Film comparison
Ilford HP5 Plus vs Foma Bohemia Retropan 320 Soft
- HP5 Plus is 0.3 stops faster (ISO 400 vs 320).
- HP5 Plus has more contrast.
- HP5 Plus is more forgiving of exposure errors.
Side by side
| HP5 Plus | Retropan 320 Soft | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ilford | Foma Bohemia |
| Type | Black & white | Black & white |
| Box speed | ISO 400 | ISO 320 |
| Process | B&W | B&W |
| Formats | 35mm, 120, 4x5, 8x10 | 35mm, 120 |
| Grain | Medium | Medium |
| Contrast | Medium | Low |
| Latitude | Excellent | Good |
| Saturation | — | — |
| Price, 35mm | about £7.50 | about £7.00 |
| Price, 120 | about £6.50 | about £7.00 |
| Availability | Current | Current |
Rows that differ are in bold. Prices are typical UK prices and change often.
How they look
- HP5 Plus
- A robust, all-purpose film. Slightly lower contrast than Tri-X with excellent shadow detail and pushability.
- Retropan 320 Soft
- Designed for retro aesthetics with soft glow effect. Low contrast ideal for contact printing and vintage look.
Which suits what
Better pick: HP5 Plus
Education, Street, General purpose
Both work well
—
Better pick: Retropan 320 Soft
Portraits, Vintage aesthetic, Contact printing
Long exposures (reciprocity)
| Metered | HP5 Plus | Retropan 320 Soft |
|---|---|---|
| 1s | 1s | No data |
| 10s | 20s | No data |
| 30s | 1m 26s | No data |
| 2m | 8m 49s | No data |
Corrected exposure from each film’s published reciprocity data. Reciprocity calculator
Developing both
Developers with published times for both films:
Retropan 320 Soft
HC-110
7:30
B (1+31) · EI 320 · 20°C