Search Search Advanced Search

An interview with Japan Camera Hunter

Date: 2014 July 09 14:15

Posted by Joe

Normally on Otaku News, when we talk about otaku we mean fans of anime and manga. There are plenty of other areas worth exploring. Today, we'll introduce you to someone who loves cameras.



With the world going increasingly more digital, the photography scene around the world is seeing a resurgence of film and there is a demand among amateur and professional photographers alike for good film cameras. Film photographers enjoy the tangible nature of the photos and the fact that film slows the whole process down. Developing the picture is something to look forward to, it doesn't give instant gratification like a digital camera.



Certain cameras are now regarded as classics of their era. Japan is the natural place to go if you want a nice film camera because the country is ubiquitous for photography and cameras with so many camera brands being Japanese. While in other countries things are going on-line, physical camera shops both for new and second hand goods are a thriving business.



Bellamy Hunt lives in Tokyo. He runs a website called Japan Camera Hunter. He's passionate about photography and film. If you want a decent camera sourced from Japan, he's your man.



Our editor Joe caught up with him over a coffee in Shinjuku.

Full Story

How did you end up in Japan?



I was travelling around the world, met a girl and she said come to Japan. I said "yeah alright". I ended up staying. She went her separate way, I went my separate way. I ended up finding my true calling here.







What appeals to you about photography and cameras?



Photography is capturing the moment and also the way a person's character sees something. Everybody is different. I like capturing those moments. I like trying to represent in an image what I think I see.



For cameras it's the mechanics, the way they work, everything! The optics. The industrial design. The beauty especially of older cameras. Now a days everything is so easy. They can do everything. But in those days they had to work their way around very difficult problems with light, weight and materials. It's fascinating to see how they did that. So I could geek out about cameras all day long!



Do you run Japan Camera Hunter as a full time business?



Yes, Japan Camera Hunter is my full time business. Not only sourcing cameras, but selling my own products, film cases, promoting film. Running the website, running interviews and I also work as a buyer for other people. It's more than a full time job.



What's the hardest camera you've had to source?



It's funny, because that's an interesting question. Most people would assume it's the rarest camera that you've had to source. Actually the rarest camera I've had to source just fell into my lap. It really didn't have to do anything for it. That was a very, very limited early edition



The most difficult ones, I've had to go to



Thinking about it, the hardest camera has been a $50 camera. If I get a camera for a customer I want them to have the right camera and I want it to work. I want them to be happy. The first one broke, so I got him another one, and the second one broke. So I got him another one and third one broke! So I got him another one and I was like, "I'm going to get you a damn working camera if it kills me!". I ending up getting four cameras which cost me way more than what he paid me initially, but it's the principal of the matter. That's what he paid for and that's what he wanted. It was my responsibility to give him one. Which we did in the end.



Which camera was it? Or don't you want to say in case other people want to order them?



Yeah! I never want to order another one of those EVER again.



What's the camera you haven't managed to source but want to?



Oh, there's loads. There's lots and lots and lots. I would very much like to get my hands on an original MP Leica. I was so close to buying one, I missed out, I didn't really understand what I was looking at. At the time I thought it couldn't really be that good, I kicked myself for not taking it. I don't think I'll see another one in that price range in my life.



Photography is capturing the moment and also the way a person's character sees something. Everybody is different. I like capturing those moments. I like trying to represent in an image what I think I see.For cameras it's the mechanics, the way they work, everything! The optics. The industrial design. The beauty especially of older cameras. Now a days everything is so easy. They can do everything. But in those days they had to work their way around very difficult problems with light, weight and materials. It's fascinating to see how they did that. So I could geek out about cameras all day long!Yes, Japan Camera Hunter is my full time business. Not only sourcing cameras, but selling my own products, film cases, promoting film. Running the website, running interviews and I also work as a buyer for other people. It's more than a full time job.It's funny, because that's an interesting question. Most people would assume it's the rarest camera that you've had to source. Actually the rarest camera I've had to source just fell into my lap. It really didn't have to do anything for it. That was a very, very limited early edition Leica Olive M3 , which was a military model, which there are not many of. This was in absolutely flawless condition which there are almost none of. It so happened the timing was right. One guy I knew had it for sale. The other guy I knew wanted to buy one. It was there.The most difficult ones, I've had to go to America to source a camera . I've had to go to the Philippines . In terms of energy invested in getting them, those are the hardest. Having to fly halfway across the world, having made payment for quite a large amount of money not knowing if it's going to be right. Or if there's going to be an issue or something like that. That can be very stressful.Thinking about it, the hardest camera has been a $50 camera. If I get a camera for a customer I want them to have the right camera and I want it to work. I want them to be happy. The first one broke, so I got him another one, and the second one broke. So I got him another one and third one broke! So I got him another one and I was like, "I'm going to get you a damn working camera if it kills me!". I ending up getting four cameras which cost me way more than what he paid me initially, but it's the principal of the matter. That's what he paid for and that's what he wanted. It was my responsibility to give him one. Which we did in the end.Yeah! I never want to order another one of those EVER again.Oh, there's loads. There's lots and lots and lots. I would very much like to get my hands on an original MP Leica. I was so close to buying one, I missed out, I didn't really understand what I was looking at. At the time I thought it couldn't really be that good, I kicked myself for not taking it. I don't think I'll see another one in that price range in my life.



There's a few lenses and rare cameras. I'd do anything to buy those. Mainly Leicas, all sorts of odd Nikon stuff too. It's a constant search. You're always finding something new to chase after. It doesn't necessarily have to be really high end expensive stuff as well. You can find just really unusual versions of small cameras, of older cameras that people don't think about, which is pretty cool.



What's the most expensive camera you've had to source?



The most expensive one I didn't source, I brokered because I didn't really want to go all the way to get it. So I brokered the deal instead. That was €65,000. That was quite a rare Leica. I've done a few cameras in that area, you know that sort of price range. That was the most expensive. It's only going up. I'm fully aware that I'll probably do something bigger sooner or later. The big boys, the real big guys in this business, you're talking $500,000 to a $1,000,000 cameras. Hopefully I will be there someday.



What about the most popular cameras?



