Top 5 Black & White 35mm Films (As voted by you!)

I often get asked what black and white film I would suggest new film shooters should start with. And after years of suggesting the same film, I thought it was time to do a rain check and see if you guys agreed...
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Videos I Mention
Shooting Pan F Plus in London: • Capturing London with ...
Sharing Every Frame I Shot on a Roll of FP4: • Sharing Every Frame I ...
Shooting Expired 120 Tri-X: • Shooting Expired Kodak...
Capturing Oslo on Ilford Delta 3200: • Photographing Oslo in ...
Capturing Daily Life with HP5: • Documenting Daily Life...
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[@MadisonBeach]

Thank you to everyone who voted! And comment below if you agree with the top 5!

[@TheFilmFellow]

Cool video Madison. I’m happy to see my beloved stock FP4 did so well. You can easily push it to 400 as a walk around film in Great Britain where yes you’re mostly better off with a medium speed film.

[@Tom-Humble]

HP5 and FP4 have been my go-to B&W’s for a good few months now and I’ve been developing using ilfosol 3. Couldn’t be happier with the results and the price. Definitely the best all rounders and most reliable.

[@KNURKonesur]

HP5+ is just a banger! I loved your story about it and the Pentax camera. I shot this exclusively for a couple of years, but now I got a camera that doesn't do fast shutter speeds and needed to get something low ISO. Tested a couple of the ones featured here, but fell in love with the Rollei Retro 80s for some reason.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

All excellent film stocks! I'm a big fan of FP4+, Fomapan 100, and Tri-X. For slow films, I'm not as big a fan of Pan F+ as I was because I tend to go slower for Rollei RPX 25. But I also use Fomapan 400, HP5+, Delta 100, TMax 100, Fomapan 200, Delta 400, and TMax 400.

[@onnoweb]

Great video! And so interesting. I've never used PanF, Fomapan and FP4. I have to go and try them out.

[@MadisonBeach]

So happy tonhesr that, I need to try Fomapan as well!

[@crispin8888]

Ilford XP2

[@thiagobnla]

I love both triX and HP5, and I find that, during my experience with both, hp5 is way more versatile and looks best in the streets whilst triX gave me a better result for portraits and indoor shots (in controlled environment). ether way, cool video (: keep it up!

[@jamiecooper7771]

Great Video! I think I would agree 😀

[@NPJensen]

For someone just starting out shooting, I would suggest a cheap film stock like Fomapan 100, 200 or 400 depending on the light conditions and that was part of the initial question here. That being said, a top 5 in general without HP5 and Tri-X at the top would have been a big surprise. 3 to 5 could have been quite different, had a different group of film enthusiasts voted though. There are so many different film stocks out there still. It's one of the things I love most about film photography - there is always a new film stock + camera combination to try out.

[@williamshaffer9216]

I've been shooting Tri-X Pan since 1968 and Ilford HP-5+ since 2016. I still prefer Tri-X Pan. Ir never lets one down!

[@benjaminfaint5734]

Bergger panchro 400 is my favourite so far especially in medium format.

[@patcliffordfootballcoach]

T Max and Fuji Across the best I've shot but also love HP5 and FP4

[@ripemangosmdm7997]

Ultrafine Extreme 400! I love this film. Tri X 400 is a top for me too. But Ultrafine, it was so cheap 35$ for 100ft bulk roll, but it handles contrast, highlights really well for a "cheap-o" film. And it is supposedly concocted/reconcocted in Oxnard, ca. Which is a place I've been to shows in and lived near for quite sometime. Great video, I figured HP5 was the tops for most.

[@tycjantrzpiola]

Really cool episode. Mine Is Ilford Pan 400

[@MadisonBeach]

Thank you!

[@riswanc]

I shot BW a lot, and my go to is HP5+, while i have always a cheaper back up in my bag, in the form of kentmere 400 😀

[@TheMrWillje]

These are some great recommendations! I've only ever shot Tri-X 400 and Ilford FP4, but I'll definitely have to try some of the ones in this video. Thank you!

