Zerka Studio has offices in China, Japan and the United States, and our pre-owned inventory is shared between them, so an item may ship from any of these locations. Most pre-owned cameras and lenses ship from China or Japan by express courier (DHL, FedEx or UPS). If you would like to know where a specific item will ship from, please contact us before ordering and we will confirm.

We currently ship to the United States. Available delivery options and costs are shown at checkout. If your country is not listed, please contact us before placing your order.

Pre-owned items usually ship within 7–12 business days and travel by express courier with tracking. Delivery times for other orders depend on the destination and the shipping service selected. Once your order has shipped, you will receive a confirmation email with tracking information.

No. Our prices do not include US import duties or taxes, and we do not collect them at checkout. When an item ships to you from outside the US, US Customs charges import duty based on the country where the item was made: currently about 10% of the item’s value for cameras and lenses made in Germany, Sweden or another EU country, and about 12.5% for items made in Japan. Items made in China are charged at a higher rate. Each product page shows where the item was made and the estimated rate.

The courier (DHL, FedEx or UPS) will contact you to pay the duty, together with its customs clearance fee, before or at delivery. Rates are set by US Customs and can change, so the final amount is whatever Customs charges. If you are not sure where an item will ship from or what duty may apply, please contact us before ordering.

If a package is refused or returned because the duties were not paid, the duties, the shipping costs and a restocking fee of 15% of the item price will be deducted from your refund.

Because bespoke camera finishes and personalized products are made specifically for each client, they are generally final sale. Standard, unused accessories may be eligible for return according to our return policy. Please contact us before sending anything back.

Send us your camera model, preferred color or finish, and any reference images through our contact form. We will review the request and contact you to discuss feasibility, pricing, and the next steps.

Custom camera projects are carried out by our studios in the United States and Japan. We will tell you which studio will handle your project and where to send your camera when we confirm the details with you.

Most custom projects take approximately 1.5 to 2.5 months. The exact timeline depends on the camera model, design complexity, required parts, and our current studio schedule.

Yes. We can customize a camera you already own, provided the model and body materials are suitable for the requested work. We will confirm suitability before you ship the camera to us.

Depending on the model and availability, we may be able to source a camera on your behalf. The camera cost, condition, sourcing fee, and customization work will be quoted separately.

Please contact us as early as possible. Changes or cancellations may be possible before work begins. Once the camera has been disassembled or surface preparation has started, changes and cancellations may be limited and additional costs may apply.

We primarily work with vintage film cameras and metal-bodied cameras, including selected Leica and other classic models. Not every camera is suitable for refinishing, so each model must be evaluated individually.

Some digital cameras may be considered, but many have plastic body panels, complex electronics, or rubber components that make refinishing impractical. In some cases, the labor cost may also exceed the value of the camera.

The scope varies by project and may include disassembly, surface preparation, refinishing, painting, and careful reassembly. Any additional work, replacement components, or special details will be confirmed in your quotation.

Yes. You can send us color references, photographs, or a concept rendering. We will evaluate the design and provide a quote based on the finish, complexity, camera model, and required labor.