Kodak · In production

Kodak Tri-X 400

The most iconic black-and-white film ever made.

ISO / Speed400
TypeBlack & White
ProcessBW
Formats35mm · 120 · 4x5
GrainModerate
Exposure latitudeWide
Color castNeutral, low saturation, high contrast
BrandKodak

Generated color character — not a sample photograph

Kodak Tri-X 400 is the legendary reportage film that defined 20th-century photojournalism, loved for its classic grain, deep blacks and enormous latitude.

Character & look

Tri-X has a gutsy, high-contrast look with pronounced but beautiful grain and rich, inky shadows. It is famously flexible: shoot it at 200 to 1600 and it holds up. Its character is timeless and instantly recognizable.

Best for

StreetDocumentaryReportagePush processing

Shooting & development tips

The classic push is to EI 1600 in a developer like Diafine or HC-110. At box speed in D-76 it gives the textbook Tri-X look.

FAQ

Tri-X or HP5?

Tri-X is punchier with more contrast and classic grain; HP5 is flatter and more malleable. Both are 400-speed workhorses — the choice is aesthetic.

Compare with