Why You Might Be Missing the Best Listings
If you’ve ever searched eBay for a “Canon Sure Shot” (or “Olympus Stylus Epic”) and felt like the good deals disappeared overnight, it’s often not because the market dried up—it’s because the camera was listed under a different regional name.
Canon, Nikon, Olympus, and other Japanese brands frequently sold the same camera under different names depending on the market, so Japan-based sellers often use the Japanese domestic name in the listing title while overseas buyers search the US/EU name they remember.
Later in this article, a small search tip shows how to bundle name variants into one query using eBay’s OR-style grouping (parentheses + commas), so you can catch more Japan-listed inventory without repeating searches.
Canon: regional naming
Canon has two big “same camera, different name” patterns that matter for film buyers. Many autofocus compacts are branded Autoboy in Japan, Sure Shot in North America, and Prima in Europe. In the EOS film SLR lineup, entry-level bodies are often EOS Kiss in Japan and EOS Rebel in North America (with different EOS numbers in Europe), and the same region-split naming also appears in mid-range bodies like the EOS 7 family.
Example
| Japan | North America | Europe | eBay Link | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AF35M (Autoboy) | Sure Shot | AF35M | Check | Compact, 1979 (38mm F2.8) |
| Autoboy 2 | (New) Sure Shot | AF35M II | Check | Compact, 1983 (38mm F2.8) with or without QD |
| Autoboy D5 | Sure Shot A-1 | Prima AS-1 | Check | Waterproof, 1994 (32mm F3.5) |
| EOS Kiss III | EOS Rebel 2000 QD | EOS 300 QD | Check | AF SLR, 1999, Built‑in date back |
| EOS 7 | EOS Elan 7E | EOS 30 | Check | AF SLR, 2000, Eye Controlled Focus |
You can also use the official Canon Camera Museum to see how each Canon film camera was named in different regions, including the Japanese, North American, and European market names.
Nikon: regional naming
Nikon has two common “same camera, different name” patterns for film buyers. Many autofocus SLR bodies use an F-number name in most markets, but the same cameras were sold in the US under an N-number name (for example F80 vs N80). Separately, some Nikon compact cameras—especially the L35AF2 generation—were marketed under the One-Touch name in some territories, so listings may say “One Touch” without the model code.
Example
| Japan / Other | North America | eBay Link | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| L35AF2 | One Touch | Check | Compact, 1984 (35mm F2.8) |
| F90X | N90S | Check | AF SLR, 1994 |
| F80 / F80D | N80 / N80QD | Check | AF SLR, 2000 |
Olympus: regional naming
Olympus used mju (µ) branding for its compact film cameras in many markets, but in the US the same family was branded Infinity Stylus, with later models denoted Infinity Stylus Epic. Because of this, Japanese listings may say “mju” while US buyers search “Infinity Stylus” or “Stylus Epic,” even when they’re looking at the same camera line.
Example
| Japan / Other | North America | eBay Link | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| µ (mju) | Infinity Stylus | Check | Compact, 1991 (35mm F3.5) |
| µ-II (Mju-II) | Infinity Stylus Epic | Check | Compact, 1997 (35mm F2.8) |
Pentax: regional naming
Pentax often used different names for the same film cameras depending on the market. In autofocus SLRs, the MZ line is commonly known as ZX in the US. For compact zoom point-and-shoot cameras, the same models are often labeled Espio in many markets and IQZoom in North America.
Example
| Japan / Other | North America | eBay Link | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| MZ‑5 | ZX‑5 | Check | AF SLR, 1995 |
| Espio 120Mi | IQZoom 120Mi | Check | Compact, 1999 (38-120mm F4.8-12.5) |
Minolta: regional naming
Minolta AF SLR cameras often have three different names depending on the market: Alpha (α) in Japan, Maxxum in North America, and Dynax in Europe. Minolta compact zoom cameras can also show up under different branding, such as Freedom (often North America), Riva (often EU/other markets), and Capios (some markets), even when it’s the same camera.
Example
| Japan | North America | Europe | eBay Link | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capios 25 | Freedom Zoom Explorer | Riva Zoom 70W | Check | Compact, 1995 (28-70mm F3.5-8.4) |
| Alpha 9 (α‑9) | Maxxum 9 | Dynax 9 | Check | AF SLR, 1998 |
| Alpha 7 (α‑7) | Maxxum 7 | Dynax 7 | Check | AF SLR, 2000 |
Fujifilm: regional naming
Fujifilm compact film cameras can show up under different “family” names depending on the market, especially within the Cardia line. A well-known example is the premium wide-angle compact sold as DL Super Mini in some markets and Cardia Mini Tiara in others.
Example
| Japan / Other | Europe | eBay Link | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardia Mini Tiara | DL Super Mini | Check | Compact, 1994 (28mm F3.5) |
| Cardia Mini Tiara Zoom | DL Super Mini Zoom | Check | Compact, 1996 (28-56mm F4.5-7.5) |
Kyocera (Yashica): regional naming
Kyocera sold some premium 35mm point-and-shoot cameras under the Yashica T-series branding, and the same cameras can appear under Kyocera names in other markets. For example, the Yashica T4 is also known as the Kyocera Slim T. Likewise, the Yashica T3 is also known as the Kyocera T Scope.
Example
| Japan | North America / Other | eBay Link | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyocera T Scope | Yashica T3 | Check | Compact, 1990 (35mm F2.8) |
| Kyocera Slim T | Yashica T4 | Check | Compact, 1992 (35mm F3.5) |
| Kyocera T Proof | Yashica T5 / Yashica T4 Super | Check | Weather proof, 1995 (35mm F3.5) |
| Kyocera T Zoom | Yashica T-Zoom / Yashica T4 Zoom | Check | Compact, 2002 (28-70mm F4.5-8.0) |
eBay Search Tips (OR for “same camera, different names”)
OR = (A, B, C)
eBay’s official keyword syntax applies OR logic when you put comma-separated words inside parentheses. In other words, (A, B, C) means “A or B or C”.
Example 1: Canon compacts (Autoboy / Sure Shot / Prima)
Use one OR bundle so you can catch Japanese listings titled “Autoboy” as well as US/Europe names.
Example 2: Nikon AF SLR (F-number / N-number)
Many Nikon AF film SLRs have different names across markets, so bundling both names helps you see more of the real supply.