Film specifications#
- Manufacturer
- CineStill
- Film
- bwXX
- Speed
- 250
- Process
- B&W
- Formats
- 135-36, 120
- Base
- Triacetate
- Made in
- USA
- Status
- In production
Character & history#
A classic B&W film stock left relatively unchanged since its release in 1959 for still and motion picture use (Kodak Double-X 5222). Medium format was added in May 2021.
Description adapted from Wikipedia’s “List of photographic films” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Exposure guide at ISO 250#
Sunny 16 for this film: f/16 at 1/250 s in bright sun. Negative film tolerates 2–3 stops of overexposure; slide film needs accuracy within about ⅓–½ stop.
| Light | f/2 | f/4 | f/8 | f/16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV 16 · Snow / beach, bright sun | — | — | 1/2500 s | 1/640 s |
| EV 15 · Bright sun | — | — | 1/1250 s | 1/320 s |
| EV 14 · Hazy sun | — | 1/2500 s | 1/640 s | 1/160 s |
| EV 13 · Cloudy-bright | — | 1/1250 s | 1/320 s | 1/80 s |
| EV 12 · Overcast / open shade | 1/2500 s | 1/640 s | 1/160 s | 1/40 s |
| EV 10 · Sunset | 1/640 s | 1/160 s | 1/40 s | 1/10 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior | 1/160 s | 1/40 s | 1/10 s | 0.4 s |
| EV 5 · Home interior at night | 1/20 s | 1/5 s | 0.8 s | 3.2 s |
| EV 3 · City street at night | 1/5 s | 0.8 s | 3.2 s | 13 s |
Push & pull options#
Tell your lab how many stops you pushed or pulled so development is adjusted for the whole roll.
| Adjustment | Rate the film at | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pull 1 stop | EI 125 | Lower contrast, finer grain |
| Push 1 stop | EI 500 | More contrast and grain |
| Push 2 stops | EI 1,000 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
| Push 3 stops | EI 2,000 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
Long exposures#
Most films suffer reciprocity failure beyond about 1 second: they need more exposure than the meter says. As a rule of thumb add ⅓–1 stop for 1–10 s and 1–2 stops beyond 10 s for older emulsions; modern T-grain films (and Fuji Acros) need much less. Check the manufacturer's datasheet.
Similar films#
Other black-and-white negative film around ISO 250.
- Flic Film XX-250 ISO 250
- Optik Oldschool Motion DBL-X ISO 250
- Original Wolfen P 400 ISO 250
- SFL Double-X 5222 ISO 250
- AgfaPhoto APX 200 ISO 200
- Film Photography Project Derev Pan 200 ISO 200
- Film Photography Project Film Love (Hearts) /Film Love (Shamrocks) ISO 200
- Film Photography Project Frankenstein ISO 200
- Film Photography Project S 200 ISO ISO 200
- Film Photography Project Svema Foto 200 ISO 200
- Film Photography Project X2 ISO 200
- Flic Film Flic UltraPan 200 ISO 200
- Foma Fomapan 200 Creative ISO 200
- Ilford SFX 200 ISO 200
- Kentmere PAN 200 ISO 200
- Revolog Snovlox ISO 200
- Rollei SuperPan 200 ISO 200
- Silberra Cinema 52XX ISO 200
More CineStill films#
Frequently asked questions#
What ISO is CineStill bwXX?
250 — set your meter to ISO 250 for box speed.
Is CineStill bwXX still made?
Yes, it is currently in production (2015-).
How do I develop CineStill bwXX?
B&W process. Traditional black-and-white development (e.g. D-76/ID-11, HC-110, Rodinal, XTOL) — easy to do at home.
Is CineStill bwXX available in 35mm?
Yes — formats: 135-36, 120.
Sources & licences#
- Wikipedia: List of photographic films — CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources