Ilford HP5 Plus 400

Original (research + scan validated). See the notes, the B&W README, and the Knowledge base.

The film

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 is the classic British medium-speed B&W, the reportage/documentary counterpart to Tri-X. It's known for strong, balanced tonality, even (traditional cubic) grain that distributes smoothly, medium contrast, and deep shadows that stay dark ("lets shadows be shadows"). Very forgiving and push-friendly. Flexible across lighting.

The look in one line

Balanced, forgiving reportage B&W, even visible grain, medium contrast, rich natural shadows.

Real-scan validation (1 scan)

Analysed from Wikimedia Commons (analysis-only): a foggy skyline. Prominent, even, structured grain across the smooth grey fog; medium contrast with buildings holding as solid dark-grey-to-black masses; gentle highlight roll-— in the mist. Confirmed: even visible grain → Grain —/—; balanced medium contrast → — + —; deep natural shadows → Shadow —. (Single scan → one more pass recommended for portrait/sunlit conditions.)

vs the other B&W originals

HP5 is the middle ground: - Grittier/heavier than Acros (which is fine/smooth), but - Smoother and lower-contrast than Tri-X (which is clumpy-grained, high-contrast, Clarity —). HP5 keeps —. It's a smooth, balanced stock, not a gritty one.

Datasheet confirmation (Harman/Ilford HP5 Plus technical sheet, fetched & extracted)

• "High speed, fine grain, medium contrast": the sheet's own words → confirms — (medium contrast) and grain visible-but-not-clumpy.
• Push range documented to EI 3200/36 ("responds well to push-processing") → confirms the high ISO ceiling; grain/contrast rise gracefully with EI.
• Development aims produce "negatives of average contrast suitable for printing in all enlargers" → HP5's balanced curve is by design; our Shadow —carries the "lets shadows be shadows" depth without inflating overall contrast.

Validation tier

Datasheet (extracted) + characteristic + scan-validated (1 condition). Next pass: add sunlit + portrait scans, and confirm grain size (—/— vs —/—) against a well-exposed daylight frame.