The previously rumored Leica MONOPAN 50 black and white 35mm photographic film is now officially announced. See the full details, including the press release and sample photos at Reddotforum.
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Additional information:
- This 35mm black-and-white negative film has super-panchromatic sensitivity, to 780nm, delivering a broad tonal range and reacting well with filtration for working near the infrared spectrum.
- Ultra-high resolution of 280 lp/mm renders images with impressively high sharpness as well as also offering a very fine, smooth grain structure.
- Slow-speed ISO 50/18° film is well-suited to use with faster lenses in daylight conditions, such as Leica’s Noctilux-M and Summilux-M lines.
- Combination of high sharpness and low grain suits making high-magnification enlargements in the darkroom as well as high-resolution scanning applications.
- Anti-halation layer prevents blooming or other halation effects for a clean image quality with good edge contrast.
- Traditional silver-rich emulsion is compatible with nearly all black-and-white film developers.
Update – the press release was released later:
The new black-and-white 35 mm film from Leica
To honour a century of 35 mm photography, Leica Camera AG is introducing a high-resolution black-and-white film with enhanced spectral sensitivity.
The Leica I transformed photography when it made its debut back in 1925, establishing the 35 mm format as the new industry standard. The compact format swiftly gained traction with retailers and photographers commonly referring to it simply as “Leica film”, even though the 35 mm film packs used with the Leica I originated from manufacturers like Kodak, Agfa or Perutz. To celebrate the Leica I’s centenary and pay homage to 35 mm photography, Leica Camera AG is unveiling its first true Leica 35 mm film: MONOPAN 50 black-and-white film, offering 36 exposures.
Honouring the origins of 35 mm photography and its distinctive aesthetic, Leica is introducing its high-resolution MONOPAN 50 film, featuring an extended spectral range. The name MONOPAN 50 is derived from its components: “mono”, “pan”, and the number “50”. “Mono” refers to Leica’s renowned Monochrom series, a line of digital black-and-white cameras first introduced in 2012. “Pan” denotes the film’s outstanding panchromatic properties, while the number “50” represents its ISO rating.
Leica MONOPAN 50 features an ultra-fine grain, delivering an impressive resolution of up to 280 line pairs per millimetre. With superpanchromatic sensitivity of up to 780 nm, it ensures remarkable sharpness and an exceptional tonal range. The film encapsulates Oskar Barnack’s vision of “small negative–big picture”, the very principle that gave rise to the original Leica. With its refined specifications, the black-and-white film is perfectly suited to Leica lenses, showcasing their remarkable optical performance, particularly in high-end large-format prints and detailed scans. Back in Barnack’s day, most films had low sensitivity. Leica has embraced this historical context in its choice of ISO 50/18°. With high-performance Leica lenses like the Noctilux-M, Summilux-M and Summicron-M, the film’s low sensitivity enables wide-aperture shooting, rendering the distinctive Leica bokeh – even in bright lighting conditions. Thanks to its enhanced spectral sensitivity, the new Leica black-and-white film is also ideal for infrared photography, demonstrating exceptional responsiveness to filtration. As such, MONOPAN 50 pairs seamlessly with Leica colour filters. This enhances photographs with striking contrast and a dramatic aesthetic, granting photographers greater creative freedom in their compositions.
Produced in Germany, MONOPAN 50 is particularly perfect for landscape, architectural, cityscape, and travel photography. The film is compatible with all black-and-white developers. It guarantees complete control over black-and-white photography, ensuring the highest degree of detail. Its vintage-style packaging evokes the pioneering era of 35 mm photography, while its outstanding specifications encourage photographers to carry forward this legacy by creating impressive images.
Leica MONOPAN 50 will be available worldwide in Leica Stores and through authorised retailers from 21 August 2025. The recommended retail price is €12.00 incl. VAT.
