• Categories
• Tips & Inspiration
• Reviews
• News
• Events
• Features
• Buying Guides
• Competitions

Leica Releases First Ever 35mm Camera Film

NEWS: On June 18th 2025, Leica Releases First Ever 35mm Camera Film

With the launch of MONOPAN 50 black and white film, which was released on 18th June 2025, Leica has announced their first-ever 35mm camera film. It celebrates 100 years since the first ever 35mm Leica camera and brings something entirely new, which is a genuine Leica-branded roll of film, despite the company’s extensive history in film photography.

While Leica revolutionised photography with its 35mm film cameras, the film itself has always come from third-party manufacturers such as Agfa and Kodak. These early rolls became known informally as ‘Leica film,’ but this is the first time Leica has produced a roll of its own.

A Fine-Grain Film for Leica M Lenses

MONOPAN 50 is a precision ISO 50/18° black and white film that has been developed especially for Leica M lenses and rangefinder cameras (although it works with any 35mm film camera). Its super-panchromatic sensitisation extends up to 780nm, giving it a wide tonal range with excellent sharpness.

The name comes from a blend of “mono” (from Monochrom), “pan” (panchromatic), and 50 (ISO). When paired with lenses such as the Noctilux-M, Summilux-M or Summicron-M, the film performs particularly well, especially for shooting wide open in bright conditions to achieve that distinctive Leica look.

The B&W film offers:

• Ultra-fine grain for high levels of detail
• Resolution up to 280 line pairs per millimetre
• Extended spectral sensitivity for infrared photography
• Natural compatibility with yellow, orange and green filters
• Excellent results for landscape, travel, and architectural images

This makes it a good film choice for subjects where high definition is desirable, such as for landscapes, architecture, and travel, especially when used with the Leica M6 Film Camera, which was Leica’s first film camera for over a decade.

Classic Look with Modern Versatility

MONOPAN 50 is Made in Germany and packaged in a unique looking vintage design. The film is ideal for photographers who want to explore classic B&W photography while still expecting modern performance, with a film that delivers sharp results with smooth tonal transitions.

Processing is straightforward and MONOPAN 50 can be developed using any standard black and white developer. The low ISO 50 enables wide-aperture photography in bright conditions, which not only produces clean, low-noise images but also allows Leica’s glass to really shine.

Image captured on MONOPAN 50 film

Pricing

Leica MONOPAN 50 is available from 18th June 2025, with an RRP of £10.00 per roll. Although optimised for Leica rangefinders, this film can be with any 35mm film camera.

Rediscover the Joy of Film

This isn’t just a commemorative release, instead it’s an invitation to slow down and enjoy the delayed nature of film photography. For Leica users and newcomers, MONOPAN 50 opens the door to a different way of seeing your printed photographs.

Reserve your roll of MONOPAN 50 black and white film today and enjoy the slower, more deliberate action that film photography brings.

Check out the sample images in our gallery below too, with photos scanned from images, which were shot on Leica MONOPAN 50 film.

Images captured with MONOPAN 50 film

Share this post:

By Nick Dautlich on 18/06/2025

Nick Dautlich

Senior Content Writer and Product Reviewer

Nick Dautlich is the Senior Content Writer and Product Reviewer at Park Cameras, with over 15 years of photography experience. A Sony Imaging Professional and expert reviewer, Nick has worked with major brands such as Canon, Sony and Nikon. His work is also featured on Vanguard World UK’s website, Capture Landscapes, and Shutter Evolve. Nick’s photography includes National Trust projects and magazine covers and he is passionate about landscapes and storytelling. Nick also enjoys hiking and teaching his children about nature. Learn more on his profile page.