[@danilomartinez8937]

Cool video! Interesting to hear your class have you HP5 to start. My teacher was really big on Tmax so we all shot on that to start.

[@MadisonBeach]

Its so interesting looking back seeing how small decisions by teachers and peers can influence your photography

[@danilomartinez8937]

@@MadisonBeach yup. To this day it’s the one black and white film I can turn to and feel like I really know it front to back.

[@citysounds1384]

Ahh I just missed the premiere. My top 2 would be reversed but apart from that I agree! also love Delta 3200

[@MadisonBeach]

As you can probably tell I love Delta 3200 as well! 😂

[@richardsimms251]

Great video. Thank you. RS. Canada

[@guillaumebouqueau]

Nice selection. Only tried one roll of fomapan and wasn’t really impressed by the results. Shot a roll of Pan 50 recently and I was really positively surprised by the result, great film. For me, I would have gone 1. HP5 2. Tri-X 3.FP4 4. Acros 5. TMax 3200P. The Delta line is great but lacks a bit of character. My thoughts anyway...

[@MadisonBeach]

I love pan 50!

[@linjicakonikon7666]

Rollei RPX 25,100 and 400 as well as Bergger Pancro 400

[@the_unpredictedjourney8491]

Excellent video! Can we see what the results were for the other film stocks? I'm super curious to see what others were shooting and really curious to see how the film I voted for did: Lomography Berlin 400 :)

[@MadisonBeach]

I didnt think about that, but yes! After everyone has had time to watch this if they want, I will release the rest of the results!

[@the_unpredictedjourney8491]

@@MadisonBeach Woo :) That would be really awesome, thank you!

[@blaxton2]

Foma 100 is my usual but I have experience (all good) with your top 5 and I agree that HP5+ (or Tri-X) is probably the most versatile film on your list. Ferraria P30 is my nomination for most gratifying film but when I do save up enough coin to buy a few rolls, it seems that it is out of stock everywhere I look.

[@MadisonBeach]

I've never shot P30, as it's never in stock here!

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

HP5+ is my go to b/w film too. The entire Plus range (PanF, Ortho and FP4+) is great in fact. I shot a couple rolls of Tri-X (in 120) but it curls like hell. Most of the time HP5+ is on a reel in 15 seconds, with Tri-X if I get it on a reel at all. And it's almost double the price. For 120 I don't like Delta that much, but I made some nice shots with Delta 100 on 135.

[@MadisonBeach]

I agree, I was surprised by a very low number of votes for Ortho!

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

@@MadisonBeach well, it can't justify it, I don't see that much difference with FP4+ but it's twice as expensive. The same for Acros II, it's great film and I would love to support Fuji more (I'm probably the only one 😂 ) but it's just too expensive for regular things.

[@stevep2430]

To get the perfect photo, Black and white is actually a lot easier than color film.

[@christianmuller2031]

Don’t agree

[@chrissoclone]

4:19 "...performed really low in well light"? :D HP5 is no surprise, even if sometimes I prefer others this is easily my most shot film and good for everything, and on sunny days it's FP4. I really like TMax 400 in 120 for portraits though. Delta Though? I don't know, I really don't like it's grittiness, for me it's too "grungy" and I'd only use it for e.g. shooting Punk concerts or the like. Can you get Rollei film for a decent price in the UK? It's fairly cheap in Germany, excellent quality and I really like them, not sure which one's my favourite yet.

[@MadisonBeach]

Annoyingly Rollei film is really hard to get hold of at the moment in the UK!

[@RobinsBookClub]

Great stuff! Patiently awaiting my order from analoguewonderland, getting further in to Tri X and checking out hp5 and fp4. Im sure I shot them years ago but can't actually remember? Colour films - bet you £5 portra160 wins.

[@MadisonBeach]

I'll take that bet 😂 but I think I'll be loosing money

[@MarkHickford]

160 and not 400? Hmmmm I think the community will vote 400 higher. I won't put any money on it though as I'm skint haha

[@RobinsBookClub]

@@MarkHickford ohhhhhh! Hahaha well time will tell :) I always thought 160 was the one.

