What it really costs to get your language on the camera
There are five realistic routes, plus leaving the camera as it is. We only state figures we can back up: our own price is $35 per camera. For the other routes, costs depend on your country and seller, so we describe them instead of inventing numbers.
The options side by side
| Option | Cost | Time | Risk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keep the camera as it is | Nothing | None | None — you work in English or Japanese | People happy with the English menu |
| Free DIY tool (e.g. Sony PMCA-RE) | Free | Varies with your experience | You are on your own; what works depends on model and firmware | Technical Sony owners whose model is known to work |
| Canon or Sony service centre | Quote only — if they offer it at all | Days to weeks, including shipping | Low technical risk, but often a "no" for imported bodies | Owners who want the official route and can wait |
| Sending the camera back to Japan | Insured shipping both ways, plus possible customs and service fees | Weeks | Loss or damage in transit; no guarantee your language ends up in the menu | Rarely worth it |
| Selling it and buying an international body | Your resale loss plus the price difference — usually the most expensive | Days to weeks | Low technical risk; the hassle of selling | When you want a different camera anyway |
| MenuLang Unlock | $35 per camera, once, paid only after it works | Usually under 15 minutes of USB setup after the free check | Small: a USB session on your own computer, with a free check first and free remote help | Owners of Canon and Sony cameras with a short language list |
Shown in local currency, rounded up at today's exchange rate.
How we kept this fair
We don't list other providers' prices: they change, and we can't verify them for every country. Where we write "quote only" or "varies", that is the honest answer.
Our price is the same for every supported model, converted to your currency and rounded up. Five cameras or more? Ask us for a volume price.
Common questions
Do I pay before the setup?+
No. You pay once, after the new languages show up in the menu.
Why isn't my price exactly US$35?+
We convert the US$35 base price into your currency at the current exchange rate and round up.
Related answers
How to tell if your camera is a Japan-market model
How to tell if a Canon or Sony is a Japan-market (JDM) unit: the Language menu, box and warranty card, charger, video system, model name, serial number — and which clues are reliable.
→Canon Kiss names and international names
Japanese Canon names next to their international and US names: Kiss X10 = 250D = Rebel SL3, Kiss X10i = 850D = Rebel T8i, Kiss M = M50, Kiss M2 = M50 Mark II — and which models keep the same name.
→Will a firmware update or a reset remove the languages?
What we know — and what we don't — about firmware updates, factory resets and repairs after adding menu languages to a Canon or Sony camera.
→Is Adding Menu Languages Safe? What Changes and What Doesn’t
We only change the camera’s language menu settings — not the sensor, the lens mount or the card slots. Still, no modification is completely risk-free. Here’s what changes, what we don’t touch, and how to keep things smooth.
→Buying a Grey-Import Canon? Check the Menu Languages
A grey import saves money — until you open Menu → Setup → Language and find only English and Japanese. Here’s how to check before you buy, and what you can do if the camera is already yours.
→Tell us your camera model — we'll check for free whether we can add your language
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