Black and white photography is one of those mediums that has stood the test of time. There's something timeless about how the grain of black and white 35mm film looks, with the ability to transform the less than desirable, into something that looks beautiful.
In common terms, some may say black and white 'gets rid of the ugly', but there really is something about that! It also reduces the noise of colour, and really helps you focus in on the definition, detail and shadows in the photo.
Shooting in monochrome is something that can be used from wedding film photography to landscape shooting in your home town. If you're new to B&W, here are some of the team's favourite black and white 35mm films to get you started.
Monochrome Magic: Our Favourite 7 Black and White Films
A quick comparison of our top 7 black and white films, scroll down to get an individual insight as well as photo results from each film.
Film | ISO Rating | Grain | Contrast | Photography Use |
Ilford FP4 | 125 | Fine | Medium | Landscape, Portrait |
Kodak Tri-X 400 | 400 | Medium | High | Street, Documentary |
Kentmere 400 | 400 | Medium | Medium | Budget, General |
Ilford HP5 Plus | 400 | Medium | High | General, Low Light |
Washi Z 400 | 400 | Medium | High | Experimental, Art |
Ilford Delta 3200 | 3200 | High | High | Low Light, Action |
Fomapan Action 400 | 400 | Medium | Medium | Action, General |
1.Ilford FP4 Plus - A Timeless Favourite
We had to lead with the timeless and lovable Ilford FP4. In fact, this is Sarah, our co-founders favourite black and white film which she has been shooting on since the 80s, it certainly hasn't aged with its performance.
Ilford FP4 Plus is a highly regarded black-and-white film that has been a favourite among photographers for many years. Renowned for its beautiful tonal range and very fine grain, this film offers exceptional sharpness and clarity. These qualities make Ilford FP4 Plus a versatile choice for a wide variety of photographic applications, from portraiture to landscapes and everything in between.
One of the standout features of FP4 Plus is its ability to capture a wide range of tones, from deep blacks to bright whites, with smooth gradations in between. This makes it particularly well-suited for capturing the subtle nuances in scenes with complex lighting.
The fine grain structure ensures that even enlargements retain a high level of detail and minimal noise, providing crisp, clear images that stand up to close inspection.
Despite its many advantages, Ilford FP4 Plus has some limitations. As an ISO 125 film, it performs best in well-lit conditions. When shooting outdoors in the depths of winter, or in other low-light environments, the film's lower sensitivity can pose a challenge. It may not have enough latitude to achieve a good exposure without the aid of additional lighting or adjustments in development.
Photographers may need to use slower shutter speeds or larger apertures to compensate, which can introduce other complications such as motion blur or reduced depth of field.
2. Kodak Tri-X 400 - Gritty and Elegant
Kodak Tri-X 400 is an iconic black-and-white film that has earned a legendary status among photographers. With over 80 years of history, its enduring popularity is a testament to its remarkable qualities and the unique aesthetic it imparts to images.
Tri-X 400 is celebrated for its classic grain structure, known as T-grain, which gives photos a distinctive look that is both gritty and elegant.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Kodak Tri-X 400 is its consistency and reliability. Despite being manufactured for over eight decades, the formula has remained largely unchanged, ensuring that photographers can expect the same high-quality results with every roll. This consistency has made Tri-X 400 a staple in the film community, trusted by professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Arran, one of our lab technicians at FilmProcessing shared his thoughts on why it is his favourite film to shoot with, "I love the look of T grain, and the style of film. I like the history surrounding the film as it has been manufactured for 80 years and not changed. It's older than other films, and I'm inspired by the film photographers that use it".
3. Kentmere 400 - Budget Friendly
One of the appealing aspects of using Kentmere 400 is that it is perhaps one of the most budget friendly films on the market, starting at only £5.50 per film roll. This makes it great for both entry level beginners and photographers who are regularly shooting.
Even though it's budget friendly, it's still a great film to shoot on. Kentmere 400 produces images with a fine to moderate grain structure, which balances detail and texture.
This grain quality contributes to the film's classic black-and-white aesthetic, giving photos a timeless and somewhat gritty look that is favoured by many photographers. The tonal range of Kentmere 400 is impressive, capturing rich blacks, crisp whites, and a wide array of gray tones in between. This tonal versatility makes it suitable for capturing scenes with varied lighting and contrast levels.