[@i.f.haddock527]

This is great. You should add the Kozmo to the Fomapan 100 total as it is the same film.

[@MadisonBeach]

I thought about it, I wasn't sure whether to combine them, but in the end it wouldn't of changed the results!

[@i.f.haddock527]

@@MadisonBeach I am a huge fan of bulk loaded Fomapan film. Admittedly I like TriX400 and HP5+ a bit better but at 5 times and 3 times the price, I can not afford to use them; I shoot a roll or more per day.

[@MrRom92DAW]

Having such a great selection of film is wonderful, but it’s important to keep in mind that these will all look different depending on what you develop them in! TMax 100 would’ve been on this list if I had my way, but maybe people find it a bit too perfect. Doesn’t seem to get much love. HP5 is very comparable to tri-X but maybe a bit more tonal and better for people who print in a darkroom who like to work their prints… if scanning I think it looks better pushed to 1600. If I wanted a 400 speed film I’d stick to Tri-X or Tmax

[@MadisonBeach]

A lot of people votes for TMax, just not enough to hit the top 5!

[@gonzalorunner]

Great Video. I voted hp5, of course :)

[@MadisonBeach]

Thank you, and you've got great taste!

[@nelsonm.5044]

Not surprise to see the HP5 there, probably some Matt Day effect for that film, but I was surprise to see the Pan F Plus 50 in 5th position. Not a film for every occasion even in countries where we actually see the sun on more than 2 days per year. I use it a lot for landscape but with a tripod, it is a good film

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

MattDay effect or just one of the best films at the best price. I think the latter 😉

[@linjicakonikon7666]

Matt Day? Do people take him seriously?

[@edding6210]

I will be really sad if there is no Agfa APX or Rollei equivalent film in here. They are the best cheap b/w Film in my opinion

[@MadisonBeach]

You'll have to wait and see! But I agree I think Agfa APX is a very good and underrated film!

[@chrissoclone]

I really like that you can still get it in drugstores and it's a very safe film for cheap drugstore development, but at least where I buy HP5 is still cheaper and the clear winner for me. But I often grab a roll when I go buying the usual drugstore stuff, just because it's there and I want them to keep selling it.

[@michabutkiewicz702]

Damn, missed this story and wasted my chance to further shoutout Bergger Pencro 400. Although I'm pleasantly surprised that fomapan 100 made it this far

[@MadisonBeach]

I was suprised at how many votes Fomapan got, I must try it in 35mm format!

[@KNURKonesur]

@@MadisonBeach the thing with Fomapan is that it's almost the same price as Ilford in the UK, but in other countries closer to the factory, like Poland, you can buy it much cheaper than Ilford if you buy in bigger quantities.

[@piketubeman]

Mmmmm. Tasty. That PanF is my jam.

[@oudviola]

Interesting results, not super surprising. I don't find HP5 well suited for medium format, which I mostly shoot. It's too fast to shoot in bright daytime at wider apertures due to fastest shutter speeds of 1/500 on both my med format cameras. But it's too slow for handheld indoor shooting without a flash. It's good for low light days though. My go to fave is FP4Plus for medium/large format.

[@oudviola]

p.s. got here via grainydays!

[@dennisgross1080]

I almost always have a Y2 filter on my Bronica lenses so basically 200 ISO. Gives a bit more leeway.

[@donsemo4804]

you should had a top 10. There are other films that are incredibly good that people use.

[@christianonphotography]

Everything else than HP5 No.1 would have made me wonder ;)

[@MadisonBeach]

It was incredibly close between HP5 and Tri-x!

[@puthutpras]

Bagus mbak 😎

[@lvikng57]

No love for tmax 😢

[@MadisonBeach]

There were lots of votes for it, but not enough!

[@chrissoclone]

Price I guess. If it was as cheap as Ilford I'd buy much more.

[@williamreilly1610]

HP5 is the bomb...

[@kevinfitzmaurice-brown1683]

' you guys '?

[@okmchl]

No Acros love. Pity.

[@jean-paul7251]

I wouldn't touch kodak these days. They are the causes of blatant price fixing in their line of films.