Ilford film choices start with camera format. Compare in-stock 35mm bulk rolls and 4x5 sheets by speed, exposure latitude and price.
35mm bulk film at $99: choosing ISO 100 or 400
Kentmere Pan 100 Black and White Negative Film (35mm, 100ft Roll) and Kentmere Pan 400 Black and White Negative Film (35mm, 100ft Roll) each cost $99. These are the lowest-priced 35mm bulk rolls in this selection. Price does not separate them, so the useful distinction is the light available and how much the subject moves.
Pan 100 is rated at ISO 100. Ilford describes fine grain and good sharpness, with a broad tonal range and broad exposure latitude. It suits outdoor photography in good light, or indoor work where lighting is sufficient. Ilford also identifies it as a choice for enlargement prints. Choose it when there is enough light to use a medium-speed film without accepting an inconveniently slow shutter speed.
Pan 400 is rated at ISO 400 and is aimed at general-purpose photography, including action and available-light work. That is a two-stop speed difference from Pan 100. At the same aperture, ISO 400 allows a shutter speed two stops faster, which can matter more than other distinctions when the subject will not stay still.
Both films are compatible with many developers. The packaging needs attention: these are 100ft bulk lengths, intended for loading 35mm cassettes rather than putting the entire roll into a camera. They suit photographers who already bulk-load or specifically want to work that way.
35mm bulk film with push-processing latitude
Ilford HP5 Plus Black and White Negative Film (35mm, 100ft Roll) costs $153. Its nominal speed is ISO 400 in standard processing. Ilford describes it as a fine-grain, medium-contrast film with wide exposure latitude, making it a practical choice for documentary work and photography in mixed lighting.
The distinction from Kentmere Pan 400 is not the box speed: both are ISO 400. HP5 Plus has an explicit push-processing recommendation. Ilford says it responds well to pushing and can be rated up to EI 3200. That gives a photographer working in indoor available light a stated route beyond its normal ISO 400 rating.
EI means exposure index, the rating used to determine exposure. Working at a higher EI calls for the corresponding push processing; changing a meter setting alone does not complete that process. For standard processing, ISO 400 remains the nominal rating.
Choose this roll when wide exposure latitude and a stated push-processing range matter to the work. If ISO 400 general-purpose photography is the entire requirement and purchase price is the deciding factor, Kentmere Pan 400 is the lower-priced bulk option. Both packages contain 100ft of 35mm film.
ISO 100 sheets for pictorial and fine art work
Ilford Delta 100 Professional Black and White Negative Film (4x5in, 100 Sheets) costs $259. This is ISO 100 sheet film for 4x5 cameras, supplied in a 100-sheet box. Ilford identifies pictorial and fine art photography as intended uses.
Delta 100 uses core-shell crystal technology, with an emphasis on fine grain and precise rendition. That makes it a sensible candidate when the photograph depends on recording fine detail and the available light permits a medium-speed film. Its construction is a specific distinction within this selection, rather than simply another speed rating.
ISO 100 requires more exposure than ISO 400. In practice, that can mean using a slower shutter speed or opening the lens aperture. It suits work where those choices are manageable. For a stationary subject, a longer exposure may be acceptable; subject movement makes that decision less forgiving.
The package size also deserves attention. The other 4x5 boxes here contain 25 sheets, while this one contains 100. Its $259 price therefore covers a different quantity of film. Choose it for its ISO 100 characteristics and a need for that larger supply, not by comparing box prices without checking sheet counts.
ISO 400 sheets for variable light
Ilford HP5 Plus Black and White Negative Sheet Film (4x5, 25 Sheets) costs $78. It brings ISO 400 speed to a 25-sheet package for large-format cameras. Ilford lists medium contrast and wide exposure latitude, along with suitability for varied lighting conditions.
Choose it over Delta 100 when shutter speed is the more pressing concern. ISO 400 provides a two-stop speed advantage over ISO 100, allowing a faster shutter speed at the same aperture. That can help when a large-format subject moves, or when available light is limited and opening the aperture further is undesirable.
