Film Photography with Ilford XP2 Super 

Okay, you might convince me to give XP2 a go!

I feel great pleasure in the beauty of nature and the captured moments in your photos when I watch your videos.

Thanks for this Steve. Great video and beautiful images:)

I love the spread of 1/3 on the ramble and 2/3rds on photography-give or take! In any event all are educational and interesting Thanks Steve!

I love XP2, thanks for pointing out some things I didn't know! Can't wait to see the exposure test!

A truly beautiful video, thank you for sharing this!

time less photos very creative lovely work.

Your view of photographery and your sense of humor are a delight. It is sad when you have to let us go, more ramblings on please 📸

I was pondering wether to give xp2 a look, think this video has made my mind up to get a roll.

I like the xp2.. but the best on this Film is: You can develop this film also in Rodinal (1+25/18min) or D76 (stock /14min) and it works absolutely fine. Its a perfect flexible Film with fine Grain and good contrast

Another great video as always. The ramble out and about is always relaxing and enjoyable. Your video is right up there with the stills you capture. I quite liked the first tree with the waterfall in the background - marvelous! I have used XP-2 from time to time in the recent and far past. Might even have a roll loaded in one of my cameras now. I did pick up some useful tips about its exposure characteristics and application, thank you.

Lovely video and a stunning view at 2:50

I'll give XP2 a try. thank you for this video!

Thank you Steve, this is excellent. I remember the introduction of XP1, it was a real step forwards and the ability to change the ASA from shot to shot was astounding!

Steve! I really enjoy the realistic nature of your videos and the photos are always brilliant. Keep doing what you do and thanks for taking time to share your knowledge. Be well! Benjamin

Thank you for that walk and discussion, Steve. Those first two images were superb, they gave me the "I wish I had done that" feeling, but more importantly I got the sense of wanting to be there, in that magical place the image conveys. You really are an excellent photographer. As it turns out, I just found a roll of XP2 last night, buried in an old camera bag. Now I am definitely inspired to go out and use it. That latitude certainly opens up some interesting possibilities, artistic and practical. It also would remove the inherent problem of using the zone system with roll film. Stay well.

Looking forward to the follow up on XP2! Thanks for another great video!

Nice! It seems like i need to give xp2 a try. I'm really liking those pictures by the way, beautiful atmosphere. :)

Thank you so much Steve very useful information. Take care.

A lovely trip through some stunning landscape. Reminiscent of... All Who Wander Are Not Lost. Love these images and I’m going to give this film a try. Thanks for sharing ...again!

Magic place and atmosphere, superb photos Steve!!! I'll try it.

great vid! i'm convinced.

Definitely on my try list. Which is getting longer thanks to you and your outstanding videos!👍

Excellent and clear as ever. Hugely informative thanks Steve. Not tried xp2 so might be next in the RZ.

I love how you travel about so much - always a new area. And your gag about shooting walls made me chuckle! So much of that these days...."here's a review of X"....snore. I used to have the F80 that I bought in 2008 - what a great camera it was. I used to use XP2 a while back around 2009 but not so much the last few years as I develop b&w in my usual DD-X setup and don't have colour chems. I might explore it again though - the characteristics curves you showed taught me something about XP2 that I didn't know before. Thanks for the vid.

Steve, thanks for reminding me about chromogenic BW films. I remember I was excited when they came out but then never used them. I'm happy to hear some are still available. I think I might try them. It is always good to have a film with this latitude about. Very informative and useful video

You really made me curious about XP2! I just bought two rolls of it and going to use them during my upcoming holidays.Hope a can fetch up a bit with your very nice pictures you took. Thank you!

Agree with you Steve. Great film to use. I started with XP 1 many years ago. I used to explore caves more then so the lighting was as you would expect flash so that often led to burnt out areas till XP 1 came along. As always enjoying your vlogs.

Another great video Steve. I was a fan of XP2 and like you also used XP1 when it first arrived. As you say, it is very forgiving to a novice photographer and also has a wide exposure latitude. I'm almost tempted to get a couple of rolls for old time's sake! Thanks for sharing your thoughts so well.

I love the simplicity of xp2. Like you said, a great B&W film for beginners

Wonderful choice of music, Steve. It adds to the video shoot!

