Camera Dojo

Ilford HP5 Plus: how it looks, how to push it, what it costs

The short answer

Ilford HP5 Plus is an ISO 400 black-and-white negative film that owners and reviewers widely call forgiving and versatile: it handles exposure mistakes, pushes well to EI 1600 or 3200, and dries flat for easy scanning.

A single 35mm roll costs $9.99 to $12.99 at the US film shops checked (October 28, 2026), and of the 112 opinions collected here, 85 are positive, 22 mixed and 5 negative.

Box speed
ISO 400
Push rating (Ilford)
Up to EI 3200
Process
Standard B&W chemistry
35mm roll
$9.99-12.99
See sample photosWhat shooters say

Built from 112 opinions from 28 pages and videos. Not yet tested by Camera Dojo. Updated .

A 35mm cassette of Ilford HP5 Plus 400 next to its white and green box and a black film canister
Photo: Dnalor 01, CC BY-SA 3.0 at

The short version

The trade-off is texture. HP5 Plus uses traditional cubic grain, so the grain is always visible, more so in 35mm and when pushed, and shadows drop to black faster than on some rivals. A few reviewers find it flat at box speed or too plain next to Ilford Delta 400, and Digital Camera World says to skip it if you want deep contrast or minimal grain. For a punchier classic look, see Kodak Tri-X 400 and the HP5 vs Tri-X comparison.

Price is a big part of its reputation. Jim Grey found it at least $2 a roll cheaper than Tri-X in 2022, when it was also in stock almost everywhere during the film shortages. It comes in 35mm, 120, 4x5 and 8x10 all year, and it is made by Harman Technology, the British company that holds the rights to the Ilford name for black-and-white materials.

Good fit if

  • You want one black-and-white film for sun, indoors and night: shoot it at 400, or push the whole roll to 1600 or 3200.
  • You are new to black and white or meter loosely. Reviewers call it remarkably tolerant of exposure errors.
  • You develop at home. It works in every major developer, from D-76 and HC-110 to Rodinal and DD-X.
  • You scan your own negatives. HP5 Plus dries flat, and one reader on Jim Grey's blog switched from Tri-X over cost and curl.
  • You shoot 120 or 4x5 on a budget: 120 rolls from $9.99 and $66.99 to $78.95 for 25 sheets of 4x5 (October 2026).

Think twice if

  • You want the smoothest tones and finest grain for landscapes or portraits. Slower Ilford FP4 Plus and Pan F are often favored for landscapes, and Ilford Delta 400 has finer grain.
  • You want deep blacks and strong contrast straight from the lab at box speed. Rate it at 800, or look at Kodak Tri-X 400.
  • Your only lab runs color (C-41) chemistry. HP5 Plus needs black-and-white processing; Ilford XP2 Super is the black-and-white film made for C-41.
  • You want the cheapest 400-speed black-and-white film. Kentmere 400, from the same company, runs a couple of dollars a roll less, per a 2022 commenter on Jim Grey's blog.

Photos shot on Ilford HP5 Plus

Photos shot on Ilford HP5 Plus in 35mm and 120, shared under free licenses on Wikimedia Commons.

What owners and reviewers say, topic by topic

We sorted 112 opinions about the HP5 Plus from 28 pages and videos on 17 websites and channels. Each row shows how many people raised a topic and how many of them were positive. Open a row to read short quotes, each linked to its source.

Reddit, Photrio, Lomography and store reviews could not be read, so the opinions come from photographers' blogs, editorial reviews, film shop write-ups and five YouTube reviews. Blue Moon Camera and Parallax sell film, one YouTube review comes from Analogue Wonderland, which Jim Grey says supplied the film for two of his posts, and several blogs carry affiliate links.

  1. Grain56% positiveof 18

    Everyone sees the grain. Most say it adds classic texture without hiding detail at box speed; the mixed voices call it gritty or intense, especially when pushed, and one reader moves to bigger film when he wants less of it.

