Modified H&D curve of Leica MONOPAN 50

To get the balance of latitude

Noticed Leica MONOPAN 50 provide quite fine printing result through the trials with this new film. But I hoped blighter side of the image have a little bit more tone, paying attention into latitude at darker portion though. So I tried to change the film development condition by myself to realize such situation, preparing H&D curve.

MONOPAN 50

Blue color dots in H&D Curve ( Characteristic curve) are the standard curve with almost same development condition, using ADOX FX39II described in instruction sheet of MONOPAN 50. After I repeat test film preparation and shooting trial for the confirmation, finally I reached H&D curve of MINO Trial 1 and 2 are modified condition by myself. In the initial stage of trials, I predicted that the density level should also go down at Zone 1 to 4, if that at Zone 6 to 10 show reduction. But my surprise was that the density at Zone 1 to 4 doesn’t go down so much, keeping the original level as blue dot, even if that at Zone 6 to 10 is going lower side. Therefore I believe two modified film development conditions, MINO Trial 1 and 2 must provide relatively softer touch with optimized tone balance at darker and ligher portion of image.

Near my home, on weekend, I shot Kamogawa river including darker portion and blight portion (sky & cloud) with Leica MP (0.85) and MONOPAN 50. When I apply the original film development condition, darker part show nice latitude, while sky portion is completely black ( can’t recognize cloud ) on the developed film. So from July 2026, I try to shoot different scenes with various light conditions and repeat film development with MINO Trial 1 &2, film scaning with Leica M11M + Leitz BEOON16511 and print with Focomat IIc or ValoyII + ILFORD MGFB. Finally maybe at the end of 2026, I will consider if I still change the film development condition.

ADOX HR-50

Same as H&D curve of Leica MONOPAN 50, blue color dots are same as the original film development condition with ADOX FX39II in instruction sheet of ADOX. Then also applied MINO Trial 1 & 2 too. The curve shapes are almost same as MONOPAN 50. But with MINO Trial 1 & 2, the density level at Zone 1 to 4 is lower side than MONOPAN 50. If we shoot some scene with limited light condition, one of ideas may be that I should “pull”. This means apply +0.5 to 1.0 EV and film development condition MINO Trial 1.

ADOX HR-50 doesn’t need to use?

In my case, as H&d curve creation and shooting confirmation results, I would like use both films. Select film according to the situation of scene and lighting condition, fine tuning the flm development condition. Believe both films are very nice and fine!!

Enjoy shooting with MONOPAN 50

Since Leica issued new Leica MONOPAN 50 in Summer of 2025, whenever I received the ordered rolls, I consume mainly for the film tests to create Characteristic curve and trial shooting near my home as confirmation. This means I haven’t enjoyed snap shooting and travel shooting with this fine film yet. The final goal is not to create the curve but enjoy the shooting and printing from this new film.

Fortunately Gion Festival, which is Japan’s largest summer festival in Kyoto started as of July 1st. It will continue till the end of July with various Shinto rituals related into Yasaka Shrine. This year I can’t see key events of Yamahoko Procession. Because it will take place on weekday. I must work. But I think I can come across “other unique sides” of this longer historical festival on each weekend of July. I would ike to catch the moments with Leica MONOPAN 50. Then finally I would like to print with my Leitz Focomat IIc and Valoy II during my summer vacation in Aug. Let’s see how the printing result is different from my conventional prints with ILFORD Delta 400 and other films.