Film specifications#
- Manufacturer
- Kodak
- Film
- Portra