Love photography? Here are the best Japanese cameras for you to take amazing pictures of all things you love!
We love clicking pictures, whether of ourselves, our loved ones, or random things that are so beautiful we cannot help ourselves but capture them in our memories.
A majority of us use smartphones today to click photos, however, nothing can replace traditional cameras. There is a different feel and experience when using these cameras.
When we talk about getting traditional cameras, Japanese cameras are the best. The Japanese brands take every single detail into account when developing cameras. Japanese cameras such as Nikon and Canon are well-known all around the world. In fact, I am sure most of us have cameras that are from Japanese brands.
| Best Japanese Camera Brands | Best Japanese Cameras | Best for |
| Olympus | Olympus OM-4 | Professionals and high end amateurs |
| Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera | Underwater shooting | |
| Nikon | Nikon F3 | Night shooting |
| Nikon D780 | Value for money | |
| Pentax | Pentax LX | Professionals |
| Canon | Canon EOS Kiss X-10 | Beginners and photography students |
| Fujifilm | X-T30 Mirrorless Digital Camera | Value for Money |
| Panasonic | Panasonic Lumix GH5 | Video |
So, if you are looking to buy cameras, there is nothing better than the best Japanese cameras.
- Related: Best Sony Camera for Beginners
So, without further ado, let us find out some of the best Japanese cameras that you can buy today to capture all the happy, sad, or emotional moments of your life!
Top Japanese Cameras
OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Olympus M5 camera is one of the latest models from the brand that captures pictures and videos beautifully. I was especially impressed with the in-body 5-axis image stabilization that lets you click images still. If you’re an amateur photographer, this is the best, to begin with.
Olympus M5 camera has a compact body and a classy yet vintage look. I love how all the pictures turn out from this camera as the quality of the pictures is top-notch because of its 20MP live MOS sensor. It’s one of the best Japanese camera brands of all times.
It also has 121-point all-cross-type on-chip phase-detection AF and built-in Wifi and Bluetooth for on-the-go videos and photo sharing. The frame of the camera is weatherproof that making it a perfect travel buddy on all your trips along with you.
Pros:
- Compact and weatherproof body
- 20MP live MOS sensor
- Built-in wifi and Bluetooth
- 121-point all-cross-type on-chip phase-detection AF
- 5-axis image stabilization
Cons:
- Bulky
Ratings:
- Image output: 9/10
- Easy to use: 8.5/10
- Features: 8.5/10
- Affordability: 8.5/10
Nikon Z5 Mirrorless Camera
Nikon Z5 Mirrorless Camera is definitely one of my personal favourite cameras made in Japan. I love how it’s shutter speed is fast enough to capture moments that are invisible to the naked eye – 1/8000 of a second.
Z5’s best features will be it’s expeed 6 image processing system, low light capabilities, distortion control, image clarity, and color reproduction. It allows to activate 5-axis VR image stabilization which means all your photos will come out clear even if you have shaky hands.
I also liked it’s tough body that’s perfect for carrying it along for travel and leisure purposes. You can shoot 4K Ultra HD footage using all the advantages of mirrorless technology and the Z system’s high-performance optics.
It has to be amazing as it belongs to one of the best Japanese camera brands. The only downside is that it’s a little expensive as compared to other cameras in the market.
Pros:
- 4K Ultra HD resolution
- 5-axis image stabilization
- 1/8000 of a second shutter speed
- 6 image processing system
- Portable
Cons:
- No value for money
Ratings:
- Image output: 9.5/10
- Easy to use: 9.5/10
- Features: 9/10
- Affordability: 6.5/10
Olympus OM-4
Olympus OM-4 is one of the popular film cameras by the brand and definitely one of the best Japanese cameras in the market. When used properly, the Olympus OM-4 is a high performing Japanese camera that can give you amazing results.
The Olymous OM-4 Japanese camera is easy to use with limited controls. The camera features auto aperture-priority and exposure. Other than this, all other functions are manual mode. This is one of the reasons why professional photographers love this Japanese professional camera as it gives them full control over their frame – rewinding and advancing your film by hand, turning dials, flicking switches – you’ll fall in love with the intricacies of film photography all over again with this Japanese camera Olympus OM-4.
The shutter speed of this camera allows you to shoot at 1-1/2000th of a second in manual mode and in auto mode upto 240 seconds – which is pretty amazing. The camera features Zuiko lenses which can be compared to any Canon FD. It also features a bright and big viewfinder with a weather-resistant body.
It also has an amazing metering system found in any vintage cameras. Being capable of taking spot reading and averaging them from 8 different areas of the frame, the camera allows you to choose the lightest or darkest frame areas and adjust exposure based on these readings.
Check out one the best Japanese cameras below!
Nikon F3
Nikon F3 is one of the best selling cameras by Nikon. This one of the best Japanese cameras that offers high-performance, perfect ergonomics and with a sleek design! Aesthetically speaking, this Japanese camera is an absolute beauty. With the perfect blend of elegance and performance, the Nikon F3 features useful shooting modes like semi-auto with aperture priority and full manual mode.
