The camera got broken, but the photographs were really worth the price.

[Bob Michaels]

Nan Goldin: I always use Leica. Previously it was M6, and recently I work with M7 camera. I received one as a salary for this particular ad. However, I immediately lost it while photographing the "Valerie floating" series. I was swimming with her holding my camera in one hand and taking pictures at the same time. It was really difficult. The camera got broken, but the photographs were really worth the price.

Bob: now here is a lady who knows what a camera is made for. Have you ever lost a camera but thought the photos were worth it? I have but it was not a Leica.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I can't say that I've lost a camera while on a shoot but I've picked up lots of dings and dents and had a couple of major repair bills. They were due to bangs and bumps. It goes with the territory. The idea is to get the picture. What amazes me is how much salt spray and rain a Leica ca be exposed to and yet it still goes on functioning just fine for years.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I was shooting a big Catamaran running at full tilt years ago (when I was still agile enough to do such nonsense) from the top of a mast when a tanker came too near. The wake violently rocked the boat. While I held on, the two Nikon motor drive equipped F2's I was shooting with and their 20mm lenses went into the drink, never to be recovered. And I once dropped a lens from a helicopter when the pilot thought it would be funny to mess with the photographer (helicopter pilots have some kind of death wish). The client paid for the equipment in both cases. 🙂

I've never had any other equipment damaged while shooting (although I've been damaged a couple of times - not badly, fortunately).

 

[jke]

I was in Adorama one day when a guy was buying an expensive new 400mm lens. When he left, the salesman told me that he was some famous paparazzo. He had been shooting a rap star, and one of the rap star's bodyguards knocked the guy's lens to the pavement and smashed it. A couple hours later that same bodyguard showed up and gave the paparazzo an envelope full of cash for a new lens. Evidently the rap star liked the photos he took and didn't want any hard feelings. Not sure if all that was worth it or not for the paparazzo, but the story that came out of it was worth it for me and the sales guy.

 

[popeye]

Spilled some Guinness on my DSLR a few months back (never have a drink in one hand and...), sorry to say the camera survived but the glass lost half the contents... 🙁

 

[FallisPhoto]

In the only two cases where I lost a camera, the film went with it, so no, it wasn't worth it.

 

[JohnTF]

I was dumped from a canoe when a friend decided to lean on the side, managed to stick my arm up, and hold the Nikon FM out of the water with the water lapping at my wrist, almost drowned as I bumped on the bottom with the current, but finally managed to get up without pulling my hand with the camera in to the water. I then looked in to an Inland Marine policy, and have collected a few times.

A few drops of salt water from a wave over the model's head in a new electronic camera was a quick camera death, and I had paid $300 to take her out to a secluded island. Add in another $300 for the camera body. I had backup equipment, so got some shots and a day at the beach.

Fine sand is another serious risk. I always thought of how Capa's cameras fared physically on D Day. Lots of newspaper cameras took some serious wear and tear. Capa's last roll of film survived his death.

Sometimes the risk is just necessary, though I recommend the insurance.

I generally worry more about theft, along with losing all the data,-- film or electronic. A lot of stuff can be in one place with digital.

Regards, John