Ilford XP2 Super 400

Observations: Ilford XP2 Super is one of the few if not the only black and white film stock currently on the market that can be processed in C41 chemistry. Although rolls of this chromogenic emulsion cost just a bit more compared to true silver halide-based black and white film stocks of equal quality, the cost savings is realized after you finish a roll: C41 processing often costs less than developing black and white film. XP2 is very forgiving of exposure setting errors, although it seems to handle overexposure much better than underexposure. When exposed for highlights, shadow details can look a little dark but are still visible. But when exposed for shadows, highlights aren’t blown out. XP2 also offers excellent contrast and rich grey tones. It doesn’t seem to have the same grittiness that traditional black and white emulsions have. What little grain XP2 has is minimal. In certain situations especially in more shadowy compositions, that grain perhaps resembles high ISO noise in digital photography more than the kind of grain pattern I see with traditional medium-speed black and white film stocks, although I’m not sure if that’s just the result of my scanning technique. XP2’s acetate film base has more of a purple hue as opposed to the bluish color that traditional black and white film stocks have. The stability of C41 dyes, which can fade or color shift over the long term, is one reason I would think twice about making Ilford XP2 Super one of my bread and butter film stocks. But if I’m shooting more easygoing subject matter and archival longevity is not a concern, I wouldn’t hesitate to load Ilford XP2 Super into my camera.

Further reading: bluemooncameracodex.com, alexluyckx.com