Leica Monopan 50 35mm Film has sprung up as a rumour, a leak, all over the internet—and like many of you, I’m both excited and curious. The legendary Leica name is finally on a roll of 35mm black and white film. But is it really a Leica creation, or a smart rebranding of an existing emulsion? Spoiler: we don’t know for sure—but that’s half the fun. And yes, I’ll be buying multiple rolls—some for shooting, and some to save in my film collection.
A Tribute to the Leica I
2025 marks 100 years since the Leica I revolutionised photography. The original compact camera made 35mm the world’s dominant film format—and even though the film inside those cassettes came from Kodak, Agfa, or Perutz, many photographers simply called it “Leica Film.”
Now, a century later, Leica Camera AG looks to be unveiling Leica Monopan 50, described as a genuine Leica 35mm film. It’s a bold tribute, and one that’s already stirring speculation among photographers and film enthusiasts. It makes sense given the 2022 Leica M6 relaunch. Film has well and truly made a serious comeback, and manufacturers are making more film, and new films!
What Leica Says About Monopan 50
According to the (leaked) press release:
Leica Monopan 50 is a black and white 35mm film with ultra-fine grain and super-panchromatic sensitisation. ISO 50 makes it suitable for shooting with wide-open apertures—even in daylight—when using Noctilux-M, Summilux-M, or Summicron-M lenses.
There’s no confirmed release date yet, but the fact that this is a 36-exposure roll suggests it’s meant to be used by real photographers. I for one will defo be using it with my F1.4 Summilux lenses.
But… what is it really?
Is Leica Making Film Now?
Let’s be honest: Leica doesn’t operate a film production facility. They’ve rebranded Fujifilm Instax Mini film for the Sofort instant cameras before. So, it’s not a stretch to guess this is a repackaged emulsion from one of Leica’s European friends in the analogue game.
So What Could It Be?
Film nerds are already comparing specs, tone curves, and past partnerships. Here are some popular theories:
- Ilford Pan F Plus 50 – A high-resolution, slow-speed film with fine grain and classic rendering. A strong candidate.
- ADOX CMS 20 II or CHS 100 II – German-made, incredibly fine grain. But CMS is slower than ISO 50, and CHS is ISO 100.
- Agfa Aviphot Pan 80 – Some suggest Leica may have rebranded a bulk surveillance or aerial stock like Aviphot, then rated it at ISO 50.
- Rollei RPX 25 or 50 – Less likely, but plausible given similarities in rendering style and contrast.
The Name ‘Monopan’ Is Interesting…
It feels like a nod to ‘monochrome’ and ‘panchromatic,’ perhaps even a tribute to films like Panatomic-X. This gives it a nice retro-technical vibe while sounding unmistakably Leica.
What is panchromatic film?
Panchromatic film is a type of black and white film that is sensitive to all wavelengths of visible light, meaning it can accurately record the full spectrum of tones from red through to violet. Unlike orthochromatic film, which is not sensitive to red light and tends to render reds and warm tones as darker shades, panchromatic film delivers more balanced and realistic grayscale images. This makes it ideal for general-purpose photography, especially when capturing natural skin tones, landscapes, or scenes with varied colours. Leica Monopan 50, described as “super-panchromatic,” likely offers enhanced tonal accuracy across the visible spectrum, giving photographers rich detail and smooth gradation even in challenging lighting conditions.
Why It’s Still Worth Getting Excited
Even if it’s a rebrand, Leica’s decision to release a film product—in 2025—is cause for celebration. It brings more attention to analogue photography. And if the packaging is beautiful (which, let’s face it, it will be), it’s going to be collector gold.
I’ll be buying several rolls the moment it becomes available:
- Some to shoot wide-open with my Summicron in daylight
- Some to collect and save as part of my film archive
Perfect for Shooting Sunny 16?
At ISO 50, Leica Monopan 50 is perfectly matched to the classic sunny 16 rule—making it an ideal choice for deliberate, measured shooting in bright daylight. According to sunny 16, on a clear day you can shoot at f/16 with a shutter speed that matches your ISO. That means 1/50 of a second at f/16—precisely within range for Leica shooters using vintage mechanical cameras with 1/50s as a standard shutter speed. It’s a beautifully simple setup that harks back to photography’s golden age—no metering required, just light, lens, and film.
A Word of Caution: Keep Expectations in Check
This is a spoiler, be warned! Please keep your expectations in check.
In other words, Leica knows we’ll speculate. They know some of us will be disappointed if it turns out to be Ilford or Agfa underneath the red dot. But they’re also counting on the fact that Leica users appreciate the tactile, analog experience of shooting something beautifully crafted—no matter where it came from.
Final Thoughts
Whether Leica Monopan 50 is truly something new, or a classic emulsion in new clothes, it’s still a moment worth celebrating. Leica’s stamp of approval on a film product speaks volumes about the health of the analogue movement.
And let’s be real—if it turns out to be Pan F with a Leica label, I’m still going to love it.
