🟡 Switching to Ilford FP4+ | Cheapest B&W 35mm Film in 2024

Now the cheapest 35mm B&W film in the UK, only £2.99 a roll (36 Exp) and gives great results!
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#leica #filmphotography #35mmfilm #mrleicacom

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

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[@bluur101]

Interesting to see this. Back in the early 1980s I was a student in London with, of course, no surplus cash. In the back of "Amateur Photographer" there were lots of ads from suppliers of weird photo-stuff and I spotted somewhere selling Cine FP4 (no 'Plus' back then of course) for a very low price. The reel was 200ft so I loaded it into plastic cassettes by going in the loft at night and measuring 64 1/2" of film using a stick with two nails in. The perforations slipped over the nails, I cut the film with ordinary scissors, fixed it to a cassette core with sticky-tape, wound up the core, placed it in to the cassette-body and put the endcap on. The trickiest bit was sliding the film leader through the light-trap of the cassette from the open end, in the dark. With some practice it worked pretty well and I was able to shoot a lot more film than I would have been able to afford otherwise. Long live cine-film !

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Great stuff! I'm glad there is more evidence that FP4 cine film did indeed exist (prior to this video!). Yes that sounds similar to how I move film from my 400ft roll to the bulk loader to the cassette. You were much more precise. I used to pull off say 50 arms lengths of film to then load into my bulk loader, sitting on my landing floor in the dark. Getting the leader through took me forever until I found the hack that if I place a short length of film in the open bulk loader before it gets dark that helps to guide the film through the slot. I'll soon be a full cine film guy - Kodak XX, FP4 517 (and I even have the various Kodak Vision3 films 500T, 200T, 50D in the fridge too but I rarely shoot colour now).

[@tommymonolo]

That’s great thanks Matt as always keep on shooting on ! Tommy.

[@kevinfranklin2970]

Many thanks 🙏 Just ordered 10 rolls. Loving the 2.99 price tag!!

[@tommymonolo]

Hey Matt, that’s great … thanks so much ! Tommy.

[@nilssieper6648]

Very nice to see that! I love to shoot with FP4+. But its not the cheapest Film that i can get here in Germany. The Cheapest option for me here is a 30,5m roll of Foma 100. I got mine from Foto Impex for 46 or 47 Euros. That gives you a price of 2.60 Euros or around 2.2 GBP for a 36 exp Film Roll. And if you dev your film yourself and do the scanning as well, like i do, its really gets cheap. And Foma 100 gives very nice results. But i like the look of the FP4 or the Rollei retro 80S more! I´am going to get a 30,5m Roll of Rollei 80S next i think! Cheers Mat!

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Great! Yes like you I've shot a lot of Foma for years. I used to import from a German seller on eBay pre-Brexit. RR80 is a different beast, a love or hate I think haha.. It's less suited to my portraits but I know it. (I did a written article on MrLeica.com on Foma 100 and RR80. Not sure about FP4, possibly!)

[@jonlouis2582]

I switched to Ilford years ago and I love it. They seem to really care about film photographers. Kodak can bite my crank. I live in the NYC area, and I buy it from B+H, with free shipping. No problems ever. For some reason old expired film from e*** cost more, at least in my experience.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

B&H is great if you live in the US! (I will be visited in a week or so!) :D

[@jonlouis2582]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom A wonderful business, and great fun to visit!

[@doctorstrobe]

Hey JL, I'm French but I'll be in NYC for a month this summer. does B&H ship to any kind of locker or delivery spot? The place I'll stay at doesn't seem safe to receive packages.

[@ofeykalakar1]

I think expired film is all the rage with the hipsters

[@bastiaan.alexander]

Fascinating.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks!

[@Odins.Valhall]

Hi Matt✌ Obligatory big thumbs up.👍👍 Great video, and thanks for showing it, I now have an M3 with service again, so I can expose on film again. I'm already looking forward to it. 👌Also looking forward to the next video. Anderl

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks and congrats on your M3!

[@jaunman71]

Cheers Matt! Just ordered a bunch

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

No problem, I've been really enjoying this film (pro tones for cheap price!)

