Akihabara is an urban city with a unique character. 2nd BASE is a store with a different look from the typical camera store you might imagine. Based on the concept of a "secret base for camera lovers," the store is a space that makes you feel like you're hanging out at your older brother's house.

We spoke with Mimura Yuta, who was attracted to the depth of cameras and their parts and changed jobs from working as a chef at a hotel restaurant to becoming manager of "2nd BASE," to uncover the appeal of "2nd BASE."

At 2nd BASE, we want you to feel free to try out cameras and lenses.

The key is to line them up neatly so that they can be easily touched.

"2nd BASE" has a different atmosphere from your average camera store, with cameras and lenses neatly lined up in showcases.

"I want customers to feel free to touch the cameras and lenses. I deliberately wanted to create a cluttered atmosphere," says Mimura, recalling his thoughts when the store first opened.

Customers can be seen picking up cameras and lenses, taking photos inside the store, and spending their time in their own way. Perhaps because it's an easy place to enter even for those experiencing cameras and photography for the first time, the store seems to be frequented by young people and foreign tourists.

We want to convey the appeal of "old lenses" that have their own flaws

"2nd BASE" is particular not only about the atmosphere of the store, but also about the products it carries.

The main lineup is old lenses (interchangeable lenses). When you attach an old lens to the latest mirrorless camera, you can create nostalgic photos that look like they were taken with a film camera.

"Since the 2000s, digital cameras have become popular and the market for analog cameras has shrunk. However, there has been a resurgence in interest in old lenses since around 2008, and film cameras since around 2012, and so on, and these opposing trends have begun. Shooting with a film camera requires costs such as finding a place to develop the film. That's why the combination of mirrorless digital cameras and old lenses has become so popular," Mimura says, looking back on history.

He then went on to talk about the appeal of old lenses.

"Old lenses have characteristics that cannot be reproduced in lenses sold today, such as dark edges and a soft overall light. Because technological innovation has been aimed at high precision, these were considered to be 'defects' that should not exist. However, over time, defects have come to be seen as 'characteristics.'"

It seems that one way to enjoy old lenses is to change the lens to suit your purpose, such as for landscapes or portraits.

A cozy secret base

Many old lenses were produced between the 1930s and 1980s, a time when it was difficult to mass-produce products of consistent quality. Even lenses with the same model number will produce different effects when photographed.

How do you decide which products to buy from the diverse product lineup? The secret lies in the design of the store.

"At 2nd BASE, we don't just display lenses, we also display sets of sample photos that have been taken with the lenses. We think this helps customers find the right lens while imagining the photos they want to take," says Mimura.

But that's not all the ingenuity.

"We offer our store's lenses to customers' cameras so they can try out their own cameras. It's not uncommon for customers to arrive an hour after they arrive."

Recently, some people from other regions have been visiting 2nd BASE. Perhaps the fact that old lenses are all different makes them a desirable experience to actually touch.

Photos hanging on the ceiling of the shop
Image of developing photos taken with a film camera

There are also some fun ideas for camera enthusiasts and those accompanying them.

By paying attention to every detail, you can create something uniquely your own.

2nd BASE also carries a selection of items that will appeal to customers who are particular about cameras and lenses.

"We are also particular about the accessory straps that go with our cameras, and we make our own from leather and other materials. We want to provide total support, even down to the smallest details."

"In this day and age, it's easy to take photos with a smartphone. Unfortunately, the camera market is shrinking. I want to keep camera culture alive by combining the old and the new to continue to deliver new value," he said passionately.

2nd BASE is a secret base for camera enthusiasts, a place that reminds you of the feeling of being passionate about what you love and the excitement of starting something new.

2nd BASE
電話：03-6303-2388
住所：東京都千代田区神田練塀町13-1外　SEEKBASE AKI-OKA MANUFACTURE 01棟
アクセス：JR秋葉原駅（電気街口）から徒歩約3分
HP：https://www.2ndbase.jp
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/2ndbase.by_sanpou_camera/
https://twitter.com/2ndbasebysanpou?lang=ja
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