Film Stock Comparison

Tri-X 400 vs HP5 Plus: Which Film Stock Should You Choose?

Q: Is Tri-X 400 or HP5 Plus better for street photography?

Both are excellent for street photography, but they deliver different results. Tri-X 400 has punchier contrast and grittier grain, giving street images a raw, immediate quality favored by photojournalists. HP5 Plus has a smoother tonal range and gentler grain, producing street photos with more nuance in the midtones. Many street photographers prefer Tri-X for its iconic look, but HP5 is equally capable.

Q: Which is grainier, Tri-X 400 or HP5 Plus?

Tri-X 400 has more visible, textured grain than HP5 Plus. Tri-X grain is gritty and pronounced, which is a key part of its character. HP5 Plus has a finer, more uniform grain structure that is less intrusive. Both are 400-speed black-and-white films, but their grain signatures are distinctly different.

Q: Is HP5 Plus cheaper than Tri-X 400?

In traditional film photography, HP5 Plus is typically less expensive than Tri-X 400. In REGRADE, both film stocks are included in every roll at no additional cost -- you can switch between them freely when developing your photos.

The oldest rivalry in black-and-white photography. Kodak Tri-X 400 brings gritty contrast and iconic grain. Ilford HP5 Plus offers smoother tonal transitions and a quieter grain structure. Both are magnificent -- the question is which speaks to your eye.

Tri-X 400 vs HP5 Plus at a Glance

Characteristic	Tri-X 400	HP5 Plus
Manufacturer	Kodak (USA)	Ilford (UK)
Grain Structure	Gritty, textured, pronounced	Finer, more uniform, restrained
Contrast	High, punchy, snappy blacks	Medium, smoother tonal transitions
Tonal Range	Favors deep blacks and bright whites	Wider midtone range, more gray nuance
Best For	Street, photojournalism, editorial	Portraits, landscapes, fine art
Native ISO	400	400
Mood	Raw, urgent, confrontational	Contemplative, nuanced, elegant
Push Processing	Excellent to 1600+, increases grit	Very good to 1600, stays smoother

When to Choose Tri-X 400

Tri-X is the sound of a Leica shutter on a New York sidewalk. It is the film of Robert Frank, Garry Winogrand, and Don McCullin. It does not whisper -- it declares.

Gritty street photography -- Tri-X's high contrast and pronounced grain give street images an urgency and rawness. Shadows go black, highlights pop, and the grain adds physical texture to every frame.
Photojournalism and conflict documentation -- When the image needs to feel immediate and unpolished. Tri-X's inherent grit reinforces the authenticity of documentary work.
Push processing for extreme low light -- Tri-X pushed to 1600 or 3200 produces a distinctive, heavily grained look that many photographers consider an aesthetic in itself.
When you want the photograph to feel physical -- Tri-X grain has a tactile quality. The image feels like it was pulled from the chemistry, not generated by pixels.

When to Choose HP5 Plus

HP5 Plus is the Ilford answer to Tri-X, and it answers differently. Where Tri-X is a shout, HP5 is a measured voice in a quiet room. The tonal range is wider, the grain is more restrained, and the midtones breathe.

Black-and-white portraits with tonal nuance -- HP5 renders skin with a wider range of grays, giving portraits more subtlety and dimension than Tri-X's more binary approach.
Landscape and architectural photography -- The smoother tonal transitions and finer grain let landscape detail shine without the grain competing with texture in foliage, stone, or sky.
Fine art and gallery-quality prints -- If you are printing large, HP5's restrained grain holds up beautifully. The tonal smoothness translates to prints with depth and luminosity.
Quieter, more contemplative documentary work -- Not all documentary photography needs grit. HP5 suits the kind of observational work that invites the viewer to look longer and more carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tri-X 400 or HP5 Plus better for street photography?

Both are excellent. Tri-X 400 is the traditional street photographer's film -- its high contrast and gritty grain give images a raw, immediate quality. HP5 Plus offers a slightly more nuanced look with smoother tonal transitions. If you want the classic street photography aesthetic, Tri-X. If you want a more refined B&W look, HP5 Plus.

Which is grainier -- Tri-X 400 or HP5 Plus?

Tri-X 400 has more visible, textured grain. Its grain is a defining feature of the stock. HP5 Plus has finer, more uniform grain that is less prominent in the final image. REGRADE's AI reproduces each stock's unique grain signature accurately.

Is HP5 Plus cheaper than Tri-X 400?

In traditional film photography, HP5 Plus is usually less expensive per roll. In REGRADE, both stocks are included with every roll at no extra cost. You can switch between them freely when developing any photo.

Explore these stocks individually

Tri-X 400 HP5 Plus Tri-X 400 vs Acros 100 Portra 400 vs Tri-X 400

Try both in REGRADE

Develop the same photo with Tri-X 400 and HP5 Plus. See which B&W personality matches yours.

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