Japan Camera Grades

By Yu Kanke · Japan Camera Grades · Last verified 2026-10-28

Used Camera Warranty in Japan: 6 Months, 12 Months, or Nothing

Kitamura and Fujiya give six months, Map Camera gives a year, RE Camera only covers its top four grades. And for most overseas buyers, none of it is usable — because the shop will not ship abroad.

Last verified: 2026-10-28. Sources at the bottom.

This page is the companion to our [grading comparison](/grades/) and [shipping checks](/shipping/). Start there if you have not read them.

The warranty at each shop

ShopPeriodWhat is excluded
Kitamura6 months on eligible used camerasItems under ¥10,000 (excl. tax) and other listed exclusions; the service can be used once only
Fujiya Camera6 months on used items現状品 and コレクション grades, and 用品館 accessories (tripods, binoculars etc.)
Map Camera12 months (industry-leading, per the shop)Set per item; some older products with no manufacturer repair support carry no warranty
RE CameraS / A / B / C / D / E onlyJ (junk) is excluded; some vintage items excluded regardless of grade

Two things worth noticing.

Kitamura's warranty is capped by price. Under ¥10,000 the item does not carry the six-month guarantee. For a reseller buying cheap bodies by the lot, that removes a large part of the inventory from coverage.

RE Camera's mapping is the most explicit. The warranty follows the grade: buy J and you are on your own, by design. That is honest and it lets you price the risk.

The catch: a warranty you cannot post back is not a warranty

Overseas this is the part that matters:

So for an overseas buyer the warranty is best treated as a quality signal about the shop's inspection standards, not as insurance. That changes how you should price:

  1. Buy the grade whose cosmetic condition you can resell, not the grade with the longest warranty.
  2. Assume no post-sale service unless you are buying from a shop that exports.
  3. If the item is expensive, buy from an exporter with its own return policy — even at a higher price.

What each shop is actually good for

Kitamura — nationwide chain (the used business runs through ネット中古), huge turnover, six-month warranty with a price floor. Best for a steady supply of ordinary used bodies and lenses at predictable grades. See the [grade ladder](/grades/#the-four-scales-side-by-side).

Fujiya Camera — Nakano, Tokyo. Four storefronts plus a junk floor (ジャンク館). The 8-grade scale (未使用 / A / AB+ / AB / AB- / B / 現状品 / コレクション) gives the finest cosmetic granularity of the four. Best for buyers who can inspect in person or who want a specific cosmetic grade.

Map Camera — Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo; publishes roughly 15,000 used items, up to 30 photos per listing, and notes fungus and haze in the comment field. The 12-month warranty is the longest. Best for buyers who need documentation before purchase.

RE Camera — operated by Akiba Ryutsu in Taito, Tokyo; 古物商 licence No.307720606694 (Tokyo Public Safety Commission). Seven grades with a clean warranty mapping. Best for buyers who want to buy junk with a documented, stated risk.

How to decide in four questions

  1. Can the shop ship to me? If not, you are buying through a proxy and the warranty is decorative.
  2. Am I buying cosmetics or function? Cosmetics → the finest grade ladder (Fujiya). Function at a lower price → 良品/並品.
  3. Is the item above ¥50,000? If yes, prioritise shops with a real return route over the cheapest listing.
  4. Do I need the comment field in English? Map Camera publishes the most detail per item; the [fault glossary](/faults/) translates the terms they use.

Sources

Warranty terms change. Confirm on the shop's page on the day you buy. This page records what each shop published on 2026-10-28.

← The Three Biggest Japanese Camera Shops Won't Ship to You · Three Ways to Buy a Used Camera from Japan (And Which to Use) →