shooter, that is my 2-Cents, for what it is worth.. I am not telling you to do, just only offering observations and opinion, and I hope the above information can be of some help to you,,, and I wish you all the best in your photography endeavors...

Cheers
Geo VZ
-------------------

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

Hi OldShooter,
I have not bought from this seller before. But I have bought used from a couple other Japan EBAY sellers in the past. Assuming you use careful research into the seller's feedback and read the description carefully you should be fine. Also note EBAY has a refund policy you can use as a last resort. The last time I received a lens bought from a Japan seller I received an origami crane in the package with a note of thanks. The lens was perfect and at a bargain price. When looking for a new lens I start looking at online stores, Canon Reconditioned Store, Local Craig's List adds, then EBAY last. My preferred source is Canon Reconditioned Store if the price is relatively close. Us old guys like to conserve our money if practical.

I looked at EBAY today and was surprised to find MapCamera has loads of listings and some of the prices look appealing but I'm not currently needing a new lens.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

This is the first time I've ever heard Canon performs a "maliciously inspected" process on returned items. That must be some inspection.
--Bob

[quote=goldstar46][quote=OldShooter]Has anyone dealt with this company? I'm interested in a used lens they have on eBay where they have very high activity and rating.[/quote
=========================================================

Hi Old-Shooter... Just thought I would 'chime-in' with an opinion & respond to your question...
...... My response is "Where's the BEEF" in buying from MapCamers ?????

To begin with, No, I have never heard of MapCamera on the eBay network and I do a lot of buying there
... But, from time to time, just like you, I have continued to give consideration to buying from Japan

SO, I have revisited the issue today & I did a search for a EF 300mm F/2.8, which is something I want...
... And I found one at the below link which is being sold my MapCamera

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EF300mm-F-2-8L-IS-II-USM-16/353062959890?epid=1502891782&hash=item5234313b12:g:rvIAAOSwl4xegZb5

The above listed "Used 300 MM" is selling for US $3,849.79 - It is missing a 'Hood' and 'Lens (soft) Cap'
....AND, it make NO mention of if this includes or Excludes the carrying case ??? & has signs of use ??
... The purchase of a Canon ET-120 Hood on eBay is going to cost you around $ 500 bucks ?? see below

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-ET-120-WII-Lens-Hood-Genuine-Original-for-EF-300mm-400mm-200-400mm/264701274683?hash=item3da16cea3b:g:9RUAAOSwKKpel6OU

The next question you must ask yourself... Do you know for a 'fact' that the IS or Image Stabilization in this 'Use Lens' has NOT been damaged and/or compromised... ?? This is a big lens, it weights a lot, and very easily be 'out of focus' because it has been 'mis-handled'...?? This is something which you will never have an answer for even when you actually have it directly in your own hands... unless you actually send the lens to CPS and find out/ or actually have the lens IS calibrated... Here, you will spend about $200-300 Plus shipping and insurance of a 20 LB package via FedEx to Canon Repair...'CPS'....NO... I would NOT use any local outfit !!!! CPS is BEST

NOW....... As our dear friend "Paul Harvey" would say... Here is the rest of this story...

I can buy the same above lens as a "Refurbished" from Canon USA, for $ 4,391.. and it include the below:
---------------------------------------------------------
... EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Refurbished
... 52mm Drop-in Gelatin Filter Holder 52WII
... Lens Cap E-145C
... Lens Dust Cap E
... Lens Wide Strap B
... Lens Hood ET-120WII
... Lens Case 300B
... Strap For Hard Case
... Instruction Manuals (CD-ROM)
... 1 Year Refurbished Camera Limited Warranty

Please NOTE, the above includes the Lens Hood, the Lens Cap, and the Hard Case,, AND, a 1 year warrant.... NOT a six month warrant... which I might add is a U.S.A. Warranty...NOT a Japanese Warranty which requires you to ship the unit back to the seller in Japan ????

SO, as I stated in my original statement above......... "Where's the BEEF"... for now BUY... U.S.A.

==== I hope the above words of guidance will help in your decision... especially when you just don't know if the IS has ever been compromised...

NOW, you may question the use of the term "Refurbished"... by Canon USA... Let me say this... I have been a 'Canon' owner and user since 2010 and a member of the Canon Professional Service (CPS) group for over 6 years... I have a number of close contacts inside of CPS and my last four purchases has been 'Refurbished' from Canon...

Canon 'Refurbished' means one of two things... A) The equipment is an item or items which have been sent back to Canon directly from an Authorized Canon Dealer because of some reason,, or B) the item is a unit which has been sold through Canon, and then, 'Returned' within the allow 14 day allowable return period.. Under each of the above circumstances, the item goes back to a 'Different Division' of Canon, and the unit is maliciously inspected and/or reconditioned to put the unit back into 'Original Manufactured Condition" THEN, it is sold with a "Full 1 Year Canon USA Warranty"... I have NEVER, EVER, been disappointed by buy 'Refurbished' directly from Canon...

Per 'Christa' who is a moderator & Admin for Canon 'Community' website, she said what is listed below:

Here's what we qualify as a refurbished product here at Canon:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Products are returned to Canon for a variety of reasons, including overstock balancing, miscellaneous returns from retailers, suspected mis-operation, and minor damage to the box. The products that are serviced have undergone rigorous function and cosmetic inspections by trained Canon technicians and fully meet new product operational specifications and selected cosmetic standards established by Canon U.S.A. Inc. These refurbished products must pass a comprehensive quality assurance inspection before final packaging and shipment to customers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

So, Old-Shooter, that is my 2-Cents, for what it is worth.. I am not telling you to do, just only offering observations and opinion, and I hope the above information can be of some help to you,,, and I wish you all the best in your photography endeavors...

Cheers
Geo VZ
-------------------[/quote]

goldstar46 Loc: Tampa, Fl

==============================

Well, that is the 'bad' I get when I just do a "Cut and Past" of someone else words without reading closely........... ha ha ha LOL..