Leica Unveils Monopan 50: Their First 35mm Black & White Film
Leica is stepping back into the world of analog with the launch of Monopan 50, their first 35mm black and white film in years. Set to hit the shelves on August 21, Monopan 50 offers photographers an ultra-fine grain experience at a price of just $10 per 36-exposure roll.
Manufactured in Germany, Leica remains tight-lipped about the exact factory behind this film. However, the specs strongly suggest that Monopan 50 aligns closely with the Adox HR-50, a German-made film known for its high quality. In fact, it appears Monopan 50 might be a rebranded version of Adox HR-50, which retails for around $7.50.
Adding to this, Leica states that production involves several other reputed manufacturers, including Kodak, Agfa, and Perutz, making Monopan 50 a collaborative masterpiece of classic film craftsmanship.
The name Monopan 50 tells a story: it’s a monochrome film with an ISO rating of 50. This low sensitivity makes it ideal for shooting with wide apertures in well-lit situations, capturing extraordinary detail and tonal depth. Historically, Leica’s first 35mm camera introduced in 1925 was made for low-sensitivity films like this, and the “mono” also nods to their Monochrom camera series launched back in 2012.
Designed to commemorate the release of Leica I—the very first mass-produced 35mm camera—the Monopan 50 recalls a golden era when 35mm film was famously dubbed “Leica film” by photographers.
Performance-wise, Monopan 50 boasts an impressive resolution of 280 lines per millimeter, categorizing it as a high-res film. With a panchromatic sensitivity reaching 780nm, it also offers an extended tonal range, including infrared capabilities—perfect for creative and nuanced black and white photography.
“Produced in Germany, Monopan 50 excels in landscape, architecture, cityscapes, and travel photography. It’s compatible with all black and white developers and guarantees comprehensive control over your images, delivering the finest detail possible,” Leica explains.