[@GeorgeStar]

One of my favorite B&W films. Beautiful tonality with very fine grain. Why are so many photographers fixated on Tri-X??? It's a grainy, mushy mess compared to FP4 or Plus-X.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

I was lucky to try Plus-X well after it was gone and I loved that. FP4 is very nice, TriX is too grainy in 35mm for me. 120 is OK.

[@user-su2oo7cl5f]

Thanks a million Matt - have bought a dozen to try out. They are on their way. Great initiative by Dan and a great KZbin channel Matt 👍👍👍👍

[@smartnbob3236]

I have always liked Ilford film and buy bulk 100 ft rolls of Delta 100 and roll them myself.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Nice! Yes bulk rolls help cut costs for sure. Delta 100 must be near #1 as the best film. Too pricey for me now but I used it in the past and amazing results.

[@chriscard6544]

awesome, thank you

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks!

[@ThePipingSculptor]

This is awesome Matt 👍 thank you for putting it out there! I’ll definitely be buying some when I can 👍 and i’d never have found it without your video! You are a star Sir 👍

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks and yes happy to try to spread the word!

[@nevardmedia]

I remember using this film in the mid 80s as a photography student when one of my flatmates worked in a motion picture lab and he gave me some shorts ends that they couldn't use. I recall rating it at 80asa for me gave the best results. The perf holes are a slightly different shape compared to standard stills FP4 having just reexamined the negs.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks for sharing! Interesting about the holes too

[@paulh6043]

Fabulous! ❤❤❤❤❤ Off to order some now.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

I know, I was so happy when Dan announced the price. I had to make a video!

[@fricki1997]

Really happy we have cheap Fomapan here, 2.50€ per roll if you buy it in bulk, or as low as 2.20€ when ordering directly from the manufacturer.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Wow that's great! I used to live on Foma 100 pre-Brexit and import it into the UK. Sadly now Kentmere is the cheaper here.. well until this video!

[@filibertkraxner305]

What an awesome initiative! I do like the quality of the grain on this film. Unfortunately, I live in the Netherlands and I fully expect airport or customs scanners to ruin any film I order. But I hope to visit the UK sometime and perhaps pick some up then.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Yes and agree I love the look of this film. Yes it sounds like a good excuse to visit the UK :)

[@danMdan]

While not cheap I use Ilford XP 2, developed in HC110 1:47 @ 20°C for 10 minutes. Gives me lovely contrasty negatives.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Nice! I know it can be a little flat in C41 but it scans well too. I have shot this in the past.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

Finally I can put my nephew in London to work 🤣

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Haha, 100%. Tell him to fill his boots haha

[@mynewcolour]

Dan is going to be a busy man :)

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

I know right! I'm not sure if he's going to love me or hate me after I posted this video! :)

[@edmundisanski982]

Ilford...£2.99...I'm in!

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Right! So good :D

[@Sorarse]

I've only just resuscitated my film cameras, so I'm still in the experimental stage with regard to film. In the past I used to shoot and develop colour positive (slide) film. Looking now to shoot mostly black and white with my film cameras, I have just purchased some Fomapan. No idea what it is like as I am still waiting for the first rolls to come back from the developers, but the reason I bought it was because it was the cheapest I could find, and I have no idea if the light seals on my old cameras are still functioning. If the cameras are still holding up, I will definitely try some FP4 next. p.s. I have just bought a Mamiya 645 from Analogue cameras, so I am also waiting for that to turn up in the post.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Great to hear you're back to film. Foam 100 has always worked great for me (see lots of examples on MrLeica.com. That said, I think I like the tones of FP4 more..

[@dbw]

Matt, do you have a good supplier for the reusable plastic cassettes for Bulk Loading

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi, I use old metal cans that I save once I finish the film in them

[@Orpee]

20 of them ordered , nice one for that 👍

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Awesome! I'm going to fill my boots too while the going is good!

[@jeromearnould9940]

Great video ...Great find ! Too bad I'm not in UK. I do not want to take the risk on the airport scanner ... 🙂

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Grom! Next time you visit (or if I come to Paris on the train) I can get you some if you want

[@fotojobo6719]

For US shooters, the cheapest way is to buy a fresh can of 400 feet of Kodak 5222 from BH for $327. I can get 78 rolls of 36 exposure rolls from 400 feet. However 100 feet of Kentmere is around $75

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks! If you saw my can of 5222 that's what I've been doing over the past years. It sounds like Kentmere 4x $75 is your cheapest then. 5222 is more more versatile for me, I'v shot it from 50-1000 with no issues (when it was fresh).

