Ilford HP5 Plus 400 - 35mm Black & White Film

The legend. The workhorse. The film that's been getting the shot since 1935. Ilford HP5 Plus is the iconic black and white film—our best-selling B&W emulsion and beloved by film shooters worldwide for very good reason. With its gorgeous grain structure, rich contrast, deep blacks, and versatile ISO 400 speed, HP5 delivers that perfect vintage aesthetic while remaining incredibly practical for modern shooting. Push it to 3200, pull it to 100, develop it in whatever chemistry you fancy—HP5 Plus tolerates creative abuse and processing conditions that are "less than ideal" (we've all been there) while still producing outstanding results. This is the film that does everything.

What Makes Ilford HP5 Plus Legendary

ISO 400 (Daylight) - Fast enough for low-light situations, action photography, and photojournalism. Slow enough for fine grain and excellent sharpness. The speed that handles real life.

Pushable to 3200 - When lighting is poor and subjects are moving, HP5 Plus extends beautifully. Push it up to 3200 with developers like Ilford Ilfotec HC or Microphen and still get fantastically detailed images. This is the film for when you absolutely need the shot.

Wide Exposure Latitude - Forgiving when your metering is approximate or conditions are challenging. HP5 Plus delivers consistent results across a broad range of exposures.

Fine Grain & High Sharpness - Beautiful grain structure that adds character without overwhelming detail. Sharp, well-defined images with excellent edge contrast.

Rich Contrast & Deep Blacks - Outstanding brightness and full tonal range. Prints look right—deep shadows, controlled highlights, and gorgeous midtones.

Developer Versatility - Compatible with all current processing systems and a wide range of developers. Want to experiment? HP5 Plus encourages it. Standard processing? It handles that too.

Robust During Processing - Tolerates less-than-perfect conditions and still delivers excellent results. Not temperamental, not precious—just reliable.

DX Coded - Automatic cameras will set ISO 400 automatically. One less thing to think about.

Strong Cassettes - Tangential style with firmly fixed end caps that survive rough handling. Low friction characteristics mean smooth film advance and longer battery life.

Best For

Everything. Outdoor photography, low-light scenes, sports, photojournalism, portraits, street photography, available light shooting, action, general purpose work, and any situation where you need a black and white film that simply delivers.

Also perfect for: learning film photography, creative experimentation with push/pull processing, and being the comfort film you return to again and again.

Perfect for photographers who want the iconic black and white look with modern versatility. HP5 Plus has been getting the shot for nearly 90 years—there's a reason it's still the favourite.