Weather Sealing is a Gimmick.

mpgxsvcd wrote:

SpinOne wrote:

OK, enough kvetching. How about a practical solution? I've got one.

Verify that your camera equipment is covered by your homeowner's / renter's insurance. You should be able to schedule it, which gives you enhanced coverage. If the camera is damaged, and the warranty is denied, you can ask the insurer.

It's not perfect, as you'll have deductibles and can have issues with the insurer. But it does give you another level of protection.

This is really good advice. Thanks for posting that.

As pointed out above, there are deductibles associated with regullar homeowners policies. And, something like dropping a camera might or might not be covered, depending upon the insurance company and the particular policy.

If you have gear you want to fully protect against loss, theft, or accidental damage, get a "personal items" policy. They are more expensive (if you have no deductibles), but would definitely be worth it if someone cops your full camera bag while your back is turned. NOTE: the accidental damage part is not a warranty that will come into play if the device malfunctions; it covers repair or replacement if you damage the camera by accident. If you are after an extended repair warranty, check with your camera manufacturer or one of the third party warranty companies.

Back to the personal items policy: typically, such policies will require you to provide a receipt showing what the item was purchased for, and that is what they will pay you if the item is lost or accidentally destroyed (e.g. if I lose the used lens I bought on eBay for $80 I won't get $299 back for it).

I have such a policy with State Farm. It covers all my camera gear (cameras, lenses, tripod, ball head, bags etc.), as well as my wife's engagement / wedding ring set. (At one point I even had my hearing aids on it.) Since the cost of the policy is determined by the total value of the items covered, what I pay for mine is not necessarily what YOU would pay for such a policy. If you are interested, put together a list of your gear (along with the value of each piece), and call your insurance agent for a quote.

Hope this is of some help