5 Best Films for Night & Low-Light Photography: Handpicked by the Analogue Community

While we suffer from shorter days and less light in the autumn and winter months, that doesn’t mean it’s time to put your camera away! It’s actually the perfect opportunity to push your creative boundaries by exploring new film stocks or shooting setups that allow you to capture some really striking low-light shots. It’s an underrated time of year - and a great skill to flex! And so, we asked the Analogue Wonderland Instagram community to share their go-to films for shooting after dark - where responses included tungsten-balanced colour emulsions to punchy black and white classics. Here are the top five films for night and low-light photography, as voted by you.

1 | Ilford HP5 Plus: The Pushable Powerhouse

The undisputed champion of the comments was none other than Ilford HP5 Plus, with 32% of mentions! Loved for its incredible versatility, forgiving exposure latitude, and classic grain, HP5 shines as the ultimate black and white film companion in almost every scenario. Its gritty, timeless B&W look with strong contrast is ideal for street, live gigs, and night scenes. Plus, HP5’s super power of course lies with its ability to withstand being pushed (all the way up to ISO 6400, as Instagram users @craigszlatoszlavek and @boywithyashicamat suggested!) to allow for easy low-light shooting. Adding to that, HP5 35mm film reviewer Leon Adams shared: "This film stock has to be one of the most versatile ever made. I regularly push it to 1600 or 3200 iso and pull it to 200 to cover any lighting situation."

Shot by © Leon Adams on Ilford HP5 Plus 35mm film.

Many compared it favourably to Ilford Delta 3200 or even Kodak Tri-X, calling it “the GOAT” and “great for pushing.” To see how it fares against other monochrome favourites, check out our blog outlining the top six B&W films for every film photographer. With an average rating of 4.93 out of 5 across 35mm, 120 medium format, and 4x5 large format, it’s no surprise that it’s topped the list as the best film for night and low-light photography!

2 | Cinestill 800T: The Neon Dream

Voted as the second best film for low-light and night photography with 20% of mentions was CineStill 800T! Thanks to its distinctive tungsten-balanced tones, glowing halation, and cinematic look, it earned its place as the community’s most-loved colour film stock for low-light photography. Especially loved in 120 format, there’s no denying its impact at night, making neon lights “pop” or “glow.” Multiple users claimed CineStill 800T as their favourite, with one calling it “the best colour film for low light.” While B&W films are a lot more versatile when it comes to pushing, CineStill 800T holds its ground in flexibility with an ISO of 800, where Instagram user @frontofhousefilmphotography praised its ability: “Cinestill 800T pushed to 1600 🤌🤌”

Reviewer Morgan Yungstur described it as “nostalgic nightcore” in his review, saying: “I took a few shots in an arcade and food market with lots of neon signs. Those reds really do glow so beautifully, Tron levels. Bigger grain with the colour palette gives it that nostalgic, analogue feel.”

Shot by © Morgan Yungstur on CineStill 800T 35mm film.

Another favourable option with likeness to this CineStill favourite is Candido 800, which is praised for its same desirable halation effects, low-light effectiveness and more affordable price point. CineStill 800T sits among the top five colour film options for film photographers in general, based on our customer reviews. As one of the most Instagrammable colour films out there, CineStill 800T stands proud in its position as the best colour film to shoot at night! Personally, it would be my top choice too (along with Candido 800!).

3 | Ilford Delta 3200: The Smooth, Fine Grainer

Coming in at third place is high-speed classic Ilford Delta 3200, with 15% of mentions! Loved for its elegant grain and soft contrast, Delta 3200 is perfect for expressive B&W photography after dark. It performs particularly well in 120 medium format, with many reviewers highlighting its surprisingly fine grain and versatility for daylight when pulled a few stops. With speed on its side, it makes a great companion for gig photography… Paul put this to the test at an Alkaline Trio gig, loading Ilford Delta 3200 35mm film into his Pentax 17! Confirming its popularity, Instagram user @newgolddreamer82 said: “I just love Delta 3200 at 3200 in @zoneimagingltd 510-Pyro. Beautiful tones and pretty good grain as well. One of my go-to combinations in 120.”

Reviewer Angus Gulliver shared his experience of using Delta 3200 at a gig: “So this is really about 1000ISO, but with the film's characteristics made such that it performs best at 3200ISO, and can be pushed two stops further if needed. I've always used this in low light conditions such as in music clubs or at night in the streets or indoors. With D3200 you get a better tonal range and can shoot film in situations where you otherwise just cannot.”

Shot by © Angus Gulliver on Ilford Delta 3200 120 film.