[@fotojobo6719]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I do prefer 5222 and have been rolling my own for 5 years now. Its suprisingly good! I wonder if I can get a couple hundred feet of that Ilford cinefilm to try out?????

[@lilkngstr]

You can also buy directly from Kodak for cheaper, and at least when we bought, they offered an educator discount. I think it was around $600 for 1000 ft back in 2017/2018. I put it in deep freezer and am very careful when loading the bulk loader.

[@fotojobo6719]

@@lilkngstr Yes you're right. Ive ordered directly from Kodak too. They dont have an online store and you have to call their customer service. For a few dollars more, I like the ease and convenience of BH online store.

[@campyonlyguy]

Looks nice, but I wish they offered less expensive shipping to the USA. I bulk load FP4 already--it's a nice film and the finer grain is especially suited to half-frame photography. I usually use a yellow filter to bump up the contrast a bit.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks for the yellow filter tip. I think I saw that online too so will try that. Yes postage costs here are expensive. When I shipped thin zine photobooks to the US it was around $10 if I remember so film will cost more.

[@tommymonolo]

Hi Matt, I just ordered 10 rolls immediately after watching your video! One question…I don’t scan my own film or have a dark room. Yet. Any ideas on labs that will print this film ? Thanks Tommy.

[@tommymonolo]

Or does it get developed as a black and white film ?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hey Tommy, think of it as regular ISO 50 film. All labs will take it.

[@A14b19]

God back in the 80s I was a 24 yr old black and white printer / photographer 10 yrs I did . And bloody good I was now I’m a old fart in my retirement

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Ha thanks for sharing! I was 2 in 1980 :)

[@lensman5762]

Is there any resource regarding development times for this film?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

It comes with the film yes (chart showed in the video briefly)

[@lensman5762]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Thanks Matt.I managed to find it on the site. Its a good job too because it is a different emulsion than the current FP4 Plus. Thanks for the heads up. I ordered ten rolls to have a play with. I also managed to get a Leica IIIC with a Elmar 5CM F3.5 the othe day which doesn't have any scratches, but a tiny haze on the back of the front element. Its a joy to use.

[@doctorstrobe]

I suspect the metal canister could prevent some of the scanners damage.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Yes a large KZbin noticed that 35mm suffers less than 120 film with x-rays due to the canisters

[@hehevn]

How about fomapan?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Visit MrLeica.com - I’ve enjoyed Foma for years (and still use it)

[@hehevn]

I meant formapan is the cheapest bw film, not Ilford

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

@@hehevn depends where you live. I’ve never seen Fomapan for £2.99 in 2024. Historically is was the cheapest, next Kentmere became cheapest in many countries

[@BillLovesFilm]

Beautiful! Hey where can I get a leader cutter like that? When I bulk roll, my hand cut leaders look awful.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Bill! I just searched online and couldn't find anything on eBay. You can use a knife to cut a smoother edge or someone told me once, use rounded nail scissors!

[@jmtubbs1639]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Leica made a guide for cutting the leader for Barnack cameras. I have just googled Leica film cutting template and there are Leica Albion replica templates for sale. It would be easy enough to 3D print one. I have used knives, ordinary and rounded scissors, which are better for the curves. I try to avoid cutting across a sprocket hole, but I doubt that is necessary. Not a cutter, but helpful.

[@RodGSilva]

The bulk loading tools are from ReflxLAB (China based) I use this cutter myself and it's great.

[@ianroe1076]

Unfortunately it doesn't seem particularly accessible in the US, or widely available online. I've found excellent results with Kentmere 100 off of BH Photo US, which comes out to about $65-75 per 100 foot roll (or $3.61-$4.16 per 36 exposure roll) for unexpired film. A lot of people complain about the flat tone curve of Kentmere but I've found it easier to work with than higher end, high-contrast films like HP5 for scanning.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi Ian, yes it's only sold be 1 company (featured in the video) and as mentioned it can be shipped to the US but risk of x-rays means I'm not sure if worth the risk. Bulk film is great. That's why I bought 400ft of Kodak XX some years ago.

[@Klpinfl]

I’m here in London today and was wondering if it’s available in a retail shop?

