Camera Insurance

What does everyone do for insurance of cameras and housings. At present I have my HC 1 and Ikelite on my house insurance.Which is fine due to the fact that it isn't super expensive, but this will not cover professional use. I am upgrading soon and wanted to get cover for, flooding, theft, professional use, travel etc ect. I am also based in Australia if this info is needed

Any ideas?

Jon

We use Awry - Depp which is an American company http://www.awryinc.com/depp.html . Their admin is rubbish but we have made one successful claim after a flood, I'd be interested if you find a good one in Oz though.

Cheers

Josh

I use the DAN H2Oinsurance - https://www.h2oinsurance.com/default.asp

They don't replace the equipment, they pay you cash.

I also use DAN's H2Oinsurance. Seemed with the way things are changing in the electronics/camera world, if anything were to happen to my stuff, it would give me a good opportunity/reason to upgrade.

BTW, you have to be a DAN member already to qualify for H2Oinsurance.

The official insurance thread has loads of discussion on this.

DAN introduced some small print a couple of years ago which severely limited the coverage when your gear is out on a boat. Can't remember the details but do check it out. It's in that thread somewhere.

Also check out Divemaster insurance. They had a booth at this year's ADEX show and seemed a viable option.

NikSecure do not insure video cameras. I asked them.

The best option is often to add your gear as "all risks" items on your household policy. I can't do that because my apartment is also my business address.

Cheers Guys,

I looked at the DAN one but I live in Oz so no go there. I am just going through the other thread heaps of good info.

Thanks

Jon

I had Depp some time ago as they were the first company to address insurance for divers. I had one claim several years ago while with them and tho I collected, it took a very long time and, as was said, they would only replace the same piece even tho, by then, it was outdated. I have no idea why they insist on replacing the piece as opposed to just paying what you insured it for. No car insurance buys you a new car, they just send an insurance check before raising your bill or dropping you altogether.

I am currently insured by DAN and, unfortunately, had to have the 2nd claim of my career. After sending them the proper form, they took care of things very expediently and I got my check in short order. I couldn't have been more pleased.

Steve B)

DAN introduced some small print a couple of years ago which severely limited the coverage when your gear is out on a boat. Can't remember the details but do check it out. It's in that thread somewhere.

The DAN exclusion you may be thinking of is "Items lost while in your care, custody and control - while in use both in and out of the water, dropped overboard or swept over-board"

If they didn't have that, there could be a lot of obsolete equipment dropped overboard

I would think that if a dive guide dropped it, then DAN should pay for it since it was not in the care, custody and control of the insurer. Just my opinion though.

We carry production entertainment insurance. Not only is the camera covered, but any other damage including loss of content in post, which can happen with hard drives and salt water. Also third party loss, should it fall and clip the deck. Last, and very important, loss caused by the chip in the deck. I learned about that extra loss from cracking marble in a hotel lobby; that loss of use can be very expensive. So is the policy (in my opinion). I hate February for that bill. Had to use it this year for loss of content do to RAID crash, they covered the re-shoot expenses and repairs; everything but post. Because I am the post they can't pay ME for my services.

Regards,

I have an "all-risks floater" on my homeowners insurance. It is kind of an ironic name because I have the insurance in case the camera doesn't float . I don't have the info in front of me, but if I recall, it cost 1% of the purchase price of the equipment per year. So, for my full setup (camera, housing, lights, etc.) it was something like $40 a year. I thought it was a pretty good deal. I've never had to use it though, so I don't know if it is really as good as it sounds.

Good luck.

--Mark