The Two Black And White Films That I Use Most

Someone asked me once what the best black and white film is.

I have created images with several b/w film stock, including Kodak TMax 400, Efke R25, and a whole range of Ilford products: Pan F, Delta 100, Delta 400, Delta 3200, and HP5 Plus.

And most of these in 135 and 120 formats.

Each film has its characteristics, and I select the film type specifically for the subject that I will take images of and the mood I want to create.

For example, for still lifes, I like slow, fine-grain films like Efke R25, or Ilford Delta 100, while Ilford Delta 3200 is excellent for night photography.

After thinking about this and considering the results I got with several types of black and white film, I need to say that there is no 'best' for me. However, my favorite black and white films are Ilford Delta 400 for daily use and Ilford Delta 3200 for night photography.

Ilford Delta 400 Professional: Daily Work Horse

As I might have mentioned once or twice before, my favorite general-use 'go-to' black and white film of choice is Ilford Delta 400. I love how its emulsion combines sharpness with just the right amount of grain and how it has more contrast than, for example, Ilford's HP5 (which is an excellent film on its own).

While it is a medium speed film, it produces beautiful grain and produces images with excellent tonality. The film is quite forgiving: maintaining great detail in shadows and with perfect contrast.

Ilford Delta 3200 Professional: Queen Of The Night

My go-to film for evening and night photography is Ilford Delta 3200: a black and white film perfect for shooting anything in the darkness; outside when doing street photography in the evening, but also inside in dim-lit rooms and venues (think for example concert photography).

Although it is an ISO 3200 film, the best results are accomplished by shooting at Exposure Index 1600 and developing for ISO 3200.

Because it is an ISO 3200 film, and you should expect quite an amount of grain, the grain is quite pleasing, and the overall effect is very nice.

And before you ask: yes, you can shoot Ilford Delta 3200 during the daytime too. Just make sure you adjust your shutter speed and aperture accordingly.

In conclusion, I almost always use Ilford Delta 400 and Delta 3200: two great black and white films for everyday use and night photography.