Final Cut
Protecting Your Investment
Maintenance mitigates daily wear and tear; insurance covers the unexpected BY JILL HEINERTH
A work bench for regular maintenance of your camera system is a good idea
my first flooded camera, I bathed the afflicted gear in rubbing alcohol and sent it off to a repair facility in the naive hope that something could be salvaged. There was a popular repair technician in Texas who was highly regarded in the industry. He was a genuine expert who often attached a nasty note to the item, repaired or otherwise, when it was returned. To him, these masterpieces of technology deserved the care and protection afforded a sentient being. Accusations of “how could you?” admonished owners for abuse of their Nikonos cameras. But, if anyone could save a flooded camera, he could. So I packaged up my Nikonos V and shipped it off. Weeks later I received a terse letter with a checklist of options for repair. In the end, I chose the last option on the list. It
W 60 Magazine
hen you pursue the art of underwater image making you will eventually experience a loss from flooding. After crying over
was to make a desk-worthy pencil holder out of my trashed Nikonos V camera, to the tune of almost a hundred dollars, expended to that point.
Insurance
If you are not keen to accept a total loss of your video equipment, consider purchasing specialized insurance. Some homeowners’ policies will allow you to place a special rider on your policy, although a claim may be accompanied by high deductibles and future penalties. Photograph every piece of equipment and retain the original sales receipts to provide your insurer with documentation for a rider or claim. Create a spreadsheet that lists each item. Include an ‘accessories’ line item that covers batteries, chargers and other small items that could disappear along with stolen luggage. The value of those little extras adds up quickly.
Divers Alert Network sponsors insurance for equipment through a third-
party insurer. I have used this insurance and found it to be hassle-free. The coverage includes flooding and offers full replacement value based on your stated value. There is a deductible for flooding, but if the gear is stolen or lost in airline transport, they will cover the full stated value. These days you have almost no choice but to put your expensive system in checked baggage, so it is good to know that insurance will help you out if the TSA kicks it across the terminal.
In the event of a flood, rinse everything in fresh water as soon as possible. Bathe the electronics of the housing in isopropyl alcohol if they have been fully submerged. In all likelihood, your camera will not be salvageable, but the housing can be repaired. Technicians will replace modular electronics boards and damaged buttons. They will pressure test the housing before returning it to you. The repair won’t be cheap, but it will be a lot less costly than a replacement.
Photo: Jill Heinerth
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