If you don't have insurance on your camera, get it!

[rparchen]

I insured all of my equipment through State Farm about six months ago (up to $4000) for a whopping $50 a year. I was hoping I would never need to use it but sure enough my camera/lens took a spill while on vacation. I dropped my 30D + Sigma 10-20mm (which I dearly love, lol) as I accidently released it from my tripod and it landed on a rock lens-side down. I was pretty pissed at the thought of being in Maui for 5 more days without my UWA for landscapes. The focus mechanism is toast and the front ring is bent. Surprisingly, I was still able to use it since the focus was stuck just short of infinity, all I had to do it bust out my ND filter and I used it the rest of the trip. I called State Farm up and they immediately sent me a check for a new lens without any hassle or even wanting my old lens back. What a great deal for the amount of protection for all of my gear. Should be a no brainer for anyone.

Damage from a 4 ft fall onto a rock:

[Travisj]

Ouch!!! Good to know though, thanks for sharing and glad you didn't have any problems getting a new one.

[Cubix Rube]

If I'm not a pro, does my homeowners insurance not cover my gear? What if I was to open a smugmug pro account and actually sold a couple of prints? Would that qualify me as a pro, and would that even make a difference?
I've seen threads about insuring gear in the past, and this question has always bugged me. I'd really like to know...

[In2Photos]

I have State Farm and am planning on calling to see what it might cost to protect my gear. What type of plan is it if you don't mind me asking?

[TSEE]

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of "coverage" did you ask for when you insured your stuff? I've tried going online to State Farm (also our insurance company for both cars and house) and their website blows and will not give me quotes. I'd like to have something to cover my gear as well, just not sure what sort of coverage to ask for?

[EricL]

You really can't go wrong with some extra insurance. Here is a link from a few weeks ago after I go insured.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=320546
Now with the addition of my 5D I need to get in to up the amount a tad..Just the piece of mind is worth it!!

[rparchen]

I can't remember exactly what type of policy it was, it's just an add-on type of personal one in addition to my car/home policy. My agent told me tons of people insure camera gear (and stuff like jewelry, art, just about anything) and it's really a common thing. It covers everything like theft, dropping it, etc other than normal wear and tear. One thing I thought was cool is that if I ever got an underwater case and it leaked, my gear would be replaced Thankfully I don't see a mark on my 30D and I took pictures the rest of the trip just fine. Now I'm off to order my replacement 10-20mm. Anyone want a deal on a "working" one? lol

[In2Photos]

Originally Posted by rparchen

I can't remember exactly what type of policy it was, it's just an add-on type of personal one in addition to my car/home policy. My agent told me tons of people insure camera gear (and stuff like jewelry, art, just about anything) and it's really a common thing. It covers everything like theft, dropping it, etc other than normal wear and tear. One thing I thought was cool is that if I ever got an underwater case and it leaked, my gear would be replaced Thankfully I don't see a mark on my 30D and I took pictures the rest of the trip just fine. Now I'm off to order my replacement 10-20mm. Anyone want a deal on a "working" one? lol

I know you don;t remember but is there any way you could find out? I just talked with my agent and he has never done a photo policy before. He told me I had to have a business liabilty policy and an inland/marine policy? To cover $2500 in gear was like $285 a year. It covers an awful lot. Maybe I should just tell him I want it as an add on to my curent hoemowner policy rather than because I am thinking about stating up a photo business?

[rparchen]

I found out it's called a Personal Articles Policy. I know State Farm has a brochure which outlines a bunch of infomation about it and you should be able to get one from your agent. If your agent still doesn't know what you are talking about, well, I'd get a new agent I should also mention this is just for personal articles and "hobby use". Business insurance is a whole different story. And I'm glad that I threw an extra $150 in insurance for miscellaneous filters since I broke my Hoya Pro 1 UV from after my Sigma 150mm rolled out from my bag (alcohol and camers don't mix) and to replace the ND on the Sigma. The $50 on the insurance just saved me over $500

[bigken462]

State farm semmed eager to help me when US Airways lost 11K worth of my gear. I was near having a stroke, all alone they were saying things would be covered. I pay just under 26 bucks a month for my coverage. I also use DEPP with some add on scuba gear.

Thankfully 3 days layter all my lost luggage arrived intact, and I didnt have to do anything but pull and shoot. Safe to say I'll not fly US Airways again!

Kenny

[sonnyc]

Do you need receipts of your equipments to prove the value to the insurance? I bought most of my stuffs used and have no receipts.

[mkuriger]

i keep forgetting to get insurance! last weekend I was at a client's home doing a shoot. I set my 30D down on the table for a second so I could adjust my softbox strobe. Along comes client's dog and pulls my camera off the table by the cord running to the softbox. luckilly, the client was sitting there and caught it before it hit anything.

whew!

[rparchen]

Originally Posted by 4x4rock

Do you need receipts of your equipments to prove the value to the insurance? I bought most of my stuffs used and have no receipts.

I didn't have to provide them with any receipts just the serial numbers of each of the items (if it had one). They have a good idea of the value of the item. They offer to send a check for what they could get it for wholesale or they will just buy it and send it to you with receipt for any warranty issues. The Sigma 10-20mm has an MSRP of $730 and I got mine from Sigma4less.com for like $480 shipped. They were happy to just send me a check for $480 and not worry about it. I was impressed the whole process took like 10 minutes and I'll have the check by Tuesday or Wednesday and the new lense shortly after.

[ekie]

rparchen, just curious .. after making your claim, did your policy rates go up? .. since it normally does with like car ins and stuff lol. i got the insurance recently also for $5k coverage for $69/year. not too worried about accidental stuff (though that can always happen lol), more so with thefts specially when im out shooting around town.

[rparchen]

I prepaid the whole year for $50'ish so it's not a monthly type of deal. I will renew it next year but I seriously doubt it would go up at all.