Whether shooting in bright daylight or challenging low-light environments, this film offers enough flexibility to handle diverse scenarios. Its medium speed makes it a versatile option for general-purpose photography, including street, landscape, and portrait work.
4. Ilford HP5 Plus - Highly Versatile
Ilford HP5 Plus is a highly versatile and popular black-and-white film that has garnered a loyal following among photographers.
With an ISO of 400, Ilford HP5 Plus offers excellent sensitivity, allowing photographers to capture high-contrast, dynamic scenes with ease. This film performs exceptionally well in various lighting conditions, from bright daylight to dim indoor settings.
The ISO 400 rating provides the flexibility needed to shoot fast-moving subjects, making it perfect for action shots, street photography, and sports events. Additionally, it handles still scenes with deep and indulgent tones, rendering rich blacks and detailed whites that contribute to its distinctive aesthetic.
Sarah who is a fan of Ilford FP4 recommends switching to Ilford HP5 if using outdoors in the depths of winter as it may not have enough latitude for a good exposure. A higher ISO film such as Ilford HP5 gives better latitude for an accurate exposure without resorting to slower shutter speeds or wider apertures.
5. Washi Z 400 - Near-Infra-red Film Stock
Film Washi Z 400 is an innovative black-and-white film that brings a unique touch to the world of 35mm photography by re-purposing historically practical film stock.
Originally used for aerial vegetation mapping, this near-infrared film excels at distinguishing various shades of green, making it an exceptional choice for modern-day landscape photographers.
With an ISO of 400, Washi Z 400 offers the versatility needed to handle a range of lighting conditions, from bright sunlight to overcast skies. This film's ability to capture different shades of green with remarkable clarity and contrast is a direct result of its near-infrared properties, which were initially designed for precise aerial mapping of vegetation.
For contemporary photographers, this means that Washi Z 400 can render landscapes with a unique tonal quality, bringing out details in foliage that other films might miss.
6. Ilford Delta 3200 - Gritty Style
Ilford Delta 3200 35mm is an exceptionally high speed black & white film. Ideal for fast action and low light photography. This stock produces a high amount of grain which is great to emulate film noir and will add a gritty style to your sports shots.
One of the defining characteristics of Delta 3200 is its pronounced grain structure. This high amount of grain adds a unique, gritty texture to images, making it perfect for photographers looking to achieve a film noir aesthetic.
The grain can enhance the mood and atmosphere of a scene, lending a raw, edgy quality that is particularly effective in black-and-white photography. This makes it an excellent choice for creating dramatic, high-contrast images that convey a strong emotional impact.
7. Fomapan Action 400 - Extensive Tonal Range
We couldn't help but mention another budget friendly black and white film which is versatile and great to shoot B&W with.
Fomapan Action 400 is particularly noted for its wide exposure latitude. This means that it can handle a variety of lighting conditions with ease, from bright sunlight to dim indoor environments. Photographers can rely on this film to deliver consistent results, whether they are shooting fast-moving subjects or static scenes. Its adaptability makes it an excellent choice for street photography, sports events, and everyday snapshots.
In terms of tonal range, Fomapan Action 400 excels in producing rich blacks, clean whites, and a wide spectrum of gray tones in between. This extensive tonal range provides depth and dimension to images, enhancing the overall quality and making each photograph stand out.
The film’s ability to capture subtle nuances in light and shadow is particularly beneficial for creating dynamic and visually striking images.
This is just some of our extensive range of black and white film stock available at FilmProcessing. Whether you're just beginning to shoot on film or are an avid lover of the style of black and white film photography, it's always a fun medium and a refreshing alternative to colour film.
Don't forget that we also offer a specific black and white film processing service for all your B&W shooting needs!
Ilford HP is from the 1930's. It was originally released as an ISO 160 roll film in about 1936. Its been improved steadly and the last improvement was made in 1989. It has a long history that few rarely mention. Kodak Tri-X originates in the 1940's as sheet film. It was not available has a roll/35mm film until 1954. Tri-X has also been improved over the years. The last change was in the 2000's to reduce the amount of silver in the film. Eamon McCabe, the Guardian photographer who used it by the boatload even complained about this change at the time.
I use and like both films, however Tri-X has not remained unchanged since the 1940's by any stretc…