Are there counterfeit cameras?

sarahparish91 · 12-27-2012, 07:19 PM

I was just curious, I found the serial number card for my old lens (which was stolen along with my camera) and it has printed on it "Made in Jappan" ... I didn't think a genuine product would have such an obvious typo? Anyway, the camera and lens is long gone now, and it got replaced with my insurance thankfully, but I was just curious as there is no typo on my replacement.

PS. Hope this thread is in the right spot!

calsan · 12-27-2012, 07:29 PM

That typo could happen pretty easily - Japan isn't called Japan in Japan!

**Ash** · 12-27-2012, 07:30 PM

Hi Sarah. What lens was it? Was it a product card printed and translated to English in another country?
I wouldn't imagine the typo indicating that the product is a fake.

sarahparish91 · 12-27-2012, 07:34 PM

I just went and looked again, it actually says "Printed in Jappan" .. I didn't even think that Japan wasn't called Japan in Japan.. lol ..

Like I said, I was just curious. Lens is gone now anyway

Attached Images

sarahparish91 · 12-27-2012, 07:39 PM

I guess I was just thinking along the lines of when you buy counterfeit clothing and there is a typo on the label.. I am purchasing another camera online soon and just wanted to double check there was no chance of a counterfeit. Just being overly paranoid I guess lol

bikecoboss · 12-27-2012, 07:50 PM - **1 Like**

I had the box for the 18-55WR sitting on my desk, so I checked, and sure enough, "Printed in Jappan"

Pete

alamo5000 · 12-27-2012, 07:50 PM - **1 Like**

Well if it makes you feel any better someone bought a bunch of shirts in China once that said 'Tommy Hilfinger" on the front....

elliott · 12-27-2012, 09:22 PM

I've had something that was "Made in Taiwen" before, though it wasn't anything expensive.

It isn't in their native language, so I can cut them some slack. I'd have no idea what the USA would look like written in Japanese, I could use Google's translator, but I'd have no idea if it was right.

VisualDarkness · 12-27-2012, 09:49 PM

There are lenses with focal length and aperture mixed up and other really bad mistakes, Samsung doesn't even know the specs of their own NX cameras, so I guess that a warranty card with Jappan is pretty mild.

stevebrot · 12-27-2012, 09:58 PM

Is it well-made and does it look like a FA 50/1.4? Does it take good pictures? If so, it is highly unlikely that it is a fake.

...not that camera lens fakes are unknown. It is just that usually, the fake involves some sort of social hack...misspelled names and such. The big exception would be the numerous fake Leica and Contax that are common on eBay (modified Russian and Ukrainian cameras that are physically very similar to their German cousins).

Steve

minahasa · 12-28-2012, 02:29 AM

This might be interesting..

The 'Jappan' discussion somewhere else..
http://www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/topic/counterfeit-pentax---canon-lenses-21137/p-0

2010 News:
COUNTERFEIT ‘PENTAX’ LENSES AMONG GEAR SEIZED IN RAID
Counterfeit

VisualDarkness · 12-28-2012, 03:39 AM

I checked a couple of warranty cards and this is the result.

Printed in Jappan:
DA*300/4
FA 50/1.4

Printed in Japan:
DA 40/2.8

Printed in Philippines:
DBG4

Printed in....nowhere:
DA 18-55 WR
Pentax Q
Q 8.5/1.9

Nuff · 12-28-2012, 03:46 AM

I wouldn't be surprised about this typo... just check engrish.com

**TomB_tx** · 12-28-2012, 06:03 AM

The only "counterfeit" Pentax I've seen were real Pentax, but done as faked "special editions." On the other hand there are a lot of fake Leica's made in Russia by re-engraving old Fed and Zorki copes of the Leica III models. Most of these are fake German military models. The quality control is...lacking. There are also a number of "fake" Zeiss Sonnar lenses and Contax cameras, also made in Russia. These are a bit harder to classify, as the Russians captured the Zeiss Contax factory and moved it to Russia (branded "Kiev"), and part of Zeiss remained in East Germany as a separate company, so some may have been made with "real" parts. There are a number where the front lens bezel has been changed to look like a Zeiss Sonnar to increase resale prices to collectors. Russian companies also made M42 mount cameras and lenses, so Pentax users might find some of these marked Zeiss.
Unless you are a collector, the value of a camera to you should be its usefulness as a camera or lens; so if it works properly... who cares?

sarahparish91 · 12-28-2012, 07:26 AM

Like I said, I was just curious. No other reason, I'm just a curious person. I loved the lens, it worked great, but it was stolen so I haven't had it for 6 months.

