camera insurance advice

I'm lucky enough to be visiting Vietnam soon and am taking my pentax MX with me, can any of you recommend a good insurer for camera equipment? Specifically have you tried the insurance link from this site? (https://www.pentaxuser.com/pages/insurance.htmare) are they ok?

thanks

hopelully i'll post some pics when i get back!

Guy

I'm obviously biased, because we recommend the Pentax User insurance scheme. It's the same one that offers a special rate to Canon EOS users and ePHOTOzine members too. The person who heads up the photo section is a keen photographer and understands our needs. It's been around years and I've never heard anyone complain.

I can comment from personal experience of using Glover and Howe. They do provide a first class service and when one of my LX's was damaged beyond economic repair they even managed to source and supply a replacement! - something I was dreading having to do.

how much should i insure a pentax mx (in v good condition) for?

Tricky as you can't buy one new now. The most a second-hand one goes for is £200. I think there's an old forum message on here that covers the new for old replacement which, depending on viewpoint, will vary as there is no direct replacement.

Has anyone with camera insurance with e&L ever wished they had never heard of the company, after numerous e-mails and phone calls I cant seem to get a claim form from them. Ive known insurance companies to be slow and aqward about settleing claims, but to not even want to send you a claim form is a new one on me. Though i do tell a lie, they did send me a claim form for pet insurance and was tempted to fill it in, maybe i should exchange my camera for a labrador.

Yes. The premiums seem reasonable, the schedule is flexible*, and best of all, their terms & conditions are very reasonable. There are not so many get-out clauses in the small print as there are with other companies.

* You can change the details any time, and items under £150 are included in the miscelanous total rather than needing to be listed separately.

Insure your equipment for what it would cost you to replace it right now. To get an idea for the MX, see: http://completed.shop.ebay.co.uk/items/Film-Cameras__pentax-mx_W0QQLHQ5fComplete...

No need to worry about the exact figure now if you value it at under £150 because it'll count as a misc item and you won't even have to mention it specifically on the schedule. Then you would only need to state an exact value if and when you made a claim.

I used to run an insurance brokerage, best advice is to add onto your home contents insurance as all risks. With old cameras agreeing a replacement value could be a problem. I used to deal with e&l strange company, but their policy's suited some people. From memory their policy could be extended to cover professional use. This is something that has to be taken into consideration as the household policy would only cover amateur use. Some household policy's have a working from home cover, which would cover business equipment . Also have a look at the cover of equipment stolen from vehicles and public liability.

Check the small print of your home insurance to see if the conditions are as reasonable. In my opinion it's worth paying for special insurance if the terms are more reasonable and flexible, especially if taking your stuff on holiday as well.

I took out special insurance for my gear as the value of it was too high for my home insurance to cover - my husband's guitars are already listed as valuables on it. Plus the conditions on my home insurance were useless.
Travel insurance also only covers a fraction of the value of my gear so I looked for a specific insurance that would also cover me when travelling.
The insurance I now have, through the Dutch TV has great terms and conditions and even covers my gear should I have to check it on a flight.
Any others in Holland looking for insurance should consider it.

Does anybody have current advice or experience with camera insurance companies. I need to take the plunge and feel as though my home insurance is not up to the job.