Yes, a very underrated film. Love the ease and relative cheap processing. In my region, XP2 costs €1 more compared to average B&W films, but processing is €2 cheaper (when you don't process your films yourself).

Always learning with you Steve. Than you very much for sharing your knowledge! Be safe. Greets from Munich. Ignacio

Nice to see the Nice Landscape and your film expertise 👍

Dear Steve, thank you very much. Best regards from Saint Petersburg.

Good to see you again Steve. XP2 is my favourite B&W film. I appreciate your knowledge on the subject and how you deliver it. Good job. Will be good to see how your photos from various settings turn out sometime.

You explain these concepts well, thank you!

Thank you Steve, XP2 "is" Super and is a film I must try again but this time I'll do my own processing. Your results are stunning and inspirational I've shot XP2 Super in the past in 35mm and had the local lab process them yielding ho-hum results. After viewing this video I'm going to load up a few roll and give it another go. Many thanks Robert in Canada.

Used it quite a lot for portraits back in early 90's with a F90X

thank you for this Steve, as someone who has used XP2 in the past but has, over time gotten to love HP5 and FP4, I'll have to get a couple rolls again of XP2 and have a play with it.

Very interesting Steve. I will give it a try and especially if it is good in the darkroom. Thanks.

Love the image at 3:20. I have never shot this film but may give it a go. Thanks for sharing

Excellent information - haven't shot it yet but have some in the freezer - now I am motivated to give it a try! Oh and those early shots are truly beautiful! Cheers!

Very interesting and enjoyable!

XP2 was my first B&W film, which I only chose for the C41 processing but really loved the results. Learnt some reasons why from your video.

Love this guy!

Used XP2 regularly back in the day. I also liked Kodak BW400CN, but my favourite film was probably HP5 in larger negs and T-MAX 100 in 35mm. Love your videos. Keep them coming. Canadian born in Surrey UK.

Thank you Steve

I have heard good things about XP2, and the results coupled with the pros you mention speak for themselves! My hangup has been archival stability and that it isn't available in sheets. It really looks like a beautiful film though, lovely work and lovely outing!

Great video, Steve. Thanks. I’ve only shot a long-expired roll of XP2. It came out fine though. Gotta love Ilford. I hope they send you a couple of complimentary rolls 👍

Nice phots Steve really impressive ,and really informative

Really excellent and useful information, absolutely unique for RU-vid. You should do a guide for various films with guidance related to the results much as you described in this video. Push and pull characteristics as related to development time highlight and shadow and grain kind of thing . A small book on Amazon might be nice for that. Thanks for your efforts. Best wishes!

Enjoyed it all, Steve. Thank you.

Nice work, Steve...really liked the image at 3:25. Definitely going to give this film a try...need a break from Delta 100. Good luck with the new lock down.

One of my fave Films ever, besides the iconic Kodak Tri-X 400/TX 400, and for the cheap asking Price, AGFA APX-100, all into 135 35mm Film Format.

I have always enjoyed using XP1/XP2 it is a great film and I am so pleased they still make it today. There are not many RU-vid photography channels that would include the word "Acutance", had to dig out my old Langford "Advanced Photography" to remind myself of the definition ;D This looks like a nice place you went rambling around thanks for taking us along and sharing some of your images . I really liked the waterfall one with the tree 2:27 it had a wonderful atmosphere about it .Take care :D Teddy

To be honest, i ordered a set of 10 XP2S rolls earlier today without knowing much about it, simply because my supplier was out of Delta and Tri-X. I had no idea i bought such an awesome film that i can develop with C-41 chemicals. Plus the character of the film is extraordinary. Now i'm anxious to shoot with it. Awesome video and amazing pictures by the way.

High Steve. I used XP2 some years ago and wasn't enthused by it. But that was probably down to only having access to a colour lab and the prints coming out a dark Sepia on colour paper. It didn't suit the subject matter at all. I didn't know it was so versatile. Something to remember for the future. Love the photo @ 2.30. I do like Aber falls as well. Got some cracking Fungi near the Roundhouse on the walk in a couple of years ago Cheers Diz

The print shown at t=11:01 is GORGEOUS! Thx for the guidance on using XP2 Super. Good luck eh! (from Victoria, BC).