It’s one of the favorites of professional photographers as it gives the photographer a lot of freedom when capturing an image. Highly durable and yet affordable this manual focus Nikon SLR is one of the best Japanese cameras out there!
Pentax LX
The Japanese camera brand Pentax has always been less popular when compared to the big boys – Canon and Nikon. But that’s mostly because of unwarranted biases consumers usually have against the smaller brands. Pentax LX is a high capable and one of the best Japanese cameras as well. Pentax LX is one of the best cameras offered by the brand and is a really good option for professional photographers as well. In fact, I could go as far to say that the Pentax LX is just as good as their competitive counterparts from Canon and Nikon.
The Pentax LX has a compact design, is weather-sealed and dustproof. The Pentax LX has a mechanical shutter that operate without batteries and is loaded with features including mirror-lockup and multiple exposure shooting amongst others.
Pentax LX is just as capable, sleek looking, and feature-packed as the bigger guys like Canon and Nikon and much cheaper! But it just never gained enough popularity back then. But now you have the internet on your fingertips and comparing products is made super easy. So I’d suggest you give Pentax LX a chance to impress you and I assure you won’t be disappointed.
Canon EOS Kiss X10 – Best Japanese Cameras Brand
Canon is one of the most popular Japanese camera brands that has made a huge foothold all over the world.
The EOS Kiss X10 is a lightweight camera that weighs approximately 449 grams. It is a single-lens reflex camera that is equipped with a Bali angle LCD monitor. It is a durable camera with a design that promotes ease of grip.
The central cross nine points AF sensor lets you focus on your subject of photography with nine points. The camera allows for high precision focus at high speed.
Use this camera to shoot beautiful pictures. You can click 4K high-definition animation that lets you live your photography dreams to the fullest. Definitely one of the best Japanese cameras!
Fujifilm X-T30 Mirrorless Digital Camera
The Fujifilm X-T30 mirrorless camera comes with an advanced image sensor technology that provides accurate AF and ‘Face Detection’ when you are capturing moving objects. You can click high-resolution stills or even 4K videos, without worrying about the quality of the images and videos.
The new X-Processor 4 Quad Core-CPU offers you fast and accurate face-detection for moving people and objects. The camera offers you superior video and image effects.
You can record 4K video at 30 frames per second or capture pictures at 120 frames per second at 1080p. This allows you to create super-slow-motion effects.
The camera comes with a 3.0-inch touch LCD screen. You will fall in love with this camera right from the moment you touch it. The sleek mirrorless camera has a next-generation image-making technology that is perfect for video bloggers and photographers who only want the best.
It’s definitely worth the investment and is one of the best Japanese cameras in the market!
Nikon D780 Camera
The D780 is one of the most refined DSLR cameras from Nikon. The camera uses an updated 24-megapixel sensor. It is also Nikon’s first camera that comes with an on-chip phase-detection autofocus; this is a feature that has been inherited from Nikon’s mirrorless Z series. What is the most impressive in the Nikon D780 is the eye-detection autofocus.
The D780 is a great camera for photographers who need a 100 percent frame coverage and a bright pentaprism.
Also, the larger body of the camera makes it the perfect choice to use with certain lenses, especially the lenses that offer longer zooms that are too heavy for mirrorless cameras.
Another advantage of this camera is the battery life. The D780 can work all day long, so if you are looking for a camera that is going to last you a long time. Highly efficient camera and one of the best Japanese cameras in the world!
Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera
Olympus Tough TG-6 is a waterproof camera up to a depth of 50 feet and it can survive a drop from 7 feet. Thinking of doing the pressure test? The camera can withstand at least 200 pounds of pressure.
Whether you drop the camera from the stairs by mistake, drop it in a swimming pool, or run it over with a truck, it will continue ticking and working. No matter what adversity it faces, it will keep delivering.
The TG-6 is a simple camera that lets you shoot excellent pictures, but it definitely does have some stunning features that are hidden beneath the surface.
The 25-100mm lens lets you get a good enough zoom on your subject, and it also has a stunning macro mode that lets you capture stunning close-up pictures.
Are you going for a camping trip and are unsure whether the camera will let you capture the moments perfectly? Worry not, for the light-painting mode is brilliant.
For travel and vacations, the camera comes equipped with built-in GPS with geotagging and location logging abilities. What does it do? It creates a map of your adventure that you can view in the Olympus Image Track App. This is the best Japanese camera for travelers!
Panasonic Lumix GH5 Camera
Most of the cameras are meant primarily for capturing photos, with videos being their secondary focus. However, the Panasonic Lumix GH5 focuses on video recording. It will continue shooting for hours on end.
The camera has a number of video features that target professionals. It comes with a 10-bit 4:2:2 recording and a clean HDMI output. Apart from these features, the camera also comes with lightning-fast autofocus. It can shoot 9 frames per second with continuous autofocus. This one of one of the best Japanese cameras for video shooting!
Canon Digital Camera Powershot SX420
This Canon Digital Camera is one of the affordable digital cameras out there with countless features. It is compact and has a super zoom bridge with a 42x optical zoom lens. The estimated weight of this digital camera is 550 grams. It also features approximately 20 million pixels. With the super zoom feature, you can take photos of great quality and precision from far away. The photos would have a crystal clear look because the camera uses 20 million pixels.
