Black & White Film - What's Best For You?

In the ever-evolving photography landscape, the allure of capturing moments in black and white on film remains as captivating as ever. Both the artistry and nostalgia associated with film photography have led to a resurgence of interest in this classic medium, prompting photographers to explore the huge range of black and white film stocks currently on the market. With each film stock possessing unique qualities defined by their grain, contrast, and adaptability, the process of choosing a film stock that suits you is incredibly personal, and built upon individual preference.

With this in mind, we want to give you a clear comparison of four of our favourite film stocks. Today we’ll be looking at Kodak Professional TRI-X, ILFORD HP5 PLUS, Film Washi 'Z', and Yashica's unique qualities. Each film stock is capable of capturing a distinct mood, making each suitable for diverse photographic styles. Whether you're drawn to the raw authenticity of photojournalism, the beauty of portraiture, or the intricate play of light and shadow in landscapes, there's a film stock for you.

Let’s jump into the details!

KODAK PROFESSIONAL TRI-X

The first film we’ll be looking at is a revered classic in the film photography community - the Kodak Professional TRI-X B+W Film. This film stock, cherished by photographers far and wide, has left an indelible mark in both photojournalism and cinema. Its versatility allows for seamless accommodation to faster shutter speeds, delivering a great depth of field, and is able to be used effectively in dim or mixed lighting conditions. 

The first thing you might notice when shooting with this filmstock is its authentic, gritty grain that feels consistent across the entire frame. The style of grain is nostalgic to the film photography most of us grew up with, adding strength and intentionality to the image without appearing excessive.

The Kodak TRI-X also has the ability to create vivid contrasts and richer tones, especially in mixed lighting conditions. For those who prefer to steer clear of the neutral grayscale spectrum, this filmstock offers a punchier alternative. It also excels at preserving the delicate interplay between highlights and shadows, avoiding the risk of overexposed or underexposed extremes.

Flexibility is also a hallmark of the Kodak TRI-X, with its capability to quite easily be pushed 3 stops beyond its box speed of 400, meaning you can actually get photos up to an ISO of about 3200. This becomes particularly advantageous when navigating mixed or less-than-ideal lighting environments.

The concept of pushing film involves manipulating ISO settings to suit dimmer surroundings, effectively involving a deliberate underexposure and metering adjustment. This technique introduces enhanced grain and contrast while brightening the images’ overall composition. For optimal results when pushing this film, focus your metering on shadows or midtones rather than highlights.

The Kodak TRI-X, rooted in the legacy of photojournalism and the art of capturing everyday life, proves its mettle in various domains. From the authenticity of street photography to the innovation of creating portraiture, it delivers consistently, providing both flexibility under low-light conditions, and during the hustle of faster shutter speeds.

The TRI-X is a testament to the enduring charm of Black and White Film photography, embodying its rich history while elevating contemporary artistic pursuits.

ILFORD HP5

Moving on to our next filmstock, we’ll be looking at the Ilford HP5 Plus, a direct contender in comparison to the Kodak TRI-X due to their striking similarities.

The ILFORD HP5 Plus distinguishes itself with a refined, creamier grain, setting it apart from the Kodak TRI-X’s more authentic appearance. This quality renders it an optimal choice for photographers seeking to experiment with pushing the film’s limits, or capturing subjects with greater clarity, and creamier textures.

Although bearing resemblance to the Kodak TRI-X, the HP5 has a slightly lighter appearance, accompanied by a subdued, low-to-moderate contrast when compared to its Kodak counterpart. This contrast profile steers the HP5 towards portraiture, lifestyle photography, and environments where a smoother grain and gentler contrast interplay are desired.

Consistency is a hallmark of the Ilford HP5, creating beautiful tones in diverse weather conditions. Much like the TRI-X, the HP5 thrives when pushed, and can be pushed again up to three stops, providing an extended ISO capacity of 3200.

Its proficiency in adapting to varying lighting conditions is evident in its ability to adeptly accommodate both the subdued light of evening with a push, as well as the harsh brightness of mid day lighting. This flexibility results in a spectrum of distinctive shots, characterised by the way each type of light is absorbed into the film.

When using this filmstock, optimising results entails metering for shadows and midtones, with slight overexposure proving beneficial. The film is able to effectively manage blown-out highlights, and elevate the overall visual appeal of your images compared to underexposing.

In essence, the Ilford HP5 Plus positions itself as a versatile choice, rivalling the Kodak TRI-X in capability, while offering a refined aesthetic and adaptability that caters to a spectrum of photographic styles.

WASHI Z

The next filmstock that we're going to be looking at is the Film Washi ‘Z’ filmstock. This cinematic gem is straight from the world’s smallest film company, located in France, and is meticulously crafted on traditional Japanese Washi paper. Though it entered the scene as recently as 2013, the company’s endeavours have been far from small, consistently expanding their assortment of filmstocks. Today, we’ll be looking at their Near-Infrared Black and White filmstock, ‘Z’.