  2. Overall look61% positiveof 18

    Most describe a classic, medium-contrast look with plenty of gray tones. A minority find it flat at box speed, and two find it either too harsh or too clean and neutral.

  3. Pushing and pulling88% positiveof 16

    The most-praised trait, with 14 of 16 opinions positive: pushes to 1600 and 3200 are widely praised, and EMULSIVE got usable frames at 5 to 6 stops. The complaints are longer development times and, per David Hancock, flatter contrast when pulled.

  4. Exposure latitude85% positiveof 13

    Widely praised: owners and reviewers call it very forgiving of over- and underexposure. The caveats are shadows that fall off fast (Blue Moon Camera) and flat light that can look washed out (The Phoblographer).

  5. Sharpness and detail70% positiveof 10

    Mostly praised for holding detail, especially in 120. I Want Grain concedes it is not the sharpest film, EMULSIVE says fine detail has a slightly fuzzier edge than modern T-grain films, and The Phoblographer got sharper prints from Delta 400.

  6. Scanning and printing100% positiveof 10

    All ten opinions are positive: negatives dry flat, scan easily and print well, and the film works with a wide range of developers.

  7. Price and availability100% positiveof 10

    All positive: reasonably priced, usually cheaper than Kodak Tri-X, and in stock in 35mm, 120 and sheet sizes, even during the 2022 shortages.

  8. Low light and night71% positiveof 7

    Rated well for night and indoor work, usually pushed to 1600. The mixed notes say shadow detail drops in very dark scenes, which EMULSIVE says development can control.

  9. Consistency100% positiveof 5

    All five who comment call it reliable: one reports outstanding frame-to-frame consistency, another finds it predictable once dialed in, and a third sees repeatable results over time.

  10. Skin tones50% positiveof 4

    Only four opinions cover skin. Two praise soft, nuanced skin tones, one reviewer likes it for portraits but not for street work, and Casual Photophile says it falls short for portraits that need smooth tonality.

PositiveMixedNegative

What does Ilford HP5 Plus look like?

Ilford describes HP5 Plus as a high speed, fine grain, medium contrast film for journalism, documentary, travel, sports and indoor available light, according to its product copy as quoted by EMULSIVE. Blue Moon Camera calls the contrast very moderate, neither high nor low, and owners describe a classic look with lots of gray tones. One reader on Jim Grey's blog puts it this way: less contrasty than Tri-X, with much better midtones.

The grain is traditional cubic grain, as opposed to modern T-grain films, per Blue Moon Camera. At box speed it is visible, but Casual Photophile says it doesn't get in the way of sharpness or resolution; EMULSIVE admits it can be intense, and Jim Grey finds it much more noticeable at EI 1600 than at 800. Bigger negatives shrink it: Parallax found a 120 roll held a great amount of detail, and a reader who shoots everything from 35mm to 8x10 simply uses bigger film when he wants less grain. More on that trade-off in 35mm vs 120 film.

Shadows are its weak spot. Blue Moon Camera says they fall off fairly fast, which gives rich blacks but loses detail there sooner, and Casual Photophile says it keeps less shadow detail than other films in its class. The fix is simple: give dark scenes a little more exposure.

Sources: emulsive.org, bluemooncameracodex.com, blog.jimgrey.net, casualphotophile.com, parallaxphotographic.coop, blog.jimgrey.net

How to expose Ilford HP5 Plus

HP5 Plus forgives a lot, but a few habits get more out of it. These come from Ilford's product copy and the reviewers quoted on this page.

  1. 1

    Start at box speed

    Meter at ISO 400 for a normal result. The 35mm cassettes are DX-coded, so a camera that reads DX codes will set 400 by itself; set the dial by hand if you plan to rate the roll differently.

