Camera Insurance

[oyajikun]

[Charles]

It partly depends on your gear and what you use it for. If it's normal consumer grade (cheap) stuff, you could add it to a homeowner's policy. If it's professional grade (big $$$) or you use it for professional work, it won't be covered by any homeowner's policy, so you need what is known as an "Inland Marine Rider" policy. I used to insure my camera gear with a Marine Rider policy because it covers any and all damage (even if I drop it), theft, etc.
Google around on that phrase "marine rider" plus "insurance" and "camera" and you'll get a lot of hits. Here's an example from the well-regarded Luminous Landscape website.

[oyajikun]

Thank you Charles!

I have pro gear. Too much $$ for the homeowners policy. Apparently they refuse to cover any camera goods over 3jumanen, in total...

From the link you gave me I see that the following companies offer Island Marine Rider policies. Can you recommend one over the other? Are there no Japanese companies, or branches that I can contact?

The Hartford
Erie Insurance Group
The Travelers
State Farm
Nationwide
Allstate

[Mike Oxlong]

Have you tried asking on your local forum?

http://www.japanupdate.com/forum

There's also a local photograph site...the operator may be have some info.

http://www.hdrjapan.com/

[oyajikun]

Have you tried asking on your local forum?

http://www.japanupdate.com/forum

No, I've checked those forums a couple times in the past, but not my cup of tea. Good idea about contacting the HDR dude though. He seems to be the most prominent photog on the island. Even if he is getting his insurance though the US , there is a good chance he might know where to go on the economy

[gkanai]

You may want to join japanphoto and ask there. I'm an admin and can approve your entry. Just be sure to note that you live in Japan and if you have a photo website, please list that too.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/japanphoto/

[oyajikun]

You may want to join japanphoto and ask there. I'm an admin and can approve your entry. Just be sure to note that you live in Japan and if you have a photo website, please list that too.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/japanphoto/

Thanks, I've just joined (pending approval). I'm no pro, but I'd like to think that I could become one some day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertmallon/

[Mike Oxlong]

A local (to Okinawa) foreign photog has a website here -
http://www.kidzpikz.com/default3.asp

And a blog here:
http://kidzpikz.blogspot.com/

Heard him praised very highly for both his skill and down-to-earth approach. He may be another source of info.

[oyajikun]

A local (to Okinawa) foreign photog has a website here -
http://www.kidzpikz.com/default3.asp

And a blog here:
http://kidzpikz.blogspot.com/

Heard him praised very highly for both his skill and down-to-earth approach. He may be another source of info.

Thanks. I checkout that guys Flickr stream quite often. He has definitely got his shit together when it come to portraiture.

[Charles]

Thank you Charles!

I have pro gear. Too much $$ for the homeowners policy. Apparently they refuse to cover any camera goods over 3jumanen, in total...

From the link you gave me I see that the following companies offer Island Marine Rider policies. Can you recommend one over the other? Are there no Japanese companies, or branches that I can contact?

The Hartford
Erie Insurance Group
The Travelers
State Farm
Nationwide
Allstate

I can't recommend any particular firm based on personal experience (I haven't had a policy like this for quite a while, I have no gear worth insuring). But I vaguely recall that some of these companies have a presence in Japan, you might check with the other forums that you're hooking up with now.

[Mike Oxlong]

In the old country, it was possible to add special riders to homeowner's insurance to cover items of high value...is that not a possibility in Japan?

[Charles]

In the old country, it was possible to add special riders to homeowner's insurance to cover items of high value...is that not a possibility in Japan?

Sure, they might say they could add it, but then try and file a claim, they'll say it's not personal equipment, it's professional level, and not covered. Many photogs have found this out through hard experience.
This is why you need the Marine Rider policy. It's some traditional thing adapted from insurance on boats, they have a high value and may be lost due to something as simple and common as bad weather, and the insured boat travels out into the world into unpredictable circumstances. So you pay a little higher premium and get coverage for all risks.

Of course you could always go cheap and get the "Never-Pay" policy.

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