Having read the reviews I was apprehensive about this film - it seemed to be a real case of Marmite (you either love it or hate it).

Well, I love it and I wish I could get my hands on some more. I didn't use a filter (I never do), nor a light metering app, just my FM2's inbuilt meter, and I don't do post-processing jiggery-pokery, so the images are exactly as they came out on a couple of bright, sunny days in April by the River Mole and at Gibbet Hill near Hindhead.

The grain is really fine for a 400 ASA film and the near-infrared characteristics work brilliantly on well-lit vegetation. I love the contrast between the bright highlights and rich black shade. I can't wait to roam around some gothicky haunts with a couple of rolls of this to play with.

I suspect that the disappointments some users have expressed are because it seems to need strong light in which to shine. It's probably best suited to subjects for which contrast is an asset rather than a drawback. As I have a liking for strong, graphic shadows, this film was ideal for me. I doubt it would be your first choice for a flattering portrait, though it might make a dramatic and unusual image - maybe take a roll to the Whitby Goth Weekend!

If used as a regular 400 ISO black & white film, there is nothing special about it. However, it is one of very few infrared light sensitive film stocks out there and it makes it quite special! With an IR filter, it's great for dramatic landscapes or Giedi Prime-like eerie portraits. The caveat is that Washi Z is similarly priced to a roll of Rollei Infrared and it's only 24 exposures while Rollei is a regular 36-exposures film. It's definitely worth giving it a go but I'm not sure if I'd use it for regular work.

Attached photos are:
1. Shot with Washi Z with no IR filter, exposed at box speed.
2. The same shot taken with a 720nm IR filter, added 5 stops compared to box speed.

Watch the full review here: https://youtu.be/0FQ2ifyBU9o

I shot this film with a red filter using a Nikon FM with 55mm micro lens. I photographed dead trees that have fallen due to cliff erosion on a beach.

What a mixture! Infrared and nature photography together. I quite liked the results. Might do it again.

Interesting company. I mostly shot this with red filter, to get "the look". Pictures are nice, especially paired with nature photography. Manual cameras only.