  2. 2

    Give dark scenes extra light

    EMULSIVE suggests overexposing half a stop to a full stop in darker places, and Blue Moon Camera says the highlights forgive it while the shadows gain detail and tone.

  3. 3

    Try EI 800 for more punch

    I Want Grain finds box-speed results a bit flat and prefers rating it at 800 with a one-stop push, where contrast is stronger and shadows punchier.

  4. 4

    Push the whole roll at night

    For 1600 or 3200, set the meter to the new speed for every frame and have the roll push processed. Ilford says HP5 Plus can be rated up to EI 3200 with push processing.

  5. 5

    Skip reciprocity correction for short exposures

    Ilford says exposures from 1/2 second down to 1/10,000 second need no reciprocity correction, as relayed by I Want Grain, whose reviewer doesn't bother correcting up to 5 seconds.

  6. 6

    Mix speeds only in a pinch

    I Want Grain says you can shoot ISO 200 and ISO 800 frames on the same roll and develop it at the default time. It is not ideal, but you will get usable shots.

  7. 7

    Use it in cameras that underexpose

    Blue Moon Camera tells Holga owners to stick with ISO 400 film because those cameras notoriously underexpose, and a Holga Photography reviewer likes HP5 Plus 120 in a Holga for its price and good quality.

Sources: emulsive.org, bluemooncameracodex.com, iwantgrain.com, camerax.com, holgaphotography.com

How far can you push Ilford HP5 Plus?

Ilford rates HP5 Plus up to EI 3200 with push processing, and EMULSIVE got usable results at extreme pushes of 5 to 6 stops (EI 12800 to 25600). Blue Moon Camera says it can also be pulled at least one stop and arguably two. Pushing adds contrast and grain and can cost shadow detail.

EI 1600 is the speed several reviewers single out. Casual Photophile calls HP5 Plus at 1600 its absolute favorite black-and-white film, and Jim Grey thinks it looks far better at 1600 than Kodak T-Max P3200 does at 3200. Parallax pushed a roll to 1600 at night on a Hasselblad XPan and kept plenty of midtone and highlight detail, losing some shadow detail in exchange. Step-by-step help: how to push and pull film.

Exposure index and what sources report (push or pull the whole roll)
EIStopsWhat sources report
100 to 2001 to 2 stops pulledBlue Moon Camera: pulls at least one stop, arguably two. David Hancock finds pulling flattens contrast.
400Box speedIlford's nominal rating, medium contrast. I Want Grain finds it a bit flat.
8001 stop pushedI Want Grain's preferred speed. Jim Grey found the grain well managed.
16002 stops pushedCasual Photophile's favorite. Parallax lost some shadow detail but kept midtones and highlights.
32003 stops pushedIlford's top push rating. I Want Grain: contrast and grain go up, tonality holds.
6400 to 256004 to 6 stops pushedJim Grey: some have pushed to 6400. EMULSIVE: works surprisingly well at 5 to 6 stops.

Write the EI you shot the roll at on the cassette, as Digital Camera World suggests, so the lab knows how to develop it.

Sources: camerax.com, bluemooncameracodex.com, emulsive.org, casualphotophile.com, blog.jimgrey.net, blog.jimgrey.net, blog.jimgrey.net, parallaxphotographic.coop, iwantgrain.com, youtube.com, digitalcameraworld.com

Developing Ilford HP5 Plus at home or at a lab

HP5 Plus is a standard black-and-white film, so it does not go through C-41 color chemistry. Blue Moon Camera says it pairs well with every major developer, including D-76, Rodinal, HC-110, DD-X and Ilfosol, and Ilford says it runs in spiral tanks, deep tanks and automatic processors. New to it? See how to develop film at home.

Under best overall image quality, Ilford's developer chart, as reprinted by The Phoblographer, lists liquid Ilfotec DD-X at every speed from EI 400 to 3200, or powder ID-11 stock at 400 and 800 and powder Microphen stock at 1600 and 3200. For pushes, EMULSIVE suggests a high-acutance developer such as Rodinal (no more dilute than 1+25) or DD-X to hold the extra grain in check and sharpen edges. The same chart lists Ilford Rapid Fixer at 1+4 for 2 to 5 minutes.

