When I first started my photography journey, I started with black and white film. I was obsessed with it. I spent hours in the darkroom, developing film and creating prints, in awe over the natural nostalgia of black and white. Something about it just felt so timeless and artistic. Even now, those photographs that I took back then and spent hours perfecting, are still special to me. I was particularly intrigued by the Holga 120 camera, and have since taken thousands of Holga photos, dragging a Holga everywhere I go, even now, 16 year later.
These days, I tend to shoot color film ( you can read more about my favorite color films here), just because it gives me the option of having both the color and black and white versions of a photo. However, lately I’ve been finding myself craving the simplicity (and affordability) of black and white film. I’ve never really met a black and white film that I didn’t like, but there a few that I tend to buy more often than others, just because there is something special about the way that they capture light and shadows. And I’m always looking for a balance of price and quality. Here are my top 5 best & most affordable black and white 35 mm & 120 film stocks, along with a quick review and sample photos that I’ve taken over the years, so that you can decide which one you’d like to try out!
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1. FUJIFILM NEOPAN ACROS 100 II
For years, the original version of Neopan Acros 100 was my all-time favorite black and white film. Sadly, they stopped making it, but a few years ago they reintroduced this second version of the film. While it’s not quite as magical as the original version, I still buy it from time to time. I find the blacks and shadows to sometimes be a bit too dark which causes a loss of detail. What I loved the most about the original version of the film was that it had a lot of contrast, but maintained details in the shadows. I find the new version to still have that contrast, but with a little less detail that I’m able to pull out of the blacks when editing. Don’t get me wrong, I still love it, but I can’t help but be a little heartbroken over the loss of the original version of the film. I actually have a full blog post and YouTube video about this film stock! It comes in both 35 mm and 120 formats.
WHERE TO BUY
35 mm
120 film
2. ILFORD HP5 PLUS 400
I haven’t tried this one out quite as much, but it’s actually one of the films that I first started shooting with back in the day. It’s a little less contrasty than Neopan Acros 100 II, but I find it to have a bit more detail in the shadows. Because it is a litle more flat, it gives you more flexibility when it comes to editing and post-processing. It definitely has that classic nostalgia that I’m always looking for when it comes to black and white film and automatically makes it look like your photos were taken 50 years ago. Since it is a 400 ISO film, you’ll find it has more grain and grittiness that the Neopan Acros 100 film. But this also means that it performs better in low light and is more versatile overall. This is a great film to throw in your bag when you’re traveling or when you’re not sure what the lighting conditions are going to be. I recently ordered more of this film and I’m excited to add more Ilford HP5 Plus photos to my portfolio. :) It also comes in both 35 mm and 120 formats.
WHERE TO BUY
35 mm
120 film
3. KODAK TRI-X 400
Kodak Tri-X 400 is probably the most common and most easily accesible film on the list. It’s super affordable and really has that traditional black and white film look. I definitely buy this one the most out of all of the films on this list, because it’s a great price and has never failed me. I love how dark the blacks and I find it to have the perfect amount of contrast. These days it’s probably one of my favorite black and white films because it really fulfills that nostalgia and classic black and white look that I’m always on the hunt for. It’s super sharp and not too grainy for a 400 ISO film. I always have a handful of this film in my fridge. You really can’t go wrong with this one!
WHERE TO BUY
35 mm
120 film
4. LOMOGRAPHY EARL GREY 100
Honestly, any Lomography black and white film is fun to experiment with, and they won’t break the bank. I shoot a LOT of Lomography film, especially the color negative 400 which comes in both 35 mm and 120 film. But lately, I’ve gotten into trying out all of their black and white films. They are all so unique and great for finding your personal style. I particularly love the Lomography Earl Grey 100 film, which has that nostalgia that I’m always looking for, but also has a unique tonal range compared to others on this list. You’ll notice it has an overall muted and gray tone. It reminds me of a faded black and white photograph you might find in an old trunk in your grandparent’s attic. It’s moody and dreary, which I absolutely love. There are a ton of other black and white films you can try out from Lomography, like the Lady Grey 400 & Potsdam 100. Those are also two great black and white film stocks!
WHERE TO BUY
5. KENTMERE PAN 100
Kentmere Pan 100 is a film stock that is somewhat directed towards beginners and students, so it’s very affordable. It’s also super forgiving and versatile, which makes it a great film stock all around. Even though I love the way it looks, something about it doesn’t feel quite as special as the others on this list. But maybe it’s just because I have more of a history with some of the others. :) If you’re on a bit of a budget though, this one is a perfect place to start and won’t disappoint. I just took a few rolls with me on a trip to England, and I’m pleasantly surprised by the beautiful contrast and sharpness. When I first started shooting with the Holga 120 GCFN (which I used for all of the images below), I pretty much exclusively used 100 ISO film. The lens on a Holga is naturally soft so using a 100 ISO film brings more sharpness and clarity to your images. I’m reminded of why 100 ISO film is so great with toy cameras, but it is temperamental on cloudy days or in low-light settings. When I’m not sure of the environment I’m going into, or if I notice the weather is going to be overcast, I tend to stick with 400 ISO film. If you’re interested in learning more about Holga cameras, make sure to check out my blog post here, or my YouTube video here! It also comes in a 200 ISO and 400 ISO film speed.
WHERE TO BUY
35 mm
120 film
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If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!
<3 Myles Katherine