Great job on this Steve, one of my subscribers gifted me a few rolls of xp2 and I noticed exactly what you said that it's very difficult to blow out highlights. Also the editing curved is slightly different from typical black and white . Interestingly a few days ago I uploaded a video of how to develop color film at room temperature, I'm going to try that also with my last roll of xp2. Carry on

Keep up the wandering parts Steve, it makes me more determined to get out when i can.

Got the prints :) many thanks!!!

Great for scanning too...

As a long-time Kodak Tri-X user, I’m willing to give this film a try for some change of pace and try something new experiences. Thanks for the info.

I used XP1/2 along with Ilford's multi-grade paper in the mid 80's when I still had a darkroom. Super flexible combo. I'm thinking about dusting off my old Yashica TLR so might buy a few rolls of XP2 to see how it goes. Thanks for the memories.

You gave me a good hint. I never tested it because I had so much classic b&w Film in my fridge. But now I ran out of it and why not testing it and develop it together with my colour films.

The one time I shot this film, I got fascinating results. I had prints made on a fully optical, analogue Noritsu colour Minilab from the late 90´s here in Munic. That machine normaly only does colour, no black and white, but because of the films mask that is similar to the ones on coulour films, it was able to "see" something. The prints have a wonderful sepia colour, very nice, soft and distinguishable midtones, and all of a sudden the photos look like they were taken in the 1920´s. You´ll never get that with a digital minilab, and thanks to the technical aspects of the film it can be done the old, optical way.

Hello Steve, I've now purchase some XP2 Super in 35mm and medium format, once this lockdown ends I'll attempt to shoot this while employing your suggestion of iso 200/250. In the mid to late 1990's I used Kodak's T400CN for portraits and night photography landscapes with stunning results. My B&W photography basically died when Kodak ended production of this film. After watching your video a few times I'm hoping that XP2 Super will fill the B&W void in my portfolio. Thanks for an excellent review, Robert in Canada

Great video

It is becoming my favourite stock - but then again, it is super versatile IMHO.

I plan on shooting with XP2 more often, for sure. The darkroom benefits alone make it worth it. Would love a 4x5 stock of it

What James said!! Cheers Steve :-)

Great video - informative, insightful and some wonderful photos! I love the special character of XP2 which gives the pictures a look that is totally distinctive from other B&W films. I wonder why photographers turn their noses up at it just because it is processed in C41? What does it matter what chemicals a film is processed in?

on the shopping list.

Fantastic video, as always. I tried my first roll of XP2 this past week, still need to develop. You made a comment about the faulty GPX map and I was wondering if it would be possible for you to share your GPX maps in the description somehow? I am fascinated by your walking routes and am planning a post-lockdown trip up to northern Wales / Snowdonia. thanks again for these great videos!

Wow, I really want to visit Wales now!

Thank you for this video it was good to watch. I liked the opening scenes of and around Aber Falls. Did the online map suggest you go up the steep path to the left of the falls? I tried that one, did'nt feel safe up there and came down. Next to me I have a photo album from 1982, it contains three photographs of Aber Falls I made with my K1000 and 3M iso100 print film. I only had a 50mm lens so I made a top to bottom photograph by joining up two prints. I used to give print film lots of exposure back then and still do. I keep a roll of XP2 in a Canon AF35M II for family photographs. I expose it at iso 200 and like the results with creamy smooth skin tones. I recall an article in Amateur Photographer at the launch of XP2. They exposed it from iso50 to 800. They thought it made good immges at all these speeds. They suggested exposing it for the effect the photographer wants, super fine creamy smooth immages at iso 50, more conttrast and fine grain at middling iso's and a bit less shadow detail and over all contrast at iso 800.

Just bought a couple of rolls of XP2. Might try one out in a little Canon Demi half-frame camera I have and another out in one of my SRT's. See how it goes.

I used XP2 as my introduction to black and white film and instantly fell in love with it. Its versatility is great for beginners as it handles our mistakes with ease.

Tank you.Thought it was just a cheap film for C4. what a surprise.

Half box speed and meter for the shadows!!!! Or just plus 4 it :) you can't fail! The fuji variant is the same film under a different brand! That shot you sold is off the clock Steve!! Beautiful! It's all about the way it makes you feel when you peer into it !! Pre flashing with a grey card works well with this film if you want to shoot it fast! Bring the shadows up for you whilst taming or even under exposing the highlights a little! Well that's the extent of my lip flapping over anyway :) love that shot !

