All Comments☝️ SearchDmitri Jun 16, ‘25A new black-and-white film from a familiar company is set to launch soon.
Spoiler alert: proceed with caution! Manage your expectations.
Leica Rumors has released a statement announcing the Leica Monopan 50.
You can view the announcement here: leicarumors.com/2025/06/16…
Leica describes their 35mm film as ultra-fine-grained and super-panchromatic, ideal for shooting wide open in daylight with lenses like “Noctilux-M, Summilux-M, or Summicron-M.”
There is no release date mentioned.
While the press release refers to it as “genuine,” the chances of Leica secretly owning a film factory are slim. Leica has previously rebranded Fujifilm Instax film for their Sofort cameras.
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The internet is already joking about the film costing $40 per roll. Leica is known for leveraging its brand power to command higher prices on third-party products.
However, rebranding film isn’t as straightforward as just putting a new label on a canister; there are many ways Leica could customize their emulsion (see analog.cafe/r/who-made-you…). Additionally, it contributes another prominent voice endorsing film photography.
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This page tracks all major photographic brands and products currently on the market: analog.cafe/app/all-film. It lists 270. I’m eagerly anticipating when it changes. Perhaps it will reach 275 this year. Or even more?
#editorial🔥 Dmitri Jun 16, ‘25Here’s a screenshot of the Leica Rumors page featuring product images.
I find the box design puzzling, as it appears to have two colors: grey/beige and red/white. The announcement mentions only one film.
Would you purchase this film? ellabomga Jun 18, ‘25The general consensus seems to be that it’s likely a rebranded Adox HR-50… do you think this could be true? Dmitri Jun 18, ‘25That seems plausible! However, it’s hard to be certain until either the brand discloses the source or we have solid one-to-one comparisons of the films. Dmitri Jun 18, ‘25, edited on Jun 18, ‘25It appears I may visit a Leica store for the first time this summer! The new black-and-white ISO 50 Leica MONOPAN is set to be available starting August 21st. Once released, it is expected to cost £10/€12/$10/$14 CAD per roll. Many sources, including sites like DPReview, support you, @ellabomga: this might actually be white-labelled Adox HR-50. Both Leica’s and Adox films are produced in Germany, both have an ISO of 50, and both are super panchromatic (which means the film can be used with an infrared filter for special effects). Leica’s website features some illustrations that showcase luminescent foliage: leica-camera.com/en-int/ph…. Regarding lens filters and black-and-white film: analog.cafe/r/a-beginners-…. Although it may be pricier than the presumed HR-50, Leica’s new film could have better availability than Adox’s offering, which B&H lists as discontinued (I don’t believe any physical stores in Canada sell it). Thus, if it is indeed the same film, Adox may experience a boost in sales; in fact, I’m sure HR-50 is receiving more attention now than it has in a long time. Unsurprisingly, Leica’s film will feature LEICA printed on the borders, which may carry significance. Another notable aspect is that this will be **Leica’s first 35mm film product,** which is intriguing: the company has taken 100 years to introduce 35mm film, despite having pioneered the 135 film format in the industry! #editorial🔥 Robert Pustułka Jun 25, ‘25Adox HR 50 is priced around 7 euros here in Poland, which is nearly half of what Leica is charging. I hope they continue offering it under the original brand at the same price. It’s an ultra-sharp, low-grain film. Dmitri Jun 25, ‘25
This contains a spoiler, so proceed with caution! Please manage your expectations accordingly. #editorial.