Ilford XP2 Super 135-24

It's just easy, a regular in-store photolab can process it same day. The negs have a fine grain, you get the interesting pseudo-sepia first prints from the shop. It's just a very easy film to use. I occasionally find XP2 negs from the early 90s in my drawers, scan them, add a little more grain in SFX pro and they look magnificent.

Bought this for my daughter to try in an old point and shoot 35mm camera just for fun. Excellent results - fasionably retro...

I would of given five stars for this product but when the package arrived, the small box that holds the film was open and therefore the film could have been tampered with. Other than that, a great choice of black and white film!

I tried this stuff once, loved it and bought a 10-pack. XP2 Super gives very nice contrast, lots of detail and a nice bit of grain. In a test I bet that you really couldn't tell it from traditional (silver based) black and white. It is super convenient that you can send it to any lab or even high-street photo stores (unfortunately I avoid the big name / supermarket ones because of the levels of expertise they now lack) because it is C-41 process (normally for colour photos). I've always sent my stuff to Photo Express in Hull and they do a wonderful job. It's actually quite easy to develop traditional B&W at home, but if you don't fancy taking the plunge with the chemicals (they aren't really nasty any more) or loading the film into the tank in total darkness, then buy a roll of this and shoot away. You won't be disappointed! [Sample photos on XP2 Super, shot with Leica Mini Zoom and processed / scanned at Photo Express]

I have a couple of old slr cameras that I bought new in the 1980's - a Praktica and a Minolta. I thought about selling them on ebay recently but the prices were so low that I decided to put a couple of rolls of film through them. I didn't have the developing tanks etc so I decided to try this C-41 process stuff - Ilford Xp-2. I sent them off to Ilford Labs to get the best possible processing, and I must say that I was stunned by the results - much better than the stuff I used to develop myself. I read quite a bit about the exposure index (personal iso) that this film is best at - in the end I stuck to iso 200, and it works perfectly - my photos are pin sharp and nicely exposed - plenty of detail and the right amount of contrast without intrusive grain. I have read a bit of criticism about xp2 regarding grain and excess contrast, but I found that at iso 200 it was pretty fine. I will definitely use it again - in particular my Praktica has never given such good results.

The principal advantage of this film is that it is a black and white film which can be developed in C41 (colour negative) chemistry. This means that you can take it to a in-store minilab and have it developed, rather than having to develop it yourself or send it to a specialist lab. I've used the film in an old point and click compact, where it gives nice results. It was shot at 400ASA (the rated value - it's DX coded so the camera picks it up automatically). It seems a little less grainy and with not quite as much contrast as Ilford HP5 Plus at that speed. I haven't made any traditional prints from the film so I can't comment on that, however it scans nicely and allows use of infra-red dust removal on the scanner, unlike traditional black and white film.

i think its just my camera but pictures did over expose on the whole so perhaps set your camera for a different asa

Preferable to conventional film and easier to get processed.

Muy bueno

Bekannter, von Ilford entwickelter, höhenempfindlicher Schwarz-/Weißfilm, der im Farbprozeß C-41 entwickelt wird und auf Farbpapier geprintet sepiafarbene Ausdrucke ergibt. Er läßt sich auch im Umkehrprozeß E-6 entwickeln; man erhält dann grün/weiße Dias. Die im C-41-Prozeß entwickelten "Farb"negative sind sehr feinkörnig, lassen sich daher gut scannen und ergeben ein sehr natürliches Filmkorn im Scan. Im digitalen Bearbeitungsprogramm entsättigt erhält man sehr schöne, sehr natürliche Schwarz-/Weißfotos, verzichtet man auf die Entsättigung, bleiben die Digitalbilder sepiafarbig. Ein heißer Tip für Fotografen, die ohne die "Zauberei" des Schwarz-/Weiß-Prozesses sehr natürliche, sepiafarbene Papierabzüge erhalten möchten oder Digitalfotos in Schwarz- oder Braun-/Weiß mit echtem, natürlichem Filmkorn.

Un grain très fin des noirs profonds prix raisonnable

La pellicola è un buon prodotto, si tratta di una particolare pellicola, un bianco e nero con processo di sviluppo C41, lo stesso delle pellicole a colori. Lo sviluppo può essere supportato da molti minilab.

XP2 is one of those great films that I'm not sure why I don't shoot more often. It's a great, more punchy same-speed alternative to HP5 or TriX that has it's own "flavor" depending if you go with C-41 or black and white development. That's another great feature of this film as well which you likely already know: it can be (and was designed for) development with C-41 chemistry. As someone who shoots both color neg and bnw AND lives full time on the road, in mostly off grid/wilderness areas, conserving water is paramount. Being able to develop black and white along with my C-41 film is a great practical advantage. I'll also add that if you've never used this film with standard caffenol you're missing out. It reminds me of TriX developed in Rodinal...if you like that sort of grainy feel like I do.