Lomography Babylon 13 at ISO 6: Exploring Ultra-Low-Speed Mastery with a Leica M3 and 510 Pyro

Lomography’s Babylon 13 is already known as a strikingly low ISO black-and-white film, but pushing it further by rating it at ISO 6—or even ISO 3—invites a whole new level of experimentation for those of us who love the slow, methodical pace of analogue photography. I recently tested Babylon 13 at ISO 6 and developed the negatives in 510 Pyro, using a Leica M3 paired with the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 lens. The results were as unique as the process itself, and they reveal just how much creative control a photographer can wield when working with an extremely slow film and a specialised developer.

Babylon 13 Shot at ISO 6, Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 Lens, Developed in 510 Pyro

First, it’s worth talking about the camera and lens choice. The Leica M3 was designed with a viewfinder magnification of about 0.91x, which is significantly higher than many later Leica models and helps immensely when focusing a lens as wide as f/1.1. Precise focus at such a shallow depth of field can be challenging in general, and a higher magnification rangefinder gives that extra bit of clarity needed to confidently nail the plane of focus. The Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 is famous for creating a dreamy softness around the edges while keeping the in-focus area impressively sharp when used wide open. This combination allows for graceful transitions between focus and out-of-focus areas—the kind of rendering many film photographers crave for intimate portraits or softly blurred cityscapes.

Shooting Babylon 13 at ISO 6 can sound extreme if you’re used to more typical speeds like ISO 100 or 400, but this slow rating is part of the fun. The notion of ISO 3 or 6 barely exists in the digital world, which usually caps out at around ISO 50 for certain niche camera profiles. This near-heretical slowness demands that you slow down, plan each shot carefully, and work with wide apertures or longer exposures. The payoff is an incredibly fine grain structure that, in the resulting negatives, lends a subtle texture without overwhelming the details. Even in subdued lighting, the film maintains a smooth tonality that feels both classic and modern at the same time.

A low ISO film can be notorious for steep contrast or limited latitude if overexposed or underdeveloped, but pairing Babylon 13 with 510 Pyro seems to soften those extremes. Pyro developers are known for their staining effect, where the developer reacts with the film’s emulsion to create a combined silver and dye image. This often leads to better highlight retention and a gentler curve between light and dark. In these images, you can see smooth transitions from the deeper shadows to the faint highlights around faces. Even in frames with strong backlight or reflective backgrounds, the film holds on to detail in bright areas without letting them become harsh white patches.

The grain structure itself remains fine, though not clinically so—Babylon 13 has a certain toothiness that distinguishes it from more conventional low-ISO black-and-white films. In the darker sections of the frame, the grain lightly weaves into the background, adding character without dominating the overall scene. Shooting wide open at f/1.1 can sometimes blur away subtle grains, but here you can still detect a gentle texture that draws the eye in rather than distracting from the subject. In well-lit portions of the image, mid-tones present themselves with a pleasing, almost gradual roll-off. There’s enough contrast to give the pictures definition, yet they never fall into the overly punchy territory that can sometimes plague slow-speed films.

Babylon 13 Shot at ISO 6, Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 Lens, Developed in 510 Pyro

The real appeal is how it renders skin tones and out-of-focus areas. Because of the limited depth of field at f/1.1, the focal plane can be razor-thin, especially at close distances. When that focus hits, details—like eyelashes and subtle facial features—stand out beautifully, while the background melts away in a swirl of gentle softness. Babylon 13’s lower contrast curve, enhanced by the staining properties of 510 Pyro, means that transitions between light and shadow on the subject’s face are gradual, not abrupt, which can be especially flattering for portraiture. The film seems to thrive in moderate lighting conditions, such as overcast days or diffused window light, though bright midday sun can also be tamed by every photographer’s toolset of exposure time, aperture or a filter.

There’s something undeniably liberating about operating at such a slow ISO. It compels you to engage more deeply with the environment, to measure the light meticulously, and to embrace a slower, more thoughtful style of shooting. This is where the real fun of analogue can shine: it’s about taking the time to compose, focus, and relish the process that a digital setup doesn’t quite replicate. Low ISO film reveals details and tonal subtleties that are hard to replicate otherwise, and it transforms an everyday location into a stage for mood and nuance.

Babylon 13 Shot at ISO 6, Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 Lens, Developed in 510 Pyro

As for whether Babylon 13 is desirable among film fans, it depends on how much you appreciate the deliberate nature of extremely slow emulsions. If you love the idea of merging an almost meditative shooting experience with a gorgeous, nuanced final image, then it’s well worth exploring at ISO 6 or even ISO 3. The combination of the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 on a Leica M3 magnifies this effect, giving each shot a striking sense of presence and depth. 510 Pyro, meanwhile, offers the film just enough subtlety in the highlights and a cohesive tonal structure across the frame, resulting in images with a timeless, one-of-a-kind look.

Babylon 13 isn’t a film you grab when you need a quick snapshot or when you’re fighting low-light conditions without a tripod. Instead, it’s for those times when you want to immerse yourself in the entire analogue journey: picking a lens that suits the mood, adjusting your rangefinder for precise focus, and patiently letting each exposure etch itself onto the emulsion. The results, as seen in these sample images, speak to the film’s ability to convey both delicate detail and a gentle glow around the out-of-focus areas. It all comes together to produce a portfolio that balances clarity and atmosphere, making Babylon 13 a fascinating choice for the more exploratory side of black-and-white film photography.