Digital Camera World warns that labs often charge more for black and white than for color, but not all do. Richard Photo Lab lists develop-only at $10.00 for 135 or 120 black and white, the same as C-41; The Darkroom's mail-in 35mm developing starts at $14; and Brooklyn Film Camera charges $16 for members or $18 for guests to develop and scan a black-and-white roll, with push or pull processing billed per stop on top. More in how much it costs to develop film.

It also works as a slide film: EMULSIVE says HP5 Plus can be reversal developed with a typical two-bath process plus a second exposure.

EMULSIVE's own development times at 21 C / 70 F, agitating for the first minute, then 10 seconds each minute (not Ilford's data sheet)
DeveloperEI 400EI 800EI 1600
Ilfotec DD-X 1+48:459:45Not listed (11:45 at EI 1000)
Ilfotec LC29 1+195:458:3012:30
Kodak HC-110 dilution B (1+31)4:306:45Not listed

Sources: bluemooncameracodex.com, emulsive.org, thephoblographer.com, digitalcameraworld.com, richardphotolab.com, thedarkroom.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com

Ilford HP5 Plus or Kodak Tri-X 400?

Ilford HP5 PlusKodak Tri-X 400
SpeedISO 400 in every formatSpeed varies between formats, per EMULSIVE
LookMedium contrast, a neutral starting point that is easy to adjustMore contrast and a more distinctive look, per Digital Camera World
MidtonesMuch better midtones, per a reader on Jim Grey's blogMore contrasty, per the same reader
Pushed to EI 1600EMULSIVE preferred the depth and detail it keptLovely blacks and more even grain, but too dense for that reviewer
Drying and scanningDries flat35mm curl and cost drove one Jim Grey reader to switch to HP5 Plus
Price$9.99 to $12.99 a 35mm roll (October 2026)At least $2 more a roll in 2022 (Jim Grey); a few dollars more, per Digital Camera World

Pick the Ilford HP5 Plus if

  • You want a forgiving, neutral negative you can push or shape later in the scan or print
  • You scan at home and hate fighting curly film
  • You shoot a lot and price per roll matters

Pick the Kodak Tri-X 400 if

  • You want more contrast and grit straight from the lab
  • You love the Tri-X look and don't mind paying more. Full breakdown: HP5 vs Tri-X

Sources: emulsive.org, digitalcameraworld.com, blog.jimgrey.net, emulsive.org, blog.jimgrey.net, blog.jimgrey.net

Formats, buying and flying with HP5 Plus

HP5 Plus comes in 35mm cassettes (EMULSIVE lists 24 or 36 exposures, but no shop checked in October 2026 listed a 24-exposure roll), 50-roll packs, 100 ft bulk reels, 120 roll film, and 4x5 and 8x10 sheets all year. Per EMULSIVE and Blue Moon Camera, other sheet sizes, plus 46mm rolls for people who spool their own 127, appear in Ilford's annual ultra large format ordering window, although Blue Moon also calls 5x7 easy to find. A 120 roll gives about 12 to 16 frames, depending on the camera's frame size.

Bulk loading saves money if you shoot a lot. A 100 ft reel costs $125.99 at Film Photography Project Store, and a commenter on Jim Grey's blog calls a bulk reel a commitment for the next 15 to 18 rolls: about $7.00 to $8.40 a roll ($125.99 divided by 18 or by 15) before reusable cassettes, against $9.99 for a boxed roll. Prices have climbed: Jim Grey found 36-exposure rolls at $8.00 to $8.50 in March 2022, and Digital Camera World put them just under $9 in January 2024. More shops in where to buy 35mm film.

