Ilford XP2 Super 120 B&W Film

Choose Ilford XP2 Super 400 in 120 format when you want the look of black & white photography combined with the convenience of standard C-41 processing. One of its biggest advantages is its exceptionally wide exposure latitude. Different frames on the same roll can be exposed at different effective speeds, approximately from EI 50 to 800, without requiring individual development changes. This makes it extremely useful when lighting changes throughout a shoot. The 120 format also gives XP2 Super an additional advantage. The larger negative produces excellent detail, smooth tonal transitions and very fine-looking grain, making it particularly suitable for portraits, landscapes and high-quality printing. It is an excellent option for photographers who want a cleaner, smoother monochrome appearance rather than the heavier grain of traditional ISO 400 black & white films.

Start at ISO 400. This gives a dependable balance of sensitivity, tonal range and fine grain. Try EI 200 for generous exposure. Giving XP2 Super more light can produce excellent shadow detail and very smooth negatives. Use EI 50–800 when necessary. One of XP2 Super's special advantages is that frames exposed at different effective speeds within this range can normally share the same standard C-41 processing. Do not automatically request push processing at EI 800. XP2 Super is designed to tolerate this exposure variation without changing normal processing. Give important shadows enough exposure. Generous exposure generally helps produce cleaner shadows and smoother tonal transitions. Use it in mixed lighting. Its wide latitude makes it especially useful when moving between bright outdoor scenes, open shade and interiors. Use a tripod when needed. Although ISO 400 is relatively fast, medium-format cameras can benefit from extra stability at slower shutter speeds. Focus carefully. The larger 120 negative records plenty of detail, so accurate focusing is particularly important when shooting portraits at wider apertures. Remember exposure count depends on your camera. One roll of 120 film gives different numbers of frames depending on whether your camera uses 6×4.5, 6×6, 6×7, 6×9 or another medium-format size. Try coloured filters. Yellow, orange and red filters can increase tonal separation and darken blue skies. Remember to compensate for the light lost through the filter. Excellent for scanning. Because XP2 Super forms a chromogenic dye image rather than a conventional silver image, it can be particularly scanner-friendly. Process using C-41. Unlike Ilford HP5 Plus, FP4 Plus or Delta films, XP2 Super is specifically designed for standard C-41 colour negative processing.