It should be pretty common knowledge by now that you don’t check your delicate camera gear when flying. Ok, sometimes, you might no choice, especially if you fly Delta. But if the ability is there to carry it in your hand luggage, then do it. This was an expensive lesson to learn for one lady who recently brought her Leica M10 & 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux to Leica Store Manchester for repair.
The $10,995 lens has been smashed, and the $6,895 camera now won’t even turn on. Leica Store Manchester told PetaPixel, “She had only had the camera and lens for 2 weeks”.
Leica Store Manchester posted a photograph of the lens to Facebook and Instagram. Their goal is to warn others of the danger of putting expensive equipment in your checked luggage.
Here you can see that the two front lens elements have been completely smashed. Shockingly, the protective filter didn’t help one bit.
A very expensive lesson to learn, especially having only owned the equipment for two weeks.
It isn’t completely impossible to check your camera gear if you do it properly. For most travelling with cameras, though, it’s just impractical to even try. So, just carry it in your hand luggage.
If you really need to check it, make sure you get a good solid case designed and built for the task, like a Pelican Air. Don’t just rely on your standard off-the-shelf tourist suitcases.
[via PetaPixel]
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