Do you insure your camera/lenses?

[new2DSLR]

I was wondering how many of you insure your camera/lenses against theft and damage, and why you decided for or against it. Is there price point when it's worth insuring vs. not?

What would your opinion be on whether or not I should insure my new precious little toy--the Rebel XT?

Thank you all for your feedback.

[tim]

My home contents insurance covers the camera, lenses, and anything else I have with me.

[eosster]

I've got home insurance, but thinking about getting a seperate insurance for my gears. Infact, I am going to talk to my agents on Monday, LOL.

[johnnybfan]

My home contents insurance covers the camera, lenses, and anything else I have with me.
While this is true of your home owners insurance it's not necessarily the same for all home insurance. Mine will cover it only up to $500 unless I insure it separately with a "rider" that I pay extra for. Make sure you check what is covered by what and for how much :eek: (did that make sense??). Mine will cover my camera for almost anything. Be sure to list everything you want covered and for how much. Also, keep all of your receipts!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Oh yes,. all insured,. to the tune of nearly the cost of a D-Rebel yearly...

Full fledged Pro photographers insurance.

[Moments]

Most homeowners insurance will cover your equipment as long as they are only for personal use. Depending upon your policy, and the value of the equipment, you might have to list each piece and pay for the added coverage. The increase of your priemium would most likley be a small one.

If you are using your equipment professionally, most Ins Co. would need to right a commercial policy. Most of them have a min amount of ins they will write. My first policy that was written over five years ago for my large format, Hasselblads, studio strobes etc ($50K) and 1 Mil in liability and it was under $1000 a year. All I needed is to have one lens to be stolen at a wedding or a breakin in the studio to justify the ins cost.

In fact I was in a car accident years ago and the commercial ins covered a less than 1 month old Hasselblad body and lens that were damaged. The Car ins would not cover it due to the amount of loss, $2500 and that back then my car was not insured to be used for buisness, otherwise they should have covered the damage.

[new2DSLR]

Thank you all for your input.

Many of you mentioned your camera being covered under home insurance. But, chances are your camera is most likely to be lost/stolen/damaged when you take it outside of your home. In that case, I don't think your home insurance coverage is effective anymore. Is that correct?

[Bruce Watson]

Thank you all for your input.

Many of you mentioned your camera being covered under home insurance. But, chances are your camera is most likely to be lost/stolen/damaged when you take it outside of your home. In that case, I don't think your home insurance coverage is effective anymore. Is that correct?

For me, living in Ontario, Canada, my homeowner insurance would only cover loss if it happens while on the property.

Most automobile policies limit coverage (or give none) for contents of your car, meaning if your car is broken into, your camera equipment (or GPS or fancy stereo, etc) may not be fully covered, if at all. Same for hotel rooms, campgrounds, etc.

So, for the huge sum of $50 per year, I have a rider/floater list on my home policy which covers my listed gear wherever I take it.

Makes me far more comfortable hauling my gear everywhere.

[blackviolet]

my stuff is insured as an optional ($$) extension of my home content insurance. i don't insure every lens (just the L's and most of the EX). it covers me when i travel as well (which i am sure i will need next week...)

[HJMinard]

I have a Personal Articles policy for my camera, all lenses, tripod, bag and most accessories. I also included my laptop on the policy. It covers damage, loss or theft with no deductibles.

Although I purchased this through State Farm, with whom I have homeowner's insurance, this is a stand alone policy.

[jfred]

I extended my home insurance to include "away from home" insurance to cover all the camera/lens equipment I own.

[CyberDyneSystems]

It seems for a collection of under ... say $7,500.00 a rider on a home owners policy specific to the equipment is a fantasitc deal!

For me this was not an option... but also once your kit get's over the $10K mark or there abouts,. it may be a good idea to look at other more comprehensive options.

A Pro insurance package does not just cover the eqipment, it covers the photographer,. liability, damages etc that one could get themselves mixed up in. The jump in cost is significant,.. from under $100.00 for a rider,. to an averadge of $450.00 or more for the "pro" packages.

[JZaun]

My camera insurance is part of the home owners policy. It covers fire / theft and even if I drop it and break it. I insured $4000 photograpyhy equipment, body and lens for a $56.00 a year premiun.

Too cheep not to do!!
JZ

[rfreschner]

Called my insurance company and put everything on a separate rider on my homeowners policy before I would take it out of the house! :)

[ssim]

I had always kept a list with my insurance company of what I had and their value. About a year ago they told me that I had too much equipment to be covered under my home policy. I put a special rider on my policy just for my cameras and computers. I am now covered no matter what happens, if I drop a lens in the lake, it's covered.

[4nR]

I dont but since i got the g6 and spent all that money on it, i think that i probably should have. and i handle my stuff pretty rough.

[mvonditter]

Thank you all for your input.

Many of you mentioned your camera being covered under home insurance. But, chances are your camera is most likely to be lost/stolen/damaged when you take it outside of your home. In that case, I don't think your home insurance coverage is effective anymore. Is that correct?

Most home owner’s insurance will cover it regardless of where you are as long as you are in your country. Some will even cover it off shore. My first line of theft defense is my Doberman pinschers.:lol: They just love thief snack foods. Have had at least one for over 30 years and have never been brocken in to save one car. Found two fingers.......Wonder why?:cool:

[MALI]

I got a question for those who have the experience of insuring their cameras and lenses. How do you convince the insurance company of the "loss" of your valuables? How do you tell them for instance that somebody just grabbed your camera from your car when you were getting an ice-cream? Do they really buy that? Thanks.