While there was some talk of pushing sister film stock HP5 from ISO 400 to 3200, it doesn’t quite match up to the results produced by Delta 3200 as it “tends to give very high contrast which can crush the darker greys to black,” said Angus. This stock also goes up against high-speed competitor, Kodak T-MAX P3200, which seems to fall short on recommendations compared to Delta 3200. It’s certainly worth a direct comparison… 👀

4 | Kodak Portra 800: The All-Rounder

Next up and voted as the second best colour film for photography after dark is none other than Kodak Portra 800, with 12% of mentions. A timeless classic that continues to impress for low-light shooting, Kodak Portra 800 delivers rich, natural colour and exceptional exposure latitude - also in 120 format. Its ability to balance skin tones and ambient light makes it a dependable all-rounder. Once again, it’s a firm favourite for film photographers looking for cleaner, more true-to-life colours at night (compared to the bold nature of CineStill 800T). Plus, as a professional-grade high-speed film, Portra 800 is a solid choice for fast-paced sporting events, favoured by our friend Miles at @expiredfilmclub. Paul captured some great shots on Kodak Portra 800 35mm film alongside Miles at the annual Saracens Showdown rugby match.

Reviewer Michele Warren was pleasantly surprised with this top-rated colour film: “This was my first roll of Portra 800 and it just took my breath away when I saw the results. The film must have read my mind! The light was often even lower than I envisaged so I was sometimes on the edge of what felt sensible, but it gave me back stunningly rich colours and the feeling of being somewhere really special.”

Shot by © Michele Warren on Kodak Portra 800 35mm film.

The Portra family of films are well-loved by many, and the 800 ISO iteration lives up to expectations. Its hefty price tag can be off-putting for some, with film shooters seeking alternative C41 options with a similar natural colour palette that won’t break the bank. Flic Film Aurora 800 quickly became a community favourite, though this has since been discontinued and replaced by Aurora 400. We’ve heard rumblings that Mr Negative Same Same But Different 400 has similarities to our Portra favourites… maybe worth a try, and a push?

5 | Kodak Tri-X 400: The Gritty Legend

Last, but certainly not least, is Kodak Tri-X 400 with 10% of mentions. With bold contrast, punchy grain and distinctive vintage characteristics, Tri-X retains its 70-year strong position as one of the best black and white films on the market - and one that truly comes to life in low-light conditions. Much like its direct competitor Ilford HP5, Kodak 400TX is highly versatile and can be pushed and pulled to your desire, creating brilliant results in every scenario. It can be enjoyed across various formats - 35mm, 120 and 4x5 - and is suitable for seasoned film photographers and beginners alike. Multiple commenters said they prefer Tri-X to HP5 for its stronger contrast and texture, and @mckenziewpower used it with flash for live music in “incredibly low light bar shows.”

On shooting Kodak’s best-selling B&W film in 120 format, reviewer Ted Smith said: “I have used it mostly in low light situations, pushed to either ISO 800 or ISO 1600 and I find the results are very dramatic, with good solid blacks and whites which I like. Basically, whatever look you want, you can achieve through a combination of either box, pulled or pushed shooting. It always seems to deliver good results and is very dependable which is a big reason why I like it.” It’s also a worthy choice for studio portraiture, as demonstrated by Ted as well.

Shot by © Ted Smith on Kodak Tri-X 400 120 film.

While HP5 takes the top spot for the best film (particularly black and white) for low-light photography, Kodak Tri-X 400 has its advantages for those who prefer deep blacks and noticeable grain with a nod to the photojournalists who once favoured it. If you’re dancing between HP5 and 400TX, we dived into the eternal debate between these well-loved B&W film stocks, pulling evidence from community reviews and ratings.

Honourable Mentions

So now you know the top 5 low-light and night films voted by our Instagram community, you might want to know which stocks made up the remaining 11% of comments… Some honourable mentions included:

• Kentmere 400 - loved for its affordability and ability to be pushed up to ISO 3200
• SilberSalz35 500T - praised for its cinematic colours and tungsten balance
• Lomography Color Negative 800 - vibrant and characterful tones

While recommendations are helpful, it's worth remembering that these choices are entirely dependent on your preferences when it comes to subject matter, conditions, and colour. They’ve all got their uses and advantages!

Now you’ve got some films to accompany your next low-light photography adventure, it’s worth exploring how to put these into action! Have a read of our seven tips for better low-light photography to truly master these nighttime favourites. If there’s any films you think we’ve missed, drop a comment below! We hope you enjoy the wonderful magic of night on film 🎞️✨