Kodak Tri-X

Over the past five decades Tri-X has achieved a well deserved, mythical status.
It's the Leica of film stocks.

People have strong feelings about this stock.

Those in favor of Tri-X, won't shoot anything else and live by the slogan "Give me Tri-X or give me death!".

Others view Tri-X as a grainy relic, that has long since been made obsolete by the TMAX type of films.

I've been shooting Tri-X for at least a decade now and as far as I am concerned it's the black and white film to beat. If I could only pick one stock to use for the rest of my life, this would be it. Obviously I fall in to the "Give me Tri-X or give me death" category.

The latest incarnation of this stock has finer grain, than previous versions (including TMAX400), yet it retains the trademark Tri-X salt and pepper pattern.

Depending the speed you rate it at, and the developer used, Tri-X can be smooth and fine grained or course as sand paper. With enough skill and practive, you can make it look like almost anything you want to.

Tri-X offers a lush tonal scale and is capable of capturing a huge exposure range. You can rate it from 200 to 1600 asa, and still get good results, with the proper developer.

There is a certain classic look to the negatives this stock delivers, which to an experienced eye, is instantly recognizable. If there ever was a film with a personality, this is it. Nothing else quite looks like Tri-X.

Over the past 50 years, Tri-X has been and still is, the black and white stock that photojournalists and artists swear by. It is almost certain, that more famous shots have been taken with this stock, than any other in the history of film.

I dread the day that Kodak decides to shut down production, but I have a feeling that this will happen long after I have shuffled off the planet. I just can't (or don't want to) imagine it going away.

- Flexible. Shoot it from 200 to 1600 asa and get great results, when paired with the proper developer.

- Classic look. It's gorgeous stuff.

- Five decades of professional experience and testing have made this the best 400 asa black and white stock money can buy.

- None to speak of. It's about as perfect a 400 asa black and white film, as you could ask for.

Agfa APX400
Ilford HP5+
Kodak Tmax 400

Never needed.

Tri-X is the most utilitarian film in the history of film photography. I rate it at EI 200 for general, daylight and flash photography. I rate it at EI 1600 for existing light photography. I use the same developer (TMax 1:4) and follow the development time from the chart on Kodak's website. With regard to exposure this film is elastic. Results are grainy at EI 400 and faster, less grainy at EI 200. This film has the classic look I like. I print all my images at 9 X 13.5 inches and the results are always great. This film prints very easily.

Elastic Exposure Latitude Classic Photojournalistic Look Easy to Print

Grain Associated with Classic Look

Ilford HP5 Plus which has a some what "softer" look. I prefer the hard-edged look of Tri-X.

Just keep makin' it, Kodak!

This is arguably "The Daddy" of all b&w films. My favourite 400 ASA black and white film bar none. It has been around for years and hopefully for many years to come too. It looks sort of similar to Ilford HP5, but I believe Tri-X has an 'X-factor' which Ilford HP5 does not have. I am not aware if the new Tri-X is any better, worse or identical to the old Tri-X, but who really cares? This film has forgiving exposure latitude, beautiful grain, great character, it is a good speed for hand-held work and I find works really well when developed in a fine grain developer such as ID-11 and I am sure it would work well when developed in others. I once had a roll of this film developed in Rodinol and was happy with the results.

Tri-X has great character, forgiving exposure latitude, large but certainly not unattractive grain, it is a good general purpose film for both amateur and professional photographers, plus it has been used by many a well known photographer over the years, such as; Bailey, Cartier-Bresson, Salgado etc.

If someone does not like the graininess of Tri-X, then I would suggest using a T-Grain film instead, but personally I can certainly live with the grain, it is more of a positive than a negative to me.

Kodak Plus-X

This is meant as a warning. I've been a Tri-X user for 20 years and think it is (was?!) one of the best black and white films on the market. But this years Kodak changed all their B&W emulsions...moved them to a new manufacturing facility and 'improved' them. After shooting 20 roll of the new version (identifiable by new packaging) I've found that, though Kodak says the only difference will be slightly changed developing times I infact have found far less contrast, and negs that develop thinner than before at recommended times (the new times are on the Kodak website). I'm not saying the problems can't be overcome, but beware...it is a different film.

I like Tri-X's old-fashioned look. I have developed Tri-x in D-76, T-max, Rodinal, and twice in Technidol. I liked the results in all of them. One time, when I used Rodinol, I pushed Tri-X to EI 1600, and liked the results. When I tried EI 3200, it was rather contrasty. With the film introduced in 1954, and the developer patented in the 1890's, This would be the best low-light performance available in the 1950's

Easily pushed in Rodinol.

None

T-Max 3200