The Canon Digital Powershot also has other key features like 20.5 megapixels, 1/ 2.3 inch CMOS sensor, and a focal range of 24 millimeters and 1008 millimeters. This camera also connects through Wi-Fi and NFC. You can shoot high-quality videos with 720p HD video capture in MP4 format. The length of the camera screen is 3.0 inches with 230k dot resolution. It also carries an optical image stabilization feature that’s quite effective for stills and movies.
The Canon Powershot SX420 costs between $250- $290. This camera is worth investing in if you’re a student trying to pursue a photography career.
RICOH GR III X Digital Camera
The RICOH GR camera might not be a familiar brand for several people but it is a brand that most photographers are aware of. The previous version of this camera was named GR III which most users were fond of. If you’re looking to study the new features RICOH has implemented in this new model then read further to know more.
It’s quite more compact than the previous version and its approximate weight lies between 200 to 300 grams. It’s also easy to handle and has a great grip. It has an APS-C size large CMOS sensor with built-in ND filters and also built-in storage of 2GB.
The lens in this camera model is much better and has impressive optics.
Other specifications of the RICOH GR III X camera are focal lengths of 26.1mm, 24.24 megapixels, and an LCD display screen of 3.0 inches.
With a very portable weight, you can take this camera anywhere and click on some amazing pictures. It’s convenient to use and has a battery life of nearly 200 shots.
What to look for when buying a camera?
If you think your smartphones are enough to give you high-quality pictures, you need to know the numerous benefits of cameras. Yes, it is true that a smartphone is the most portable option we have. Almost all of us have our smartphones with us at all times, giving us more flexibility to capture moments and memories. However, the benefits of the best Japanese cameras are too good to be ignored.
Here’s why you should consider getting a camera –
#1 — The Picture Quality
This is a no-brainer. You can compare the quality of the picture taken from a smartphone to the one taken from a camera. You will notice that the camera has a higher resolution. Even though we have phones such as iPhone X, iPhone XS, and Google Pixel 3, a camera captures more color range than these smartphones.
Also, we can tweak the settings in a camera to ensure we get excellent pictures.
#2 — Versatility and Functionality
DSLR cameras give us options like interchangeable lenses. So, according to your requirements, you can change the lens and get that perfect picture. Now, is this possible with smartphones? No! They come with built-in lenses that limit their functionality.
We cannot compare the versatility and functionality of a camera with a smartphone.
Also, you cannot click portraits or additional landscape photographs with the same efficiency in a smartphone as that of a DSLR camera. These cameras come with lenses that have zooming capabilities; you will not find the same features in a smartphone.
Yes, I know there is a zooming function on a smartphone. But does it really work? Smartphones can enlarge an image, but in doing so, it reduces the clarity and sharpness of the picture.
#3 — Flash
Smartphones and cameras both come with flashlights. However, there is a significant difference. Smartphones have LED flash and cameras have Xenon flash. Xenon flash is brighter as compared to an LED flash. Also, LED flash cannot cover large areas and so, is not very useful when used for specific photography, such as wildlife photography.
#4 — Battery Life
Battery Life is probably the most important for us these days. Smartphones do not have a powerful battery, so they will not last for a long time. However, as opposed to that, cameras come with a powerful battery with some of them lasting for days. But this could be because smartphones have other utilities whereas a camera only has one use.
#5 — Storage
Smartphones come with several applications, so the memory is limited for all your photographs. DSLR cameras use SD cards for storage, and these SD cards can store a vast amount of data.
Best Japan Camera Brands: FAQ
Is it cheaper to buy a camera in Japan?
It’s not necessarily cheaper to buy a camera in Japan. But shops like BIC camera shops offer tourist discounts and plus tourists in Japan get a tax refund. So this way you may be able to save a few dollars.
What is the best camera ever made?
Nikon D780 DSLR is one of the best Japanese cameras ever made! It has a 24-megapixel sensor and has features like n-chip phase-detection autofocus and eye-detection autofocus. Priced at $2,796, this Japanese camera’s battery life is amazing and can last you, pretty much, the entire day.
What cameras do most professional photographers use?
Canon and Nikon cameras are very popular among professional photographers. These two brands are the two of the best Japanese camera brands in the world! In specific, Canon EOS 1DX Mark II and Nikon D5 are personal favorite cameras among many professional photographers.
Which cameras are made in Japan?
Epson, Nikon, Fujifilm etc. are the camera brands made in Japan.
Why does Japan make the best cameras?
Japan makes the best cameras because they invest greatly in optics, unlike the US that has major investments in the military. Japan has produced leading camera brands in the world like Fujifilm, Nikon etc.
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Erika is the main author of the website. She is obsessed with Japanese products and always looks for an opportunity to share her love for Japanese products with everybody around her! She combined her love for writing, research and testing products to create Best Japanese Products. When she’s not reviewing latest Japanese products, you’ll find her pampering her cats. Erika is the definition of ‘The Crazy Cat Lady’.