A SAD, SAD day...

ksteiger

ksteiger

Well-known member
I have been in Arizona shooting footage for a series of nature/meditation DVDs I am producing. Got some amazing shots at red Rock Crossing in Sedona...some of the most beautiful footage I have ever captured. The next day I went to a remote location for shots of Oak Creek...do I even have to finish this story? I carefully positioned the tripod just off the bank of the creek, although it was in the water. Then disaster struck. I moved my right foot aboout an inch and steeped on a loose rock, uncerimoniously falling in to the 2 foot deep stream. I picked myself up only to watch in horror as the HVX on the tripod tilted backwards and immersed itself in the beautiful blue waters of Oak Creek. (I misjudged the force of the current...yeah its all my fault) I grabbed it and dried it off but...the fact that it was ON when it went in was a double bad deal.

I have no hope of ever seeing that camera function again, though I will have Panasonic look at it at least. I took the lens assembly apart but didn't see moisture there. I also took the Viewfinder apart because it was swimming!. I must say that I feel like an idiot. I am always so careful and rarely take those kinds of chances with the camera...but HEY I wanted the shot.

I removed my P2 cards and let them bake under low heat (100 watt lamp 8" away) for a day and they seem to function OK when inserted into my laptop. All the footage is there on both cards so I am assuming they will live to see another day.


Soooooo...I need to get another camera ASAP and am wondering who has the best price and is an authorized dealer. I don't need the free 8 GB card so if I can save some $ that way I would love it.
This is my HVX enjoying (?) a bath...:bath:

This is my expression while it was bathing...:shocked:
 
Sorry for your lose...

If it is of any comfort, I am ready to buy or trade your total lose HVX, PM me as soon as you are ready.
 
ksteiger said:
...the fact that it was ON when it went in was a double bad deal.
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But was it rollng at the time and did you get that shot?:D

Sorry to hear of your mishap.
 
ozduc said:
But was it rollng at the time and did you get that shot?:D

Sorry to hear of your mishap.
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yeah lets see the shot!

Bummer man... did you have insurance somehow? I am getting insurance on mine through home owners, it is counted seperate. $18 a year per thousand of gear.
 
Thanks for the empathy...I did NOT get the shot. I SHOULD be shot. I am going to have Panny evaluate the camera before I declare a total loss. I am covered for theft but not extreme stupidity. I can't imagine an insurance comapny covering for this....Uh...I uh...hmmm...

So like I said my camera was stolen right out of the trunk of my car...

Nah I can't do that. I'm an honest guy.
I CAN write it off, though.

:crybaby:
BTW...the next person who complains about the price of the P2 cards??? Just steer 'em towards me and I will do a 20 minute testimonial about how the cards "take a dippin' and keep on tickin'"

I will post a brief clip of Red Rock crossing if anyone cares. Amazing day.
 
ksteiger, holy crap, that sucks, no other way to put it. I've been bummed out the last couple weeks after I got a $1000 import bill for my cam. Least you've put that into perspective for me.

In regards to insurance; most decent insurance policies should cover this. When I insured I made sure to ask that if I were to drop it, I'd be covered. I'm crossing my fingers you'll be pleasantley surprised. DON'T buy another cam until you talk to your insurance agency. On the flip side if you do buy another cam, you'll have to get it before the rebate runs out (sell the card). I don't think an authorized dealer would/could sell a new cam without the rebate, I'd be wary of anyone that did.

It's frustrating how a simple mistake can lead to something like this, could happen to anyone. I dropped a nikon lense on cement a couple days ago and I'm very careful with my stuff too.

Ian
 
Yeah, definetly get a new one before the rebate runs out. Even if you don't need the card it's worth a thousand bucks, selling will help subsidize the cost.

I second - check insurance.

If they don't cover this damage, leave it outside your house until someone steals it. Then you can honestly file theft (hehe jk)

Good luck man, I feel for ya...
 
Since it fell into fresh water, the damage might be repairable. If it were salt water, forget it. Hopefully your camera can be brought back into service. While the tape drive will have to be replaced at least the all-important HD-recording section doesn't contain moving parts!

As for the cards, I know a couple of photographers who had compact flash cards in their pockets when their pants went through the laundry.

The cards came out working just fine afterward.

The only thing you might want to do is apply a little DeoxyIt to the contacts, followed by PreservIt.

Good luck!
 
Dean is pretty much on the money. You have a decent chance of them bringing it back. But, it will be pricey. yet less than buying a new cam. DON'T try to power it up!
 
brianluce said:
I'm just curious why anyone would want a dead HVX? What would you do with it?
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We use mockups or non working cameras for balance tests of the rigs and
at shows. Nothing kinky...
 
Pretty sure my business insurance would cover this minus deductible of course. It was an accident afterall. Even homeowners insurance covers some damages. You'll never know until you ask.
 
ksteiger said:
:crybaby:
BTW...the next person who complains about the price of the P2 cards??? Just steer 'em towards me and I will do a 20 minute testimonial about how the cards "take a dippin' and keep on tickin'"
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amen
 
The problem with homeowners insurance is that even if you don't file a claim, there will be a record of your inquiry in the insurance company database, and that affects your risk rating and can negatively impact your future rates or ability to renew the policy.

Insurance companies don't like it when they have to pay out more than they take in, and they won't hesitate to drop you like a hot potato at the first sign of trouble.
 
I don't know what kind of insurance you have but my guys, USAA, have told me that I'm covered whether it gets dropped in a lake, stolen, lost, blown up, hollowed out and used to hide crack, ect. I mean, I'm sure they'd probably give me hell if anything DID happen to it but they're supposed to cover it as I think most insurance companies would.

Oh, and claiming it was stolen would have been a fine option if you hadn't made this thread :(
 
DavidBeier said:
Oh, and claiming it was stolen would have been a fine option if you hadn't made this thread :(
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Bad idea.. If stolen, you have to file an official complaint with the police and are subject to investigation by the police and the insurance company... very risky business for some one not a pro. well trained con man.
 
Several years ago I was dubbing footage to my DSR-20 at a post house that does a lot of work in PAL. I accidently plugged my deck into a 220 and a puff of smoke came out of the bottom of the deck. A $300 deductable later, I had a deck. The only proof my insurance company needed was a letter from SONY repair that the thing was totaled.

The moral? My business insurance even covers stupidity. So check yours, too. (not that I'm calling you stupid). I understnad your pain.
 
ksteiger said:
I am covered for theft ...
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So, it was stolen, file a police report, oh wait, you're not in New Orleans...

I have USAA, also, and they cover everything. Out of curiosity, I called them to check, and they claim they would have covered this for me. Insurance, shop it, research it, it is there to save your ass, make sure it can.
 
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