I started using XP2 to save developing time for printing and just sending it to the drug store when I was studying photography in high school. I wound up really liking the fine grain and the sort of detail i could get. However now I kinda feel like I miss the sort of grain structure from B&W process film but I'll still shoot it from time to time.

Thanks steve I’m trying a roll at the Brecon Beacons waterfalls next week

nice video

This takes me back 40 years when I used to develop Ilford B&W, and used FX1 as a developer. I highly recommend this high actutance developer, formula by Geoffrey Crawley and formula available on Google.

I prefer XP2 over HP5 because of the prevalence of the grain with HP5 especially in 120 format, not much a grain lover but you are also right with the shadows

Thank you for a great video. I am just starting out on using Black and White film. I will follow your recommendation about this film as a great beginner film and try this as my first film. Many black and white films benefit from overexposure, but how should you develop an overexpoused film? If I shoot the film at ISO 200, should it then be developed as an ISO 400 og ISO 200 film? I will scan my film after development using SilverFast and then print some of the pictures if they are good.

Hello, Thanks for the video! I use Ilford XP2 super 400 and find it good black and white material. I like the very wide range of halftones. I have the impression that the grain is melted - comparing the photos from other negatives, I see a slightly less sharp drawing and no grain from the XP2. I don't always like it because I generally like the grain in analog photography. Conveniently, XP2 can be developed in any laboratory that has a C-41.

Loved the photo of the waterfall. Very you, very Adams if I may say so. On a different note, I still have a couple of rolls of Kodak BW 400 CN from mid 2000s. I have to give them a go. Sadly they are no longer in production as far as I know.

Steve, your wanderings are part of the draw to this channel. It's a joy to see all of the beautiful outdoor locations you photograph. There are too many fast, loud sensationalist youtube photographers out there. Your love of photography and the process shines through in how you present these videos. Please keep it up.

XP2-400 is my absolute favourate b/w film... because it isn't a real b/w film. I'm born in 1962 and shot lots of Kodachrome 25 and 64. And this was also a "special b/w slide film 😉". The XP2-400 is a great film with the exact amount of contrast I want. If I'm in Asia again (fu..ing Covid), I will use it again. Every C41 lab can develop and scan it. I use it on 35 xams from Canon via Nikon to Leica. I hope they will never stop production.

So love the video, and. I’ve put xpsuper on my camera and took some shots, develop in fresh c41 rollei but when I scan on my Epson v850, it looks great on the silverfast software but not on my Lightroom app, it looks pixelated, might I be scanning it wrong?

A great aspect of XP2 super is that the infrared dust removal on Epson scanners can be used, which is not possible on normal black and white films.

Very nice film. But is it printable on Ilford MG paper with the same good results of traditional BW films? Because I I had read about contrast problems leading to rather flat prints, with difficulties of true deep whites and blacks.

Hi Steve. I realy enjoyed the video. A great, unsung camera the F/N80 once you deal with the rubber problem. You have rekindled my interest and wish to shoot XP2 and have just ordered three rolls. Are you able to tell me where you were for this shoot? I have a Welsh wife and she would love to know (as would I). Thanks again.

Have you tried developing in Rodinal ?? .... it does look nice in Caffenol !!!

'Steve - I am reminded of the quote from the American frontiersman Daniel Boone when asked if he had ever been lost his reply ". There are several versions of this quote but all bring a bit of a smile to ones face. Questions - are you developing the C41 yourself? How many rolls of film can you develop from a 1liter kit? What is the life of the chemicals once mixed? All the best - Rich Ball

Good highlights? Maybe easier than fiddling with those bloody graduated filters. I’ll add it to my next film order. Thanks for the tip Steve.

I tried this back in the day, but I settled on FP4 for controlled situations, Delta 3200 for low light, and Tri-X for everything else. Back then it was easy to get C-41 chemicals and I had a Jobo CPP-2, so processing XP-2 was no problem, but it just didn't seem to produce the look I get with FP4. BTW, do you have your own C-41 process?.

Ilford Xp2 and other chromogenic films are amazing. Barrie