12-27-2012, 07:19 PM	#1
sarahparish91 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Orange, NSW Photos: Albums Posts: 34	Are there counterfeit cameras? I was just curious, I found the serial number card for my old lens (which was stolen along with my camera) and it has printed on it "Made in Jappan" ... I didn't think a genuine product would have such an obvious typo? Anyway, the camera and lens is long gone now, and it got replaced with my insurance thankfully, but I was just curious as there is no typo on my replacement. PS. Hope this thread is in the right spot!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How sturdy are these cameras?	Gallopingphotog	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	13	09-28-2012 05:39 PM
is there any picture profile/hack for pentax cameras?	Tarola	Video Recording and Processing	3	07-28-2012 02:33 PM
New Cameras....What are Your Plans?	Rupert	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	84	02-27-2012 06:37 AM
Are you certain there are NO stain issues with B&H K-5's	imagesforyou	Ask B&H Photo!	4	06-03-2011 04:12 PM
why are there no digital backs for 35mm cameras?	Egg Salad	General Talk	56	02-05-2010 05:40 PM

12-27-2012, 07:29 PM	#2
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,548	That typo could happen pretty easily - Japan isn't called Japan in Japan!

12-27-2012, 07:30 PM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Hi Sarah. What lens was it? Was it a product card printed and translated to English in another country? I wouldn't imagine the typo indicating that the product is a fake.

12-27-2012, 07:34 PM	#4
sarahparish91 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Orange, NSW Photos: Albums Posts: 34 Original Poster	I just went and looked again, it actually says "Printed in Jappan" .. I didn't even think that Japan wasn't called Japan in Japan.. lol .. Like I said, I was just curious. Lens is gone now anyway Attached Images

12-27-2012, 07:39 PM	#5
sarahparish91 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Orange, NSW Photos: Albums Posts: 34 Original Poster	I guess I was just thinking along the lines of when you buy counterfeit clothing and there is a typo on the label.. I am purchasing another camera online soon and just wanted to double check there was no chance of a counterfeit. Just being overly paranoid I guess lol

12-27-2012, 07:50 PM - 1 Like	#6
bikecoboss Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pemberton BC Posts: 238	I had the box for the 18-55WR sitting on my desk, so I checked, and sure enough, "Printed in Jappan" Pete

12-27-2012, 07:50 PM - 1 Like	#7
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	Well if it makes you feel any better someone bought a bunch of shirts in China once that said 'Tommy Hilfinger" on the front....

12-27-2012, 09:22 PM	#8
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	I've had something that was "Made in Taiwen" before, though it wasn't anything expensive. It isn't in their native language, so I can cut them some slack. I'd have no idea what the USA would look like written in Japanese, I could use Google's translator, but I'd have no idea if it was right.

12-27-2012, 09:49 PM	#9
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	There are lenses with focal length and aperture mixed up and other really bad mistakes, Samsung doesn't even know the specs of their own NX cameras, so I guess that a warranty card with Jappan is pretty mild.

12-27-2012, 09:58 PM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Is it well-made and does it look like a FA 50/1.4? Does it take good pictures? If so, it is highly unlikely that it is a fake. ...not that camera lens fakes are unknown. It is just that usually, the fake involves some sort of social hack...misspelled names and such. The big exception would be the numerous fake Leica and Contax that are common on eBay (modified Russian and Ukrainian cameras that are physically very similar to their German cousins). Steve

12-28-2012, 02:29 AM	#11
minahasa Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Minahasa, North Celebes (Sulawesi) Photos: Albums Posts: 586	This might be interesting.. The 'Jappan' discussion somewhere else.. http://www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/topic/counterfeit-pentax---canon-lenses-21137/p-0 2010 News: COUNTERFEIT ‘PENTAX’ LENSES AMONG GEAR SEIZED IN RAID Counterfeit

12-28-2012, 03:39 AM	#12
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	I checked a couple of warranty cards and this is the result. Printed in Jappan: DA*300/4 FA 50/1.4 Printed in Japan: DA 40/2.8 Printed in Philippines: DBG4 Printed in....nowhere: DA 18-55 WR Pentax Q Q 8.5/1.9

12-28-2012, 03:46 AM	#13
Nuff Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sydney Posts: 671	I wouldn't be surprised about this typo... just check engrish.com

12-28-2012, 06:03 AM	#14
TomB_tx Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,446	The only "counterfeit" Pentax I've seen were real Pentax, but done as faked "special editions." On the other hand there are a lot of fake Leica's made in Russia by re-engraving old Fed and Zorki copes of the Leica III models. Most of these are fake German military models. The quality control is...lacking. There are also a number of "fake" Zeiss Sonnar lenses and Contax cameras, also made in Russia. These are a bit harder to classify, as the Russians captured the Zeiss Contax factory and moved it to Russia (branded "Kiev"), and part of Zeiss remained in East Germany as a separate company, so some may have been made with "real" parts. There are a number where the front lens bezel has been changed to look like a Zeiss Sonnar to increase resale prices to collectors. Russian companies also made M42 mount cameras and lenses, so Pentax users might find some of these marked Zeiss. Unless you are a collector, the value of a camera to you should be its usefulness as a camera or lens; so if it works properly... who cares?

12-28-2012, 07:26 AM	#15
sarahparish91 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Orange, NSW Photos: Albums Posts: 34 Original Poster	Like I said, I was just curious. No other reason, I'm just a curious person. I loved the lens, it worked great, but it was stolen so I haven't had it for 6 months.