"Protestor's Shocking Feat: When Leica Camera Survives a Beatdown"
In a bizarre display of resourcefulness, a photographer captured a stunning image at the Minneapolis ICE protests last Thursday, showcasing his trusty Leica M10 camera surviving an ordeal that would make even seasoned photographers question its durability.
According to Pierre Lavie's photo posted by John Abernathy, who claims to be in the picture during the chaos, he was "tackled" by ICE agents backed by 50 border police officers. In a desperate attempt to protect his camera, Abernathy allegedly threw it towards another photographer, making sure it wouldn't fall into the hands of authorities.
Miraculously, the Leica M10 landed on the pavement with hardly any damage and continued to function as if nothing had happened. Abernathy later recounted that he was held down, a tear gas canister exploded near his face, and pepper spray directly hit his eye.
A post shared by John Abernathy on Instagram has sparked a heated discussion among camera enthusiasts, with many speculating about the Leica's impressive resilience. According to the manufacturer, the M10's durable chassis made from magnesium alloy is designed to withstand everyday wear and tear, while its scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass ensures that the camera can resist harsh conditions.
As one enthusiastic fan noted on Reddit, "Not sure I'd bring my M body there for that," adding that he prefers a 24-105mm lens with autofocus in such environments. Another enthusiast quipped, "I guess you could say Leica's durability is its 'authenticity' tool."
While the price of such high-end cameras can be steep – around $4,595 – some photographers are willing to invest in them for their exceptional quality and unique features.
For context, a recent tweet from ICE highlighted the violent clashes at the protest, stating that "anti-ICE agitators" threw objects, shouted profanities, and endangered the public by pouring water on roads. The incident led to the arrest of four individuals.
The photograph has sparked an interesting conversation about photography equipment and its role in capturing the essence of a moment, especially during high-stakes events like these protests.
In a bizarre display of resourcefulness, a photographer captured a stunning image at the Minneapolis ICE protests last Thursday, showcasing his trusty Leica M10 camera surviving an ordeal that would make even seasoned photographers question its durability.
According to Pierre Lavie's photo posted by John Abernathy, who claims to be in the picture during the chaos, he was "tackled" by ICE agents backed by 50 border police officers. In a desperate attempt to protect his camera, Abernathy allegedly threw it towards another photographer, making sure it wouldn't fall into the hands of authorities.
Miraculously, the Leica M10 landed on the pavement with hardly any damage and continued to function as if nothing had happened. Abernathy later recounted that he was held down, a tear gas canister exploded near his face, and pepper spray directly hit his eye.
A post shared by John Abernathy on Instagram has sparked a heated discussion among camera enthusiasts, with many speculating about the Leica's impressive resilience. According to the manufacturer, the M10's durable chassis made from magnesium alloy is designed to withstand everyday wear and tear, while its scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass ensures that the camera can resist harsh conditions.
As one enthusiastic fan noted on Reddit, "Not sure I'd bring my M body there for that," adding that he prefers a 24-105mm lens with autofocus in such environments. Another enthusiast quipped, "I guess you could say Leica's durability is its 'authenticity' tool."
While the price of such high-end cameras can be steep – around $4,595 – some photographers are willing to invest in them for their exceptional quality and unique features.
For context, a recent tweet from ICE highlighted the violent clashes at the protest, stating that "anti-ICE agitators" threw objects, shouted profanities, and endangered the public by pouring water on roads. The incident led to the arrest of four individuals.
The photograph has sparked an interesting conversation about photography equipment and its role in capturing the essence of a moment, especially during high-stakes events like these protests.
. I mean, what if it gets smashed or stolen? The photographer seems pretty lucky that his Leica survived the beatdown tho 
. But seriously, isn't there like a risk of getting hurt just by being there? I dont know about this whole 'investing in expensive gear' thing... shouldn't photography be about capturing moments, not putting a price on it? 
that's insane! I mean, I've heard of cameras being dropped before, but this is on another level lol</font>
I mean, it's clearly built to last, but $4,595 is still kinda steep for some people 
. And that photo? Pure gold 
throwing the camera to save it and all... it's like something out of a movie 
and can you believe the Leica M10 survived that beatdown? 
i mean we all know those cameras are built tough but still... magnesium alloy and Gorilla Glass can only do so much 
! I'm both impressed and terrified at the same time 
. I love how that camera just shrugged off all that trauma like it was nothing. It's like it's saying, "Hey, I've been in tougher shoots than this"... 
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. The camera's durability is cool and all, but come on, guys... there are more important things to worry about 
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but i gotta respect the Leica M10's durability it's like they say: you get what you pay for 
It's not like it was some crazy sports equipment or something. ICE agents are basically just trying to do their job, doesn't mean they gotta be all rough and tumble. And what's with the 'authenticity' tool comment? Like, who says that out loud? 
. I mean, can you even afford that? And for what? So you can take a few cool shots and risk getting arrested? No thanks 
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, Leica's durability is REAL, you can't argue with that! But at the same time, can we talk about how wild this protest was 
?! i mean, i know photographers are always talking about how to protect their gear, but this is insane! 
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- that leica sounds like a total beast!