If there's one black and white film that photographers keep coming back to — beginners and veterans alike — it's Ilford HP5 Plus 400. Available in 35mm and 120 format, HP5 is one of the most versatile and forgiving black and white films you can buy in Australia right now. Whether you're shooting street photography in Melbourne's laneways, portraits in a studio, or pushing for gritty nightlife shots, HP5 handles it all.

HP5 is a high-speed ISO 400 film with medium contrast, fine grain, and exceptional sharpness — qualities that make it ideal for everything from casual shooting to big darkroom enlargements. It's the film photographers reach for when conditions are unpredictable, because it performs reliably in bright sunlight, overcast skies, and low-light interiors without needing to change rolls.

Photographers all over the world describe HP5 as a workhorse: consistent, versatile, and with tremendous exposure latitude. That latitude is what sets it apart — HP5 can be shot anywhere between ISO 100 and ISO 3200 with only a slight drop in quality, keeping its fine grain and medium contrast throughout. It's one of the reasons it's such a popular first black and white film for beginners in Australia — you don't have to nail your exposure perfectly to get usable results.

One of our team members first shot HP5 during their final year of school — doing a series of surreal portraits in overcast Melbourne weather. The latitude meant consistent results across changing light conditions, and the negatives were sharp enough to print at 8x12" for the final piece. That flexibility is exactly what makes HP5 a go-to for students, street shooters, and experienced film photographers alike.

Because HP5 is a traditional black and white film (not C-41 chromogenic), it requires B&W development chemistry — developer, stop bath, and fixer. If you want to develop it yourself, our Black & White Developing class in Melbourne covers exactly this process in a single day. If you'd rather send it in, our lab processes B&W 35mm and 120 film in-house — you can mail in from anywhere in Australia or drop off at our Melbourne CBD store.

HP5 pushes beautifully too — up to ISO 3200 with ILFORD MICROPHEN developer, which increases grain and contrast in a way that suits street and documentary work. If you're shooting a gig, a dark bar, or any low-light situation where you don't want to carry a flash, pushing HP5 to 1600 or 3200 is a well-worn technique among film photographers.

HP5 is available in 35mm (36 exp.) and 120 for medium format cameras, so it works with almost any film camera in your bag. It's one of the best black and white films for beginners in Australia because it's widely available, reliably processed at any lab, and produces results that hold up whether you're scanning or printing in the darkroom.

Pick up a roll of Ilford HP5 Plus 400 from our online store — we stock it fresh and ship Australia-wide. Or grab it in person at our Melbourne CBD store alongside your next develop and scan.