First Prints from the New Leica Monopan 50 Film

Leica Camera AG keeps rolling out new product releases that celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the Leica I camera’s commercial debut. The latest in these celebratory offerings is a first for Leica Camera, a roll of 35mm film. Officially designated Leica Monopan 50 Order No. 14717, this black and white 35mm format film comes in a black-painted, 36-exposure metal cartridge that lacks DX coding. In the spot where the familiar silver/black DX rectangles should be printed, Leica has, instead, printed this admonition: “Please set film speed manually.”

Priced at $10 per roll, there are four different film box color variants for the Leica Monopan 50. Leica states that the film comes in “4 distinctive packaging options: allowing artists to collect their favorite design.” Pardon me, but “artists” don’t collect, they make! Also, in the same marketing material, Leica warns that the packaging “designs are shipped at random and cannot be selected. Orders of multiple units may include duplicates.” What the…? Not a very friendly way to sell a collectible product.

In a “random” purchase of 8 boxes of film, only two different packaging designs were included in the shipment. Forget starting a Leica film box collection with this purchase. Inside each film box, a black plastic container with a red plastic lid protects the film from moisture and light. There is a terse set of filter, exposure, and development instructions printed on the inside of the box.

You might be scratching your head right now, wondering when did Leica Camera build a film emulsion fabrication factory? Well, wonder, no more…they haven’t built a film foundry. The Leica Monopan 50 emulsion bears a strong resemblance to ADOX HR-50 High Resolution film. In fact, the likeness is so pervasive that the two data sheets are almost identical. Furthermore, by doing a little side-by-side comparison, you’ll note that Leica has laughably made a minor “name” change on the data sheet, from ADOX Snap-On filters to Leica filters. Tsk-tsk, if it’s the same emulsion, why is Leica so coy about calling their new product, “a genuine Leica 35mm film?”

Welcome to the Picture Show

Rather than using the recommended developers indicated on the Leica Monopan 50 data sheet, CineStill Df96 Monobath was used for developing the Leica film. During the development process, you should expect a heavy purple dye discharge during the pre-wash of the film. The resulting negatives, however, were absolutely gorgeous. The fully processed Leica Monopan 50 film negatives easily surpass other films developed using this same process.

Ironically, whether the Leica film is a rebranded ADOX variety or not, the edge printing along the sprocket holes is labeled: “LEICA MONOPAN50.” This text appears every 4-6 frames and is located on the side opposite the frame numbering.

In an effort to demonstrate the photographic quality of Leica Monopan 50 film, test exposures were made with a Rollei 35AF 35mm film camera. Here are three Leica Monopan 50 photographs for your examination:

Regardless of the heritage for Leica Monopan 50 film, this slow-speed film is able to provide high-quality photographs that’ll make you seriously consider becoming a full-time film photographer. Coupled with easy at-home processing and painless digital print making, carrying a camera loaded with Leica Monopan 50 could become your new EDC — everyday camera.

Enjoy.

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