Paying homage to the great photographers in photojournalism & reportage, Leica Camera has announced the all-new Leica M10-P ‘Reporter’ camera. With specs that are identical to the Leica M10 P, i.e. a 24-megapixel full-frame sensor, 3″ touchscreen and a top ISO of 50000, the new model arrives following an announcement made during the 40^th anniversary of the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA).

The new Leica M10-P ‘Reporter’ camera, as you might expect with Leica’s form in producing limited-edition runs of their already-quite-desirable cameras, is also being produced in limited numbers and honours Leica’s past of producing cameras that meet the needs of press and reportage photographers.  The M10-P ‘Reporter’ follows in the footsteps of cameras such as the Leica 250 [1933], whose film cassette held 250 exposures and the Leica MP [1956], which itself was a Leica M3 variant and was furnished with the Leicavit rapid winder, following the suggestions of renowned photographers, Alfred Eisenstaedt [1898–1995] and David Douglas Duncan [1916–2018].

The camera’s body armour will gradually turn the same colour as its top and base plates through exposure to sunlight, developing its own patina over time.

Not unlike its base model, the Leica M10-P ‘Reporter’ is especially discreet and concentrates its efforts on the most fundamental camera functions. The Leica M10-P incorporates the nature of Leica’s M-System philosophy and maintains the famous and iconic, yet understated design of previous models. The M10-P ‘Reporter’ features a unique dark green finish and Kevlar camera trim. Kevlar, simply due to the fact that it is a high-strength synthetic fibre that’s commonly employed in the production of ballistic-protective clothing and reflects the challenging circumstances under which many of the most exceptional press photographs were created.

The camera’s [light green] engravings are inlaid to produce a discreet effect; its diamond-weave texture gives the camera extra grip and promises a comfortable handhold. In a unique feature, the camera’s body armour will gradually turn the same colour as its top and base plates through exposure to sunlight, developing its own patina over time; making sure that each camera completely unique.

Photojournalism, press photography or reportage, call it what you will, really started when the first images of war were published in newspapers during the Crimean and the American Civil War. That said, during this time, the photography was only really published to enhance the subject, not to lead the story. It wasn’t until the advancement of smaller, lighter 35mm cameras and flashbulbs of the 1920s that a ‘Golden Age’ of Photojournalism really took off, when photographers, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson showed candid images of their lives.

The Leica M10-P Reporter is available now FROM LEICA and will cost you a cool £7,100 [RRP].