What would you do if a friend broke your camera?

[pete66]

Hi,

I was recently involved in a 48 hour film competition and during it, one of my friends broke my DVX100.

The way it happened was quite disappointing because I'd gone on an errand to get some equipment and I left my friend (who has a University degree in film studies) in charge of my camera.

Ten minutes later I was back and took over the use of the camera. The first thing I said as I started setting up for my first shot was "hey what the hell? The viewfinder's completely loose!" at which point my (almost former) friend managed a feeble "yeah it kinda fell off the tripod".

It was almost humiliating hearing this, as I stood with our cast of about 5 people. Apparently none of whom would have owned up to having seen the camera fall on the ground if I hadn't noticed anything wrong.

An apology wasn't forthcoming and the next thing I noticed was that the manual zoom ring had also been hit hard and had become slightly oval. This means that when zooming it becomes "sticky" at a certain point. The servo motor no longer works after you're about half way zoomed in.

So basically, the camera is almost still fully functional, except for an extremely flimsy viewfinder and a dodgy zoom.

It's so frustrating because just before I left, I said "BE CAREFUL with my camera, DON'T use that tripod". Which is ironic because there is nothing wrong with the tripod he used, I just wanted him to use my other tripod which was superior for doing panning shots etc.

My first question is, are either of these problems fixable?

Second question is, if so, how much is it likely to cost?

He's f**king useless. It wasn't till days later that he said sorry and hasn't even offered to pay for getting it repaired.

[cleanharry]

wow...that's a tough situation. if he was a really good friend, i supposed he would have offered in some way to help you with any costs. in all fairness, unless you had something in writing about the liability of your equipment during production (friends usually don't) then you could be partly responsible since you left your camera in the care of others. so...as far as fixing the problems with your dvx, i'd suggest to sell it while you can and spend the money you would use to fix it to upgrade to an hvx. suggest to your friend that you would like for him to contribute to some of the costs. i mean...he doesn't have to pay for half, but at least a little something to show some compassion, right? well...whatever way it goes...i wish you luck and if all else fails, just live and learn. we've all gone through something similar at one point or another, so just consider yourself lucky that it wasn't worse.

[James H.]

Are you sure this guy is a "friend" ???

I had a similar scenario play out not ago with a $2k Zeiss lens... buddy of mine dropped it and cracked the glass. I didn't even know about it until a courier showed up a few hours later to deliver a replacement he ordered. He had called a local shop and ordered a used one that was even in slightly better condition than mine was in.

That's what I would expect any friend to do. If the friend was short on cash flow, I would at least expect an honest apology and some effort to help replace it. Not doing so is just disrespectful!

Sounds more like this guy is just a scrub... hanging around you to use your gear. Dude, I've have to shake a lot of those off lately.

Tip... give your "friends" a good rental rate, but never loan out your gear. =-)

[Zim]

I would get what money you can from him then don't have him back.

Next time let someone else run the errands.

[saturnin]

yah man a good friend would definatly try to correct the situation right away, shit happens to everyone. I crashed my buddys motorcycle, without any issue i offered to fix it all right away and i felt so bad.

[ryan brown]

wow...that's a tough situation.

Not really. Send it to Panosonic and get a written quote for repair costs, then send that off to your friend and tell him that's how much he owe's you.

If he won't pay, you're sh!t out of luck, pay it yourself and never leave your camera unattended again.

Bum deal, but like someone else said... sh!t happens.

-brown

[TimurCivan]

When ever we finihs a shoot and go get dinner, the HVX is literally in my hand the whole time. I dont trust anyone with my gear as far as i can throw them. Lesson learned i take it.? Dont trust ANYONE with your gear. unless its fully insured and theres a full cash deposit....... :)

[saturnin]

or u konw the ppl who are taking care of it are 110% responsible and have no problems taking care of it if somthign should happen. BUt yes, insurance is important cuz "shit does happen" :D

[3CHIP Productions]

insurance is a nice thing to have too.

[jdmoviemaker]

insurance is great , I had the mic snap of my 100b and I could not get it back in , I took it to the shop I got it at and they fixed it for free :)

[MalcolmOng]

insurance is great , I had the mic snap of my 100b and I could not get it back in , I took it to the shop I got it at and they fixed it for free :)

Ahhh that happened to me once...a guy i was filming accidentally threw a basketball at my camera. Well, by guy i mean a bunch of 13 year old kids. Lucky for me all i needed to do was screw it back in, which i did myself. If there was any permanent damage i don't know what i would have done really....I mean they're just a bunch of kids

[tmnt]

I don't think this is even a question of friendship, I think it's one of morals. If I was to break someone's gear, even if I didn't know them in the slightest, then I would pay for repair no questions asked.

