Capture timeless images with 220-format black and white film. This guide highlights five strong options—from vintage Shanghai GP3 to versatile Ilford HP5 variants—covering different ISO ratings, tonal ranges, and workflow needs. Whether you shoot mid-format portraits or street scenes, these films deliver classic grain, dynamic contrast, and reliable latitude for pushing or pulling development. Explore practical choices, important features, and buying considerations to choose the right film stock for your camera and style.
| Product | Brand | Format | ISO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai GP3 220 | eTone Store | 220 | 100 | Freshest batch for 220 cameras |
| Ilford HP5 Plus 400 (120) | Ilford Store | 120 | 400 | Versatile, classic B&W |
| 3 Rolls Ilford HP5 400 | Ilford Store | 120 | 400 | Three-roll bundle |
| 5 Rolls Ilford HP5 400 | Ilford Store | 120 | 400 | Five-roll bundle |
| Ilford HP5 Plus 35mm 2-Pack | Ilford Store | 35mm | 400 | Classic 35mm option |
Shanghai GP3 220 Black & White Roll Film
The Shanghai GP3 220 film adopts a traditional black-and-white negative stock designed for 220-format cameras. Its ISO 100 rating yields fine grain, smooth tonality, and strong mid-tone performance. The film is well-suited for daylight shooting, portraits, and landscapes, offering classic contrast suitable for enlargements. This stock is often appreciated for its archival look and compatibility with older medium-format bodies like Yashica-24, Hasselblad 120/220 formats, and similar cameras. Use traditional developing methods for consistent results.
Ilford HP5 Plus 400 (120 Roll Film) 2-Pack
Ilford HP5 Plus 400 is a workhorse for B&W photography. In 120 format, it delivers a wide exposure latitude and strong tonal range, making it ideal for street scenes, documentary work, and studio portraits. The film responds well to push processing, increasing apparent grain and contrast for creative effects. This 2-pack provides dependable stock for extended shoots, enabling repeatable results across walks or projects. Expect rich detail from mid-tones and robust shadow preservation in varied lighting.
3 Rolls Ilford HP5 400 120 Film
This triple-pack of Ilford HP5 400 in 120 format offers extended shooting sessions with reliable ISO 400 performance. The film provides a classic black-and-white look with a broad tonal range and good contrast. It handles a variety of lighting conditions, from overcast days to bright interiors. Ideal for travel projects, documentary work, and creative experimentation, the three-roll bundle helps photographers maintain consistency across frames while saving stock-up time.
5 Rolls Ilford HP5 400 120 Film
This 5-roll bundle of Ilford HP5 400 in 120 format provides extended shooting capacity with dependable performance. The film emphasizes wide exposure latitude and a medium contrast curve, making it forgiving in dynamic scenes. It responds well to push processing, increasing grain and mood for artistic interpretation. The edge-numbering from 1 to 19 aids organization and workflow during long shoots, especially in studio or location settings.
Ilford HP5 Plus Black and White Printing Film 35mm 400 36 Pack
Ilford HP5 Plus in 35mm offers a familiar option for standard 36-exposure rolls, rated ISO 400. This stock is praised for its broad tonal range, detailed shadows, and punchy mid-tones. The 2-pack version provides a reliable supply for typical street photography, documentary projects, and creative shoots where standard 35mm film is preferred. The stock preserves good latitude across lighting conditions and responds well to standard development workflows.
Buying Guide: Key Purchase Considerations
- Format compatibility: Ensure the film matches your camera’s format (220, 120, or 35mm). Medium format 120 offers larger negatives and finer grain, while 35mm is widely available and easier to scan.
- ISO and lighting: Lower ISO (e.g., 100) yields finer grain and smoother skies in bright light; higher ISO (e.g., 400) provides more flexibility in lower light and indoors but adds grain.
- Tonal range and contrast: HP5 series emphasizes broad latitude and classic contrast suitable for documentary work and portraits; consider your preferred look for landscapes and street photography.
- Push/pull processing: Films like HP5 respond well to push processing for more contrast and grain. If you shoot in changing light, this can be a helpful option.
- Bundles and value: Multi-pack options (3-roll, 5-roll packs) reduce stocking frequency and stabilize workflow for ongoing projects.
- Development considerations: Choose films with well-supported development processes; Ilford films have broad support in standard developers, while Shanghai GP3 may require specific stock handling for consistency.
- Archival qualities: Look for stocks with robust tonal fidelity and compatibility with archival processing to ensure longevity of prints and scans.
- Lens and lighting synergy: Pair film choice with your lenses and lighting style—gentle lighting suits HP5’s tonal range, while brighter scenes can leverage ISO 100 stocks for detail and clarity.
- Workflow integration: Consider scanning or darkroom workflows; larger negatives from 120 format can yield higher-resolution scans compared to 35mm.