Circuit City used to make half their annual profits from extended warranties....
If you can get a reasonable rate from a reputable company, it is absolutely worth it on this type of camera imho. You also need to check carefully what is actually covered.
For a $20,000 studio camera on the other hand, it is not worthwhile imho. Why? Because of very high reliability and modular construction.
"We have long advised against extended warranties. In fact, we feel so strongly that consumers are being misled about them that last year we took out a full-page ad in USA Today (see below) to warn shoppers."
I subscribe to Consumer Reports, but sometimes I shake my head at their conclusions.
Sometimes you really have to think for yourself.
"All extended warranties are misleading and fraudulent."
Let me paraphrase that:
"All consumer tests are misleading and fraudulent."
Some are OK, some are not. That goes for both.
CR is usually right when they are specific: for example when they state the cost of an extended warranty for a refrigerator or stove vs. the cost of a likely repair and find them to be about the same, so there is nothing to be gained by signing up.
It really is a gamble. I paid $50 for an extended warranty on my GPS, and the store replaced it when it stopped receiving satellites. No questions, in and out in 5 minutes.
Generally, though, I won't buy the extra warranty.
just gotta weigh it out , i have a cheap hc3 I use as a deck,, beat the hell out of it, bought a warranty ,couple a cams not as cheap , dont beat the hell out of them ,, no warranty