[Luis Caffesse]

Boy, this thread is about 5 months old.
I wonder if he got the camera fixed, and whether or not his friend paid for it?

[dory_breaux]

Yet another reason why I wont let anyone use my camera other then myself and my parents (I know where to find them and have full access to their bank accounts:laugh:)

[Capt Quirk]

There was a Craigslist ad in Orlando, looking to use a HiDef camera, offering "at least $10 an Hour". I had to laugh at that. I couldn't even send it in for repairs at that price.

[tmnt]

10 bucks an hour? Sign me up, I'll bring my steadicam and sound eq too!

[Capt Quirk]

10 bucks an hour? Sign me up, I'll bring my steadicam and sound eq too!
Did I forget to mention, it also needs two phantom powered XLR inputs, and capable of 24P. Picky Bastards, ain't they?

[vidwerk]

If he's your friend, he'll pay up.
I had a similar situation during a film shoot.
I walked into the other room for just a moment and one of the actors decided to look through the viewfinder of my 16mm camera. As I returned, the actor knocked the tripod over, but luckily I managed to pull a "Risky Business" jump and catch it just before hitting the ground. The same evening while trying to frame a macro shot on a handgun, another actor "a friend"? who had been drinking, purposely bashed the end of the plastic gun into the lens. I freaked! Thank god for UV filters. There are some people now I just won't work with, and I never leave my gear unattended.

vidwerk.

[avp]

I have another post, re: stolen camera...At least that was my bad. I should have never left my camera in my car...not even for a few minutes. it was not insured and I took a bath on that one. About 8k worth.

Your "friend" owes you for the cost of repairs...and down time...if you have to rent another camera to complete a shoot. I borrow a lot of equipment from various people...I always pay them for the use and, knock on wood, I have never damaged anything. If I do, I will pay for the damages. We all know sh*t happens and things get broken. That does not relieve us from liability.

Best of luck....Jeffro

[DeSica]

The same evening while trying to frame a macro shot on a handgun, another actor "a friend"? who had been drinking, purposely bashed the end of the plastic gun into the lens. I freaked! Thank god for UV filters. There are some people now I just won't work with, and I never leave my gear unattended.

vidwerk.

WTF?? Why would any idiot want to bash a lense on anyone's camera, nevermind during a shoot? I'd have decked him.

Dude, I'm in Toronto...next time that happens, knock on my door. I'll hold him while you beat him....

[Robbie Comeau]

See, this is why i NEVER let my friends touch my DVX. Same with my parents or anyone. Im the only one who films with it

[Wild Imagination Films]

All my gear and toys are available for rental. They even come with an operator.

[faultygoblin]

Hmm..
I've only recently let people use my camera without me there, and I've already had cause to regret said policy.

I usually give a my equipment is worth *$* amount your kidney is worth *$$$* ... I don't do change.. speech.

I also have insisted on no shooting during rain whatsoever, unless an enclosure is rented, no using the camera for vehicle moving shots etc..

Even that hasn't kept people from using my camera in "light" rain under an umbrella. (had to see those production stills on facebook)

I think short of an insurance policy, some sort of contract, or constant vigil on set no one should touch your camera.

As for the author, I don't know how I would react.. but I don't think it would be calmly...
Whatever happened afterwards?

[Cory Braun]

I never let anyone use my camera unless it's me or if I am standing right next to the person and I have only done that once.
I know this wasn't the question you were asking, but I would make him pay for it. It was his fault, he should pay for it.
Good luck with getting it fixed.

[jaimepresto]

While we're on the subject, does anyone have any advice regarding a suitable insurance policy? Are there any companies that specialize in this area? I'm wondering if it would be covered under a Geico (or whatever) home insurance policy.

[SGFilms]

I rented a DVX from someone here on the board and it was stolen from my car. Atleast I manned up and payed for what was lost so he could get a new camera. It was heartbreaking becuase at the time I didn't own a DVX and wanted to get one but had to pay for a replacement. Later on I got a DVX and have been loving it ever since..

[Capt Quirk]

Note to self: Do not let SGFilms use camera, he parks in bad neighborhoods... :)

[kenackr]

Jaime,

I have AAA homeowners and added my DVXb (and other vid gear) to it. It's an "all risk", named value replacement (no depreciation) for $80/year. It even covers "mysterious loss", etc.

I can't afford to buy another camera, but I can afford the insurance.

Ken

[Ogrus]

Break my friend...