[@shred3005]

I’ve carried film through multiple country airport scans for 40 years and never had an issue. Rumour has it that security scanners were stronger in the past as far a film is concerned compared to modern but I don’t know the truth if that. Colour film reputedly more susceptible than B&W? A pilot was saying the other day he’d carried the same roll of film through 6 flights and was fine. We used to carry film in lead bags 30+ yrs ago for some countries that had reputation for really powerful scanners but no way you’d be allowed to these days.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks! The truth is (actual facts*) the old scanners were much less damaging than now. Yes colour it worse than B&W and 120 worse than 35mm. ISO 400 worse than ISO 100/50. If the scanner is round it's a modern CT scanner and will cook your film. If square older style less of an issue and I pass through those with less worries with 35mm B&W 100-400 film. My next trip is the US (teaching in NYC) so this will be CT scanners I think. I plan to risk taking a few rolls of this FP4 (low ISO + 35mm + BW). It might get slight base fog but hopefully not too much more.

[@jasongold6751]

As I read this ! Rats! But cine film has differences in coatings! May scratch easier!

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Jason, I've had no issues with scratches so far and it it much better than Foma 100 in that regard

[@JK_bnw]

Is it possible to develop this film in a lab, or is the only option to DIY?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Ofc. it's normally B&W film (yes it is not the same as colour motion picture film where it has the RemJet layer to remove*)

[@ulyssesnathanialowen3831]

just bought 10 rolls , they better be the nuts or your in trouble osbourne 😁😁😁😁😁

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Why do I do this to myself (and volunteer to do it too!) haha.. well you saw my results developed in Xtol (follow me on Flickr to inspect images full res). I scanned with Valoi Easy35 (see that video) and have been impressed enough by the tones to switch to FP4 517. Now I just need more models! :)

[@qnetx]

Sadly shipping to the US costs as much as the film effectively doubling the cost. 😢

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Sorry to hear. Postage costs are silly here at the best of times. A thick envelop costs over $10 if I remember so a thicker parcel to contain a film will be at least double I bet.

[@Rkolb2798]

What would the cost of a regular B/W film be in the UK ?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Sorry I did mean to include this in the video - Kentmere 100 is now the cheapest in the UK and I searched and found it for £4.99 (36) ..so a big saving switching to FP4 517.

[@Rkolb2798]

Thank you , £2.99 is about $5 Canadian . Ilford HP5 is about $13 Canadian for 36

[@ludvigrigger]

Only 2 in stock now. And only 20 exposures.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

You're looking at the wrong item it's FP4 517* 36 Exp.. They have plenty (Look on their homepage or link below video)

[@dankerin4208]

www.analoguecameras.co.uk/product/ilford-fp4-type-517-100-35mm-36exp/

[@ulyssesnathanialowen3831]

wrong film i made the same mistake , not under expired. under normal 35mm film

[@dankerin4208]

@@ulyssesnathanialowen3831 Sorry about that I have updated the site so it is shown under both categories. It also has its own special place on our front page next to the special offers.

[@ludvigrigger]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thanks Matt!

[@wullieg7269]

200 asa microphen

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Nice! I still haven't used that developer..

[@thedarksidemic]

They want £30 shipping costs regardless on how many you order 😱

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Eeek, I guess you are overseas? Sounds a lot though. I buy from them and normally P&P is fair.

[@thedarksidemic]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom no I’m U.K., I’m thinking there’s maybe an issue with the web form

[@thedarksidemic]

It seems to be an issue with chrome browser (mac) on safari the shipping is 6.95

[@thedarksidemic]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I’ll give it a shot, I assume you are developing at home; I have the kit for that but it’s been a while :D is sending to a lab an option or not recommended?

[@smartdoctorphysicist3095]

Hi thank you, just to let you know HP5 is better and develop in D76 one to one, this work for me when I am doing BW. Just to let you konw.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks! I think this is one of the opinion things. HP5 is more useful 100% as can push to 1600 but if shoot both at 100 I like FP4. (I've used both over the years and dev in Xtol).

[@mayfell6092]

Fomapan 100 likes disagree

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

I've loved Roma 100 for years but I think FP4+ is more premium quality film and wins in many areas (I still have Foma in the fridge to use first/ will keep using for 120 & 4x5)