Washi Z emerges as a distinguished black and white filmstock that boasts a storied lineage. Its origins trace back to its initial conception for applications in aerial mapping and vegetation documentation, driven by its exceptional sensitivity to near-infrared wavelengths.

A distinct characteristic of Washi Z lies in its remarkably refined grain structure. Its near-infrared capabilities grant it the power to create breathtaking contrasts and depths, all while artfully discerning and separating different shades of green. This distinctive capability culminates in the creation of landscape photographs that exude incredible detail and richness.

The filmstock further excels in achieving a judicious balance between moderate-to-strong contrast, enabling the bold separation of highlights and shadows. This artistic interplay extends to conferring distinct tonal variations to every hue within the image. Noteworthy is also its aptitude for balancing the highlights and shadows, allowing you to avoid excessive overexposure or underexposure.

In contemporary times, Washi Z has emerged as a beloved choice among landscape photographers, particularly when accompanied by a deep red filter. This allows for the capture of enigmatic dark highlights, as well as the transformation of the sky’s hue. This dynamic creates tones and colours that are completely unique in comparison to the other film stocks we’re looking at.

This is a film you won’t really need to push or overexpose, however it navigates the nuances of light and shadow extremely well, imparting a unique charm to your final images, irrespective of the lighting circumstances.

YASHICA

Finally, we're going to be looking at Yashica’s black and white negative film, a distinct departure from the contrasts observed in the prior film stocks. This film stock embodies a subdued contrast, evoking a lighter, more dreamy ambience, setting it apart from its counterparts. The result of which include lighter shadows and blacks, and duller highlights and whites.

It’s a great option for portrait and lifestyle work, especially if you're wanting those warmer skin tones free from harsh shadows and contrast.

This filmstock exhibits a balanced grain, however one which will feel grittier and less creamy than the prior film stocks, creating shots that feel both true to life and natural. It's a great option for your everyday go-to film, or for those looking for consistency across lighting conditions.

A recommended application for this film stock lies in portrait photography, particularly when delicately illuminating the subject as desired while eschewing any harsh lines. Additionally, it stands as an ideal choice for those leaning towards a grayscale black and white film stock.

Yashica’s offering emerges as a reliable option, requiring minimal contemplation when shooting manually, and its unique style in the realm of black and white photography makes it a worthy contender, perhaps even serving as your primary preference.

For those inclined towards an aesthetic marked by gentle gradations rather than stark contrasts, Yashica’s film stock emerges as an ideal companion, ensuring a seamless coherence across the spectrum, and making it a choice well-suited to the discerning photographer.

COMPARISON AND REVIEW

All four of the filmstocks we’ve looked at today offer a distinct perspective on the world of black and white photography, with each capable of creating high quality images that can suit a variety of styles.

For those drawn to the roots and pureism of photography, as well as the captivating interplay of light and shadow, the Kodak Professional TRI- stands as a timeless companion. Its authentic grain, punchy contrast and remarkable adaptability make it a versatile choice that is able to capture a range of subjects with ease.

On a parallel path, the Ilford HP5 Plus and its refined character can also help you achieve similar shots, with a creamier grain and a softer contrast profile, it finds its stride in portraiture, lifestyle photography, and scenes that crave subtlety. Its consistent performance, ISO flexibility and ability to flourish in varying light conditions make it a viable option for both established and budding photographers.

If you're someone who enjoys photojournalism or lifestyle photography, or if you’re wanting to take your film camera into a range of different lighting and environmental conditions, you're probably going to want to opt for either the Ilford HP5 PLUS, or the Kodak Professional TRI-X.

But if you’re wanting to try out something unique and new, Washi Z emerges as a revelation. Rooted in a rich history and bearing near-infrared capabilities, it crafts landscapes with unparalleled depth and contrast. Its capacity to balance shadows and highlights offers a delicate equilibrium, while its joint usage with a dark red filter elevates its imagery to a realm of artistic singularity.

Lastly, Yashica’s black and white negative film extends toward those who embrace a gentler aesthetic. With subdued contrasts and a dreamy ambiance, it establishes itself as a fitting option for portraits and everyday scenes. Its balanced grain and effortless adaptation to diverse lighting conditions make this a well-acquitted companion for beginners and professionals alike.

Amongst the diversity of creative choices, selecting an ideal film stock comes down to personal style and preference. Each filmstock has its own capabilities and limits, as well as unique visual qualities.

But again, this all comes completely down to personal style and preference, and each of these films are uniquely beautiful in their own right. We would encourage you to pick whichever one suits your style best, or try them all out!