LabCCUK film lab · Developing · Scanning · Prints
The film shop / Black & white film
Black and white is where film still has no real digital equivalent: real grain, deep contrast and a tonal transition that filters can only imitate. We develop it by hand in our Cardiff darkroom.
Choose monochrome for light, shadow and grain without colour. Each stock has its own contrast and texture.
Black and white describes the image, not the roll size. Choose 35mm or 120 to match your camera.
Most stocks use traditional black and white chemistry. Ilford XP2 Super is an exception and uses C41 colour negative processing.
The online shelf
6 products · Free Cardiff collection
Kodak Eastman Professional Tri-X 400 35mm B&W Film 36 Exp
35mm Film
The iconic ISO 400 black and white film. Rich blacks, characterful grain and enormous latitude — the documentary and street photography standard for decades. 36 exposures.
£10.99
Kodak Professional Ektapan 100 35mm B&W Film 36 Exp
35mm Film
Fine-grained ISO 100 black and white film with smooth tonality and crisp detail. Best in good light or on a tripod. 36 exposures.
£12.99
Kodak Professional Ektapan 400 35mm B&W Film 36 Exp
35mm Film
All-purpose ISO 400 black and white film — flexible enough for street, portraits and dull British days, with classic grain structure. 36 exposures.
£13.99
Kodak Professional Ektapan P3200 35mm B&W Film 36 Exp
35mm Film
High-speed black and white film for night, gigs and available-light work. Bold, gritty grain and dramatic contrast when pushed. 36 exposures.
£16.99
Kodak Professional Ektapan 100 120 B&W Film (5 Pack)
120 Film
Five rolls of fine-grained ISO 100 black and white film in 120. Smooth tones and huge detail for medium-format landscapes and portraits.
£52.99
Kodak Professional Ektapan 400 120 B&W Film (5 Pack)
120 Film
Five rolls of ISO 400 black and white film in 120 — flexible medium-format monochrome for handheld work and everyday shooting.
£48.99
Know your film
Tri X 400 is the classic reportage film — grainy in a way people actively want, and hugely forgiving of exposure errors. It's the safest first black and white roll.
Slower stocks like T Max 100 give much finer grain and smoother tones, which suits still life, architecture and anything you'll enlarge. Fast film like P3200 is for concerts, night streets and dim interiors where you'd otherwise miss the shot.
Black and white film has real exposure latitude. If you're unsure, err towards overexposing slightly — thin negatives lose shadow detail you can't get back.
Most black and white film needs traditional chemistry, rather than the C41 process used for colour (with exceptions like Ilford XP2). We can handle both in our Cardiff lab.
Once you have finished shooting, bring your film to Morgan Arcade or post it to our Cardiff lab for developing and scanning.
Many can't — most black and white films need traditional chemistry, though 'chromogenic' B&W films like Ilford XP2 use the C41 process. We develop all types in our own darkroom.
Kodak Tri X 400. It's forgiving of exposure mistakes, works in most light and has the classic grain people associate with black and white photography.
Yes. Every developing order includes scans delivered to a private online gallery, with high resolution scans available as an upgrade.
