Af 100 and equipment insurance

T

taras4444

Well-known member
Hi all, just been recently looking into insuring my af 100 and the rest of my gear and lenses etc. I currently have sagemax insurance on my af, but was looking into expanding into something that will cover all my gear. I'm no professional in the slightest, but plan to start making more of a name for myself and branch into doing more paid work. I was wondering what you guys all use? One I've currently been looking at has been photoguard, it seems to have some of the best reviews.

My main concerns are that: 1) I want to know that if any of my gear gets stolen etc they'll replace it. 2) If wear and tear occurs and I need my voigtlander 25mm or some sennheiser wireless mics replaced for example, then that too will be covered. And not just with a here's what they're worth currently malarky.

I looked into covering myself on the home insurance but it doesnt look great, plus we've had numerous problems with them in the past. So i was wondering what you guys seem to use? And if so, any of you actually made a claim when something's gone wrong?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I just want to find a solution that will give me a bit of piece of mind and allow me to leave my front door without the fear that if anything happens I'm screwed!

Thanks
 
I just recently purchased insurance through Buell insurance. They work with a lot of videographers so know what type of coverage we need. It was reasonable too along with general liability.
They are one of the few companies that offer advertising liability coverage too, which means if you were ever sued for using a copyrighted song or something, they would cover the damage to you up to $100,000.
 
I've been using Fractured Atlas (www.fracturedatlas.org) they offer both Liability and equipment insurance, A while back I was quoting insurance for an one day ad production and for the amount of one day everyone quoted me, they gave me a whole year. Fractured Atlas mostly works with artists and they are are non-profit, the Insurance provided was thru The Hartford which is one of America’s largest insurance companies. I have never made a claim with them but have heard from others they are very reliable.
 
We use a local insurance agent to buy all our commercial insurance, truck/trailer, studio, editing suites, cameras and don't forget the liability insurance as well as blanket insurance.

Our agent prices out different under writers every year. We some times have to take out special insurance for Mexico and Europe, this can be pricey. But Canada and the US is easy and pretty reasonable.

I have had several claims for dropped laptop computers and tape decks damaged in shipping. As well as cameras that were stolen or damaged in shipping and production. There has never been any problem getting reimbursed for these calamities, less the deductible of course, we usually have a $500.00 deductible on equipment.

Our whole package is between 3,000-4,000 annually, this covers 100,000 in equipment in studio and 50,000 on location, liability but not workman's comp (that comes with payroll package), and it covers our 3000 sqft studio as well as my metal shop, and it covers rented equipment as well and SUV with trailer and generator. The cost of doing business. And we have low rates because we are in NH, low crime.

I have never put in a claim for "normal" wear and tear, I don't think that is covered. But if a lens or camera/deck light or whatever is damaged in transport to or on location they are covered.
 
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What would be ball-park figure for an on-site videographer (no studio work) including professional liability?
 
I live in Canada and contacted RBC insurance (who take care of all our insurance (car, home, life, etc etc)) and they said that I can add up to $10k of camera gear under the umbrella of home insurance. I didn't read the fine print but reassured me it covers the camera while it's off-site. I'm going to look into it again before my next shoot.
 
I use Allstate for all our insurance except our commercial vehicles (for some reason they want cover interstate commerce vehicles). Their equipment coverage is very reasonable.
 
Hey guys thanks for the information! It is a bit daunting but I'm sure i have to take the plunge soon! Any British users on here that can recommend any good companies?
 
Hi taras4444, i'm British (Birmingham) & in exactly the same situation as you - looking to insure my gear, as i'm about to go 'semi-pro' with this & don't fancy having my career ended prematurely by a clumsy amateur cameraman dropping my AF100.

Let me know if you've found any good companies - i'm gonna take a look this afternoon & see what i can find.
 
Hey excellent to know someone is in the same boat! The one i keep coming back to is photo gaurd, seems like there's a lot of good reviews. I'm going to try and email them tonight as the key things I want is to know i'm covered if my stuff accidentally breaks, if i drop it etc, if it's stolen, even wear and tear. And I want to be assured that i'll get a new replacement and quickly! Any other things you think I should be looking for that i've missed out?
 
taras4444 said:
Hi all, just been recently looking into insuring my af 100 and the rest of my gear and lenses etc. I currently have sagemax insurance on my af, but was looking into expanding into something that will cover all my gear. I'm no professional in the slightest, but plan to start making more of a name for myself and branch into doing more paid work. I was wondering what you guys all use? One I've currently been looking at has been photoguard, it seems to have some of the best reviews.

My main concerns are that: 1) I want to know that if any of my gear gets stolen etc they'll replace it. 2) If wear and tear occurs and I need my voigtlander 25mm or some sennheiser wireless mics replaced for example, then that too will be covered. And not just with a here's what they're worth currently malarky.

I looked into covering myself on the home insurance but it doesnt look great, plus we've had numerous problems with them in the past. So i was wondering what you guys seem to use? And if so, any of you actually made a claim when something's gone wrong?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I just want to find a solution that will give me a bit of piece of mind and allow me to leave my front door without the fear that if anything happens I'm screwed!

Thanks
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Two good companies I would look into are as follows:

http://filmemporium.com/
http://entertainmentinsurancebroker.com/

Both seem very knowledgeable especially when it comes to filmmakers like us!
 
A wise old businessman once told me early in my career; "with insurance, you're completely covered until something goes wrong." I've had equipment and liability insurance for 40 years. Only had one liability claim which they paid promptly. I'm currently with Buell insurance. I have something called "inland marine" coverage for my equipment. I also have liability, rented equipment and rented vehicle coverage. Personally, I feel that liability insurance is in some ways more important than equipment insurance. Unexpected bad things can happen on a shoot and we are a litigious society.
 
I needed 1 million of liability and $10,000 equipment coverage--State Farm had the best rates--but I do have all of my personal
coverage with them.
 
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