Kodak Tri-X 400 35mm B&W Film
Description
A truly legendary film, Kodak Tri-X was first introduced in 1940 in sheet film — meaning it is approaching its 80th birthday! Key to its longevity has been its flexibility. Photographers can take Kodak Tri-X 400 film into a variety of lighting situations and recover highlights and shadows or generate different grain feel through processing choices. It has been the first choice for many top photographers over its lifespan. In fact, when Kodak went through bankruptcy and restructuring in 2012, Don McCullin panic-bought 150 rolls in case it didn’t survive the turmoil! Fortunately for Mr. McCullin and every other photographer, Tri-X did survive and is still available fresh in both 35mm and 120 formats. It’s sometimes called 400 tx, Trix or Kodak 400TX.
Specification
| Format: | 35mm |
| Colour: | B&W |
| Type: | Negative |
| ISO: | 400 |
| Exposures: | 36 |
| Pack size: | 1 |
To understand more about the details above you can check out our film guide or if you want some inspiration then head over to our page on choosing your next film. And if you want the full details about the film, including technical information, read about Kodak Tri-X over on EMULSIVE.
Kodak - properly known as Kodak Eastman - was founded in America in 1888 and dominated the "Western" world of photography for the next 100 years, constantly in fierce rivalry with the Japanese Fuji. Similarly to Fuji the advent of digital photography at the turn of the century caused significant financial problems. A late attempt to win in the compact market was hit by the rise of mobile photography and bankruptcy followed in 2012. Fortunately the photography business has survived under the Kodak Alaris name - based in Hertfordshire, England - and they have delighted the analogue industry by pledging continued support for film production and the promise of bringing back old favourite emulsions.
For more information about the brand check out our bio of Kodak
Sample shots (c) Osamu Kaneko
Where we ship
When you buy your camera film from us we can ship it across the UK, Europe, USA, New Zealand, Australia and Canada (more countries planned soon!) So buy your Kodak Tri-X Film 35mm B&W ISO 400 today and dive back into the fun of 35mm film photography!
Early 1880 George Eastman develops a gelatin emulsion for dry plate photography, fast forward today Analogue Wonderland sells dry plates.Today Analogue Wonderland sells Tri-x 400 that had been released by Eastman Kodak back in 1954.
Eastman Kodak had been at the forefront of photographic technology making the Kodak Brownie camera in 1900 and with a young engineer Steven Sasson, they had
invented the first digital camera in 1975.
Among the many people to pick up a Brownie in the 1950's was Vivian Maier. A nanny who would shoot on Tri-x 400 on her twin lens reflex camera (120 format) daily and developed the negatives at home.Fast forward today to a young artist MavisCW also shoots on Tri-X 400 35mm and develops at home. Tri-X has withstood the test of time with many a slr and dslr now obsolete. Will it outlast the "NOW" albums or "Fast & Furious" franchise, maybe.
Tri- X 400 is analogous to an ageing rock star who is now a support act for the main event "T Max and the Iso's" on the Kodak Alaris world tour. Typical of an ageing rock star Tri-x doesn't do interviews cocooning itself away with only the film leader a hint of what is to come. But when the shutter curtain is raised and the lights hit the film plane Tri-X gets to work, belting out hit after hit. Shunning the limo to the after party Tri-x takes the bus
to the home of a analogue newbie. They collaborate together and become life long friends.This is Tri-X 400s' signature.
Yes yes I know I know. Tri-X is a legend and anything less than a 5 star review will cause the ghosts of Cartier-Bresson, Winogrand and Koudelka to haunt me forever. I am just going to plead personal preference here. While I can totally see why Tri-X inspires this near-cultish devotion among photographers, I must say I prefer the gentler tones and smoother grain of a film like Ilford HP5 (if I want a "classic" look) or Delta 400 or TMax 400 (if I want a "modern" look). But I do love Tri-X for night photography. The sample images were all shot handheld at box speed (no push) and developed in ID-11 1+1, and the combination of deep blacks and rich shadow detail have almost won me over the the Tri-X camp. Almost.
Tri X has been the mainstay of Kodak officianado's for 60 years and it's easy to see why. It's versatility, ability to hide a multitude of sins and still manage to produce wall hangers is what sets this film just that little bit higher than the rest. Bravo Kodak, bravo!
This is the one which has been around forever, quite grainy for a 400 speed, easily pushable to 1600, but a great look.
It's pretty much all been said before about Tri-X. Just a fantastic quality film with a unique look, beautiful deep contrast and fine detail/grain. I always push it one stop to bring out the contrast a little further and try to capture that classic photojornalist look, an aesthetic this film is only to happy to oblige! Very forgiving with regards exposure too, I've been learning to meter by eye alone and the latitude on this film has made ruining a shot almost impossible.
