Black-and-white photographic film Ilford Delta 400, 35mm, ISO 400

Ilford Delta 400, 35mm, ISO 400 is a black-and-white photographic film designed for general-purpose 35mm shooting across a wide range of lighting conditions. The emulsion uses core-shell crystal technology to deliver fine grain, high sharpness and a wide tonal range, making it suitable for portraits, street and documentary photography as well as low-light and action situations. The film is compatible with standard black-and-white processing in photographic labs and traditional darkroom development.

Advantages

Delta 400 combines high speed ISO 400 sensitivity with exceptional sharpness and detail. The core-shell crystal structure reduces apparent grain while maintaining tonal subtlety and depth, allowing handheld shooting and freezing fast action without sacrificing image quality. The wide tonal range preserves highlights and shadow detail, providing images with strong dimensionality across varied lighting conditions.

Suitable for

• Portrait photography with fine detail and smooth tonal transitions
• Street and documentary photography in mixed or low light
• Action and reportage where faster shutter speeds are required
• Handheld shooting without extensive lighting equipment

Key specifications

• Film format: 35mm
• ISO sensitivity: 400
• Emulsion technology: core-shell crystal structure (fine grain)
• Tonal range: wide, suitable for preserving highlight and shadow detail
• Recommended processing: black-and-white darkroom development and standard B&W lab processing

How to use

Load the 35mm film into a compatible 35mm camera following the camera manufacturer’s instructions. Expose at ISO 400 for general use; adjust exposure or development to taste for push or pull processing as required. After shooting, process the film using standard black-and-white chemistry in a lab or in a darkroom. Handle negatives carefully after development and use proper drying and storage methods to preserve image quality.

Usage recommendations

For best results, meter for the highlights when shooting high-contrast scenes and consider slight overexposure for richer shadow detail. Use a stable development method to maintain consistent grain and tonal reproduction. When shooting handheld in low light, pair Ilford Delta 400 with fast lenses and steady technique to take advantage of its speed and sharpness.