At the airport, keep film in your carry-on and ask for a hand inspection, as TSA recommends. Parallax Photographic says a new generation of CT scanners has been going into airports since 2020 and, based on initial testing by Ilford, those used for cabin baggage run a high chance of damaging film of any ISO, so the hand check matters for HP5 Plus too.

Ilford's black-and-white single-use camera comes loaded with 27 exposures of HP5 Plus, an easy way to try the film.

Sources: emulsive.org, bluemooncameracodex.com, holgaphotography.com, filmphotographystore.com, blog.jimgrey.net, digitalcameraworld.com, tsa.gov, parallaxphotographic.coop, en.wikipedia.org

What a roll of HP5 Plus costs

A single 35mm roll costs $9.99 to $12.99 at the US film shops checked, and a 120 roll $9.99 to $10.50, except at The Camera Store, which lists 120 at $16.00. Boxes of 25 sheets of 4x5 run $66.99 to $78.95, and 100 ft bulk reels $125.99 to $149.20. B&H, Adorama, Freestyle and KEH could not be checked, so they aren't listed.

  • Film Photography Project Store

    New, 35mm, 1 roll

    $9.99

    See listing

  • Brooklyn Film Camera (Brooklyn, NY)

    New, 35mm or 120, 1 roll

    $10.50

    See listing

  • Alpine Camera

    New, 35mm, 36 exposures, 1 roll

    $12.99

    See listing

  • Film Photography Project Store

    New, 120, 1 roll

    $9.99

    See listing

  • Alpine Camera

    New, 120, 1 roll

    $9.99

    See listing

  • Legacy Photo Lab (Texas)

    New, 120, 1 roll

    $9.99

    See listing

  • The Camera Store

    New, 120, 1 roll (page also prints 'Save $-16.00')

    $16.00

    See listing

  • Film Photography Project Store

    New, 4x5 sheet film, 25 sheets

    $66.99

    See listing

  • Camera Exchange (Austin and San Antonio, TX)

    New, 4x5 sheet film, 25 sheets

    $78.95

    See listing

  • Brooklyn Film Camera (Brooklyn, NY)

    New, sold out, 4x5 sheet film

    $78.00

    See listing

  • Film Photography Project Store

    New, 8x10 sheet film, 25 sheets

    $195.99

    See listing

  • Film Photography Project Store

    New, 35mm bulk roll, 100 ft

    $125.99

    See listing

  • MPEX

    New, 35mm bulk roll, 100 ft

    $149.20

    See listing

Prices checked on October 28, 2026. They move every week, so treat them as a range, not a quote. Brooklyn Film Camera's 4x5 listing was sold out and doesn't state the sheet count, and Film Photography Project Store's search page doesn't state the 35mm exposure count. The Camera Store's 120 page also prints 'Save $-16.00', so treat its $16.00 as unconfirmed. Alpine Camera's 35mm page shows both 'In stock' and 'Sold out', while its search page lists the roll as in stock. At Alpine Camera's $12.99, a 36-exposure roll works out to about 36 cents a frame ($12.99 / 36) before developing.

Technical data

Film

Type
Black-and-white negative, gelatin-silver
Speed
ISO 400/27° in every format
Push rating
Up to EI 3200/36° with push processing (Ilford)
Grain
Traditional cubic grain, not T-grain
Contrast
Medium (Ilford)
Process
Standard black-and-white chemistry (D-76, HC-110, Rodinal and others)
Reciprocity
No correction from 1/2 s to 1/10,000 s, per Ilford as relayed by I Want Grain

Formats

35mm
24 or 36 exposures (no 24 listed at the shops checked in October 2026), DX-coded, 0.125 mm acetate base
35mm bulk
17 m (55 ft) and 30.5 m (100 ft) reels
120
0.110 mm acetate base with anti-halation backing; no 220
Sheet film
4x5 and 8x10 all year on 0.180 mm polyester; other sizes in Ilford's annual ultra large format window (per EMULSIVE)
Single-use camera
27 exposures of HP5 Plus (reintroduced 2005)

History and maker

HP line
Plates in 1931, named HP in 1935
HP5
Launched at Photokina, 1976
HP5 Plus
Late 1989
Maker
Harman Technology (trading as Ilford Photo), formed February 2005
Ownership
Acquired by Pemberstone Ventures (announced September 2015)

Video reviews worth your time

  • Is Ilford HP5+ Overhyped? | Honest thoughts.

