Film specifications#
- Manufacturer
- Ilford
- Film
- HP3
- Speed
- 200/400
- Process
- B&W
- Formats
- 135, 127, 120, 620, 116, 616, sheet film
- Base
- Triacetate
- Made in
- UK
- Status
- Discontinued — replaced by HP4
Character & history#
High speed traditional panchromatic film. Between 1965 and 1969 it appears that both HP3 and HP4 were available. Speed doubled after the new ASA standard was published in 1960.
Description adapted from Wikipedia’s “List of discontinued photographic films” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Exposure guide at ISO 200#
Sunny 16 for this film: f/16 at 1/200 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 | — | — | 1/2000 s | 1/500 s |
| EV 15 · Bright sun | — | — | 1/1000 s | 1/250 s |
| EV 14 · Hazy sun | — | 1/2000 s | 1/500 s | 1/125 s |
| EV 13 · Cloudy-bright | — | 1/1000 s | 1/250 s | 1/60 s |
| EV 12 · Overcast / open shade | 1/2000 s | 1/500 s | 1/125 s | 1/30 s |
| EV 10 · Sunset | 1/500 s | 1/125 s | 1/30 s | 1/8 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior | 1/125 s | 1/30 s | 1/8 s | 0.5 s |
| EV 5 · Home interior at night | 1/15 s | 1/4 s | 1 s | 4 s |
| EV 3 · City street at night | 1/4 s | 1 s | 4 s | 15 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 100 | Lower contrast, finer grain |
| Push 1 stop | EI 400 | More contrast and grain |
| Push 2 stops | EI 800 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
| Push 3 stops | EI 1,600 | 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 200.
- 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
- Silberra Pan 200 /Ultima 200 ISO 200
- Silberra U200 ISO 200
- Svema Фoto 200 (Foto 200) ISO 200
- FILM Ferrania P33 ISO 160
More Ilford films#
Frequently asked questions#
What ISO is Ilford HP3?
200/400 — set your meter to ISO 200 for box speed.
Is Ilford HP3 still made?
No, it has been discontinued (1941–1969).
How do I develop Ilford HP3?
B&W process. Traditional black-and-white development (e.g. D-76/ID-11, HC-110, Rodinal, XTOL) — easy to do at home.
Is Ilford HP3 available in 35mm?
Yes — formats: 135, 127, 120, 620, 116, 616, sheet film.
Sources & licences#
- Wikipedia: List of discontinued photographic films — CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources