During its 100 years history, Leica has commercialised all sorts of products, ranging from cameras and lenses, of course, to binoculars, beamers, and even a branded watch. Yet the company has never sold its own line of camera film. Well, until next August 21, when analog photographers will be able to buy the new Leica Monopan 50, a 35mm film that carries the Wetzlar brand. A roll of 36 exposures will cost $10.

As the name suggests, the Leica Monopan 50 is a low-ISO black-and-white film with ultra-fine grain. Leica says the reason for this choice is to mark the 100th anniversary, as it’s a nod to the low-sensitivity film available a century ago when the company’s first camera was introduced. The film is ideal for wide aperture photography, and its panchromatic sensitivity of up to 780 nm makes it suitable for infrared photography.

More than the film itself, it's relevant how Leica embedded its visual identity in the launch of its first ever film. This was pure design genius. The company says the film is made in Germany, although it’s highly improbable that the company started its own film manufacturing business in 2025. In fact, all the specifications of the new Leica film seem to indicate that the roll is just a rebrand of the German-made Adox HR-50, which costs a couple of euros less. The surcharge only gets you four nice retro-style Leica packages to choose from, but certainly won't be a problem for those used to spending a lot more than necessary on branded gear. But above all, it will be a collectible item for many—a celebration of a company that has not only created outstanding cameras, but also a design aesthetic that is still admired and widely imitated today.