    Aperture Dundee, 2023

    The Ilford HP5 Plus is an extremely versatile, forgiving, and accessible black-and-white film that excels across a wide variety of shooting conditions.

    • 0:33 Overview of Ilford HP5 Plus specifications and film formats
    • 1:15 Discussion on shooting experience and versatility across photography styles
    • 2:33 Explanation of development ease and tolerance to chemical errors
    • 2:59 Breakdown of image characteristics, dynamic range, and grain structure

  • Ilford HP5+ 400 ISO Black and White Film Review | All About Film

    David Hancock, 2019

    Ilford HP5 Plus is an exceptionally versatile, reliable, and consistent 400 ISO black-and-white film that delivers outstanding results when paired with the right developer.

    • 0:25 Introduction to Ilford HP5 Plus film specs and format options
    • 1:46 Discussion of subjective image traits like grain and contrast
    • 7:19 Analysis of spectral sensitivity and color filter performance
    • 11:32 Breakdown of the characteristic curve and exposure latitude

  • Why is everyone OBSESSED with HP5? ... a film stock review

    Ribsy, 2021

    Ilford HP5 Plus is a highly versatile black-and-white film that offers wide exposure latitude, pleasant grain, and reliable performance at a fair price.

    • 0:09 Showing the Ilford HP5 Plus 400 film canister.
    • 1:03 Sample images shot in London along the River Thames.
    • 3:48 Discussion on exposure latitude and overexposure handling.
    • 5:08 Evaluating grain structure and contrast characteristics.

  • Ilford HP5 - A Black & White Staple | ROLL REVIEW

    Analog Resurgence, 2020

    Ilford HP5 Plus is a versatile, accessible, and forgiving 400 ISO black and white film that provides balanced contrast and smooth tonality across various formats.

    • 0:19 Introduction to Ilford HP5 and its available formats.
    • 2:25 Sample photo showcase highlighting HP5's contrast and tonal range.
    • 3:12 Comparison between HP5, Kentmere 400, and Kodak Tri-X 400.
    • 4:45 Comparing 35mm and 6x9 medium format negatives on a light table.

  • Ilford HP5 Plus film review - 'Best-Selling B&W'

    Analogue Wonderland, 2021

    The Ilford HP5 Plus is a highly versatile and forgiving black and white film with broad latitude, ideal for both beginners and experienced photographers.

    • 0:34 Ilford HP5 Plus film roll and box shown up close.
    • 1:19 Sample black and white photograph shot on HP5 Plus.
    • 1:53 Reviewer points out the ISO check boxes on the film canister.
    • 2:37 Sample portrait photograph highlighting contrast and tone rendering.

Questions people ask about the HP5 Plus

Is Ilford HP5 a good film?

For most black-and-white shooting, yes. Reviewers call it a versatile, forgiving all-rounder that pushes well and costs less than Kodak Tri-X, and only 5 of the 112 opinions collected here are negative (22 are mixed). The usual caveat: visible grain and shadows that fall off fast suit documentary, travel and night work better than landscapes or portraits that call for smooth tonality.

Sources: digitalcameraworld.com, casualphotophile.com, bluemooncameracodex.com

Is Ilford HP5 Plus a negative film?

