Leica Camera AG (hereafter referred to as Leica) announced the Leica MONOPAN 50, high-resolution monochrome film with wide spectral sensitivity. This film is due to be released in August 2025, as a homage to the century-old history of 35mm photography.
When the Leica was introduced in 1925, it revolutionized the world of photography, establishing a new standard for the 35mm format. The compact format was so popular at the time that dealers and photographers affectionately referred to it as “Leica film,” even though the 35mm film cartridges used in the Leica were actually made by other companies, including Kodak, Agfa and Perutz.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the introduction of Leica, Leica released its first 36-exposure monochrome film, Leica MONOPAN 50, which was a true “Leica 35mm film.”
Leica MONOPAN 50
Leica MONOPAN 50 is a monochrome film with broad spectral sensitivity and high resolution inspired by the early days of 35mm photography and its characteristic depictions. Its name is made up of three elements: “mono,” “pan,” and “50.”
“Mono” comes from the “Monochrom” series of digital monochrome cameras that Leica first released in 2012, “pan” refers to the excellent panchromatic sensitivity characteristics that are a feature of this film, and “50” represents the sensitivity (ISO 50).
The Leica MONOPAN 50 combines extremely fine granularity with extremely high resolution of up to 280 line pairs/mm, as well as ultra-panchromatic sensitivity of up to 780 nm, resulting in outstanding sharpness and rich tonal expression.
The Philosophy of this film
This film embodies Oskar Barnack’s philosophy of “big pictures from small negatives,” which is also the starting point of “Ur-Leica.” Its specifications are designed to maximize the performance of Leica lenses, and it demonstrates excellent image quality, especially in large-format high-end prints and high-resolution scans.
In the Barnack era, most films had low sensitivity. The ISO 50/18° setting is a homage to that historical background. When combined with large-aperture Leica lenses such as Noctilux, Summilux, and Summicron, it is possible to shoot at full aperture even in bright light environments, and it is said that it can fully bring out the bokeh that is unique to Leica.
In addition, its extended spectral sensitivity makes it ideal for infrared photography, and its excellent filter response means that when used in combination with Leica color filters for monochrome photography, it brings contrast and drama to photos, as well as the freedom to reflect the photographer’s creativity.
Made in Germany, Leica MONOPAN is the perfect film for landscape, architecture, cityscape and travel photography. It offers great control over monochrome photography and boasts high detail reproduction. The vintage-style packaging design evokes the origins of 35mm photography.
