As with Tri-X, HP5+’s grain is present, yet not overwhelming . It neither muddies the image nor takes away from fine detail. I haven’t gone down that rabbit hole myself, but people do report good results from doing so elsewhere. Speaking of push processing, there are a few examples above and later in this article, which show HP5 PLUS pushed to EI 800, 1000 but I have previously written about shooting and processing HP5 PLUS much further. Get these new, printable film exposure guides for free and learn exactly how to set your film camera everytime! HP5 PLUS hit shelves in late 1989 when it replaced the original HP5 formulation. Unlike Kodak Tri-X, which varies in film speed between formats, all HP5 PLUS formats have a native ISO of 400 – or if you prefer, ASA 400, DIN 27 or GOST 350.

Ilford HP5+ Film Review Ilford HP5+ Film Review

Up to now, this doesn’t sound like the kind of film I’d particularly want to shoot much of. Medium contrast, grain not overbearing but not the cleanest, ISO 400 like so many others… It all sounds a bit middle-of-the-road. A great comparison to judge the two films on contrast as well as what detail is retained in the shadows & highlights. That said, they also advise their Delta films display less grain, thanks to their tabular-grain emulsion vs. the traditional grain of the Plus range, so you can’t logically expect your results to be super clean with the HP5.The HP line welcomed a newcomer in 1965: HP4. Initially available in 120 and 127 formats, HP4 was joined by 400 ASA 35mm rolls a year later. Both HP3 and HP4 were available concurrently until late December 1969 when a staged discontinuation of HP3 began. Speaking of which, this is also a great film for shooting in bright daylight conditions since you can shoot wide open for some serious bokeh and subject isolation (i.e. the “3D pop”). As Ilford state that HP5 Plus gives best results at ISO 400 but that good image quality can be achieved all the way up to 3200 and that it’s compatible with all major processing systems, I don’t think that flexibility claim can be argued too much.

HARMAN technology Limited TECHNICAL INFORMATION HP5 PLUS HARMAN technology Limited TECHNICAL INFORMATION HP5 PLUS

The Olympus XA2 has lens coatings that make it more contrasty than the Voigtlander. So with that said, you’ll get more contrast in the image. The photos here show off a nice looking film that appears classic in its appearance. Still though, I’m positive some photographers won’t like it for this type of work as much as they’d prefer Kodak Tri-X 400. Personally, I usually lean towards shooting it at box speed or with a one stop push – I like the flexibility and tend to lean towards higher contrast anyway. Recently, however, a particular combination of circumstances led me to try pushing to higher and higher ASA values – with results that surprised me with their clarity and range of tones. (Note – I tend to use the term ASA, largely out of habit, when referring to film speed – often referred to as ISO. The terms are interchangeable in any practical sense, but ASA has the advantage of making the article title here alliterative.) The characteristics of Kodak Tri-X are iconic, regardless if you are shooting in 35mm or 120. Photographers get to experience a prominent grain that has a distinct light-to-dark contrast ratio. This level of contrast has made it a popular staple amongst photojournalists, documentary, and street shooters. Another useful technique is to agitate twice less in the last third of your development time – say, if I develop for 10 minutes, during the last three minutes I would agitate only once a minute. It is a commonly known technique to reduce the grain, and it works extremely well – even for box speed processing. I’m not a technician, I’m not a professional photographer and I also don’t have too much experience, so you’re probably asking yourself, “So, why did you say you’d write about HP5 PLUS?”Ilford was also known through its Selo brand that was selling its films between the 1920s and the 1940s. The results of a poll on the Film Photography Chat Facebook Group. I would have voted DD-X, but didn’t want to taint the results. Everything I do and what I learn along the way gets shared on here, to inform and inspire you to get out and shoot as much - and as well - as you can too. There’s no reason I can think of to tell you why you shouldn’t shoot some street photography with Ilford HP5 Plus. I do have a few why you should, though.

ILFORD film - Ilford Photo% Choosing your first ILFORD film - Ilford Photo%

To me, film is superior in every aspect – its tones, grain, and the way it renders in general. I hear that digital sensors are overcoming film in every way these days but have personally found this to be untrue. Ilford HP5+ with Olympus Stylus Mju I. Bottom-right: contrast curves adjusted in post. Top-left: unedited scan (equalized). How much does Ilford HP5+ cost, and where to buy it. I can’t speak from experience when it comes to developing HP5 Plus, but I can point you in the right direction for the information needed to do so yourself. The processing chart is right here, the massive dev chart entry is right here, and the general data sheet is right here. After beginning my Ilford acquaintanceship with the relatively obscure Pan 400, HP5 Plus was my first foray into the brand’s better-known films.In 1939, this was replaced by HP2, an ISO 200 offering. This only lasted for two years until being superseded by the imaginatively titled HP3 in 1941, which was rated at different speeds depending on when in its life cycle you bought it. HP5 PLUS can be processed in a wide range of different developers using spiral tanks, deep tanks and automatic processors.