Yes. It is a black-and-white negative film rated ISO 400, developed in standard black-and-white chemistry such as D-76, HC-110 or Rodinal, then scanned or printed. It does not go through C-41 color processing; if your lab only runs C-41, [Ilford XP2 Super](/film/ilford-xp2-super/) is the black-and-white film made for that.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, legacy-photolab.com, en.wikipedia.org, emulsive.org

How old is Ilford HP5?

HP5 launched at Photokina in 1976 and became HP5 Plus in late 1989, so the current version has been around for more than 35 years. The HP line is older: Ilford's hypersensitive panchromatic plates appeared in 1931 and took the HP name in 1935. Sources disagree on the first HP roll film's speed: EMULSIVE and Casual Photophile say 160 ASA, Wikipedia lists 100.

Sources: emulsive.org, casualphotophile.com, en.wikipedia.org

How long does it take to fix HP5 film?

Ilford's processing chart, as reprinted by The Phoblographer, lists Ilford Rapid Fixer diluted 1+4 for 2 to 5 minutes. Fixing time depends on the fixer and its dilution, so check the instructions on yours before you start. Development time depends on the developer and the speed you shot; the table in the developing section lists EMULSIVE's times.

Sources: thephoblographer.com, emulsive.org

Can I use Ilford HP5 Plus 400 for everyday photos?

Yes. Ilford pitches it at journalism, documentary, travel, sports and indoor available light, and when a reader asked under Casual Photophile's profile whether 400 is a good general-purpose speed, James Tocchio replied that 400 is pretty much perfect for any shooting situation. Ilford also pitches its wide exposure latitude at beginners and people returning to film.

Sources: emulsive.org, casualphotophile.com

Can you push HP5 Plus to 3200?

Yes. Ilford says it can be rated up to EI 3200 with push processing, and I Want Grain says 3200 works, with more contrast and grain but intact tonality. EMULSIVE got usable results even at EI 12800 to 25600. Shoot the whole roll at the same EI and tell the lab.

Sources: camerax.com, iwantgrain.com, emulsive.org

What is the best developer for HP5 Plus?

There isn't a single best one. Ilford's chart, as reprinted by The Phoblographer, lists liquid Ilfotec DD-X for the best overall image quality at every speed from 400 to 3200, with powder ID-11 at 400 and 800 and powder Microphen at 1600 and 3200. Blue Moon Camera says D-76, Rodinal, HC-110 and Ilfosol all work well, so the choice comes down to the grain and contrast you want.

Sources: thephoblographer.com, bluemooncameracodex.com

Is HP5 Plus cheaper than Tri-X?

Usually. Jim Grey found HP5 Plus at least $2 a roll cheaper than Tri-X in 2022, Khurt Williams of Island in the Net says a 36-exposure roll costs less than Tri-X or T-Max 400, and Digital Camera World says Tri-X comes in a few dollars more per roll. In October 2026, 35mm HP5 Plus runs $9.99 to $12.99 a roll at US film shops.

Sources: blog.jimgrey.net, islandinthenet.com, digitalcameraworld.com, filmphotographystore.com, alpinecamerausa.com

What people compare it with

  • Kodak Tri-X 400

    The classic rival: more contrast and a more distinctive look, per Digital Camera World, for a few dollars more a roll.

  • Kentmere 400

    The budget 400-speed film from the same company. A 2022 commenter on Jim Grey's blog says it runs a couple of dollars a roll less; Kelsey Smith says it lacks HP5 Plus's fine grain and tonal richness.

  • Ilford Delta 400

    Ilford's finer-grained 400 film. Digital Camera World praises its fine grain and The Phoblographer got sharper prints from it, but Digital Camera World also says it can't be pushed as far and forgives mistakes less.

  • Ilford XP2 Super

    A 400-speed black-and-white film developed in C-41 color chemistry, for when only a color lab is nearby.

Every source behind this page

Read them yourself. How we pick and count them is in our methodology.

Show all 44 sources

Manuals and references 16

Independent blogs 15

Editorial reviews 8

Video reviews 5