MALI

[Jon]

If it was stolen, you should file a police report. Most insurance companies expect that for any theft claim. Now, if you drop it off a pier or from a boat, I don't know what they'll accept, and I don't particularly want to find out. I'd rather bet to lose in this situation.

[DocFrankenstein]

I got a question for those who have the experience of insuring their cameras and lenses. How do you convince the insurance company of the "loss" of your valuables? How do you tell them for instance that somebody just grabbed your camera from your car when you were getting an ice-cream? Do they really buy that? Thanks.
You file report it to the police and they try to search for the items. You get a copy of the police report which you submit to the insurance company.

So they don't just "buy that", you're putting yourself on the line legally before you file anything with them. If they discover that same lens with the matching serial number in your home... or if you mistakenly send it to canon for repair you're potentially facing charges from obstructing an investigation to fraud. ;)

[DocFrankenstein]

I don't have insurance and I don't think I will have one.

What you pay is not what you get back from the company. Ever. But it's just an opinion and it may change.

[alpineslide]

I asked my insurance company about this earlier this week. It's covered up to $ 15,000 dollars on my home owners policy. I'm good....for now anyway.

[2005GLI]

Good thread to remind me. I spoke to geico and they can insure camera's/lenses but under a different type of insurance.

[Mark_Cohran]

In 1994 my home was burglarized. In addition to the stereo, CD and DVD player, and CD's that were stolen, the thieves (a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds), took my camera bag. In it were all my lenses and three bodies - it was an FD system consisting of an AT-1, and AE-1, and an A1 and a number of FD lenses.

The insurance company replaced everything except the AT-1, which we were able to recover right away from the thieves. They replaced them with Canon EOS system cameras and lenses, because the FD system was no longer in production. In fact, the insurance company replaced all the stolen equipment with brand new, equivalaent equipment. Where possible, they allowed me to do trade offs so that I would get the system that I wanted instead of being strict about each item.

I did have to pay a $250 deductible, and I had the serial numbers of all the things that were stolen. I had to sign a quit claim for any of the stolen equipment. When the police recovered the stuff later (and they got a lot), the insurance company got to keep it. That was only fair.

In my opinion, insurance is worth it, if you know what you're paying for and the risks involved.

[christopherpm]

I insure all of my equipment through E&L Insurance since they have cover specifically for photographic equipment. It covers me for ALL of the hardware, and obviously covers the equipment for outdoor use...

[Bruce Watson]

I have a specified value rider on my home policy; covers me for the replacement value outside my home (taken from car, hotel, mugged, car crash, etc.).

Any claim would have to be backed up by evidence such as a police report or similar.

Some years ago, my car was broken into in a hotel underground parking lot, some AV equipment was taken, called the police and they gave me an incident number over the phone and advised me to call my insurance.

Adjuster arranged payment with no question or problem, it was reimbursed within 30 days.

Had to send a copy of original receipts with price, description and serial number in to establish value.

It costs me about $50 per year, but well worth it for peace of mind when travelling with kit.

[dsze]

Absolutely. I pay about $100/year to cover about $9000 worth of gear.

[piku]

I don't travel that much out of the States but do travel once and a while inter-state (OAK to LA, LV, etc...). I recently got some new gear (as listed as below... 20D + 70-200/2.8L IS + etc.). I shoot a lot during city events lately. Do you think it's worth getting my stuff insured (that is insurance/year vs. $camera-gear ratio)?

Also, If I live/renting at a friend's house (and/or condo/apt. to be more general), what kind of insurance am I looking for? Would it be better to grab one from my car insurance company (statefarm, i think, in this case)?

TIA
Sherwin

[adam*]

No, Im a poor student and could only just afford the camera! I would insure whilst travelling though.

edit: how do you submit to the vote? I have no options anywhere?

[tim]

edit: how do you submit to the vote? I have no options anywhere?

It's an old poll, it's closed and you can't vote.

Since I posted in this thread last time, i've gotten professional camera insurance.

[Marshall]

I extended my home insurance to include "away from home" insurance to cover all the camera/lens equipment I own.

I did the same,boy was that needed when my laptop,& lenses were stolen in Majorca & got new for old ! Also only have to make a declaration, & pay xtra premium, for items over £1,000.

[roli_bark]

It seems for a collection of under ... say $7,500.00 a rider on a home owners policy specific to the equipment is a fantasitc deal!

For me this was not an option... but also once your kit get's over the $10K mark or there abouts,. it may be a good idea to look at other more comprehensive options.

A Pro insurance package does not just cover the eqipment, it covers the photographer,. liability, damages etc that one could get themselves mixed up in. The jump in cost is significant,.. from under $100.00 for a rider,. to an averadge of $450.00 or more for the "pro" packages.


Does your "Pro" Insurance package cover Camera equipment & Accessories Repair ?

[MattL]

My home contents insurance covers the camera, lenses, and anything else I have with me - however I had to list it all with them, and send in valutations etc. It didnt cost anything extra.

It covers loss, theft, damage, accidental damage, theft ex-car, acts of god, you name it. anywhere in the country.


I take my camera out in the surf, strapped to the back of my kayak. I rolled the kayak 4 times in 2meter swells last week. But I got some good photos. I woudlnt do this without my insurance, and my bloody awesome pelican case.