Ilford also lists this HP5 Plus sheet film as responsive to push processing, with ratings up to EI 3200. As with the bulk version, that higher exposure index belongs with adjusted processing. It is not the standard ISO rating.
This is the faster of the 4x5 options here. Its combination of speed and exposure latitude suits general-purpose large-format work where lighting is less controlled. The 25-sheet count also makes it a smaller initial purchase than the 100-sheet Delta 100 box, though the films serve different priorities.
ISO 125 sheets with exposure tolerance
Ilford FP4 Plus Black and White Negative Film (4x5, ISO 125, 25 Sheets) costs $76. Ilford rates it at ISO 125 and describes fine grain and high sharpness. Its stated exposure tolerance extends above and below that nominal rating.
FP4 Plus suits detail-oriented black-and-white photography when a medium-speed film is appropriate. Exposure tolerance is useful when metering is not exact or the scene makes exposure placement difficult. That is a different buying consideration from HP5 Plus's higher speed and stated push-processing range.
Against Delta 100, FP4 Plus offers a slightly higher nominal speed and a smaller package. ISO 125 is not a substantial move toward low-light shooting from ISO 100. If the goal is a meaningfully faster shutter speed at the same aperture, HP5 Plus at ISO 400 is the more relevant comparison.
FP4 Plus and HP5 Plus are both supplied here as 25-sheet 4x5 boxes, at $76 and $78 respectively. With those package sizes matched, choose on exposure needs rather than price alone. FP4 Plus is the medium-speed option with an emphasis on fine detail and exposure tolerance; HP5 Plus is the choice when more speed is needed.
How to choose
- 35mm bulk loading in good light: Kentmere Pan 100 offers ISO 100 and fine grain at $99 per 100ft roll.
- 35mm action or available light at the lower price: Kentmere Pan 400 provides ISO 400 at the same $99 price.
- 35mm work involving push processing: HP5 Plus costs $153 per 100ft roll, with a stated rating range reaching EI 3200 when pushed.
- 4x5 pictorial or fine art work with a larger film supply: Delta 100 provides 100 ISO 100 sheets for $259.
- 4x5 photography needing more speed: HP5 Plus provides 25 ISO 400 sheets for $78.
- 4x5 detail work with exposure tolerance: FP4 Plus provides 25 ISO 125 sheets for $76.
All six products are in stock at Unique Photo.
Prices at Unique Photo
- Ilford Delta 100 Professional Black and White Negative Film (4x5in, 100 Sheets: $259.00
- Ilford HP5 Plus Black and White Negative Film (35mm Roll Film, 100ft Roll): $153.00
- Kentmere Pan 100 Black and White Negative Film (35mm Roll Film, 100ft Roll): $99.00
- Kentmere Pan 400 Black and White Negative Film (35mm Roll Film, 100ft Roll): $99.00
- Ilford HP5 Plus Black and White Negative Sheet Film (4x5, 25 Sheets): $78.00
- Ilford FP4 Plus Black and White Negative Film (4x5, ISO 125, 25 Sheets): $76.00
Prices as of November 12, 2026. Browse more: Large Format Film, Ilford at Unique Photo.
Frequently asked questions
Which 35mm bulk film is least expensive in this selection?
Kentmere Pan 100 and Kentmere Pan 400 each cost $99 for a 100ft roll. Their nominal speeds are ISO 100 and ISO 400 respectively.
Can Ilford HP5 Plus be pushed to EI 3200?
Yes. Ilford says HP5 Plus responds well to push processing and can be rated up to EI 3200. Its nominal speed in standard processing is ISO 400.
Which Ilford 4x5 film comes in a 100-sheet box?
Delta 100 Professional is supplied here as 100 sheets of 4x5 ISO 100 black-and-white negative film for $259.
What is the difference between FP4 Plus and HP5 Plus 4x5 film?
FP4 Plus is ISO 125, with fine grain, high sharpness and broad exposure tolerance. HP5 Plus is ISO 400, with medium contrast, wide exposure latitude and support for push processing. The 25-sheet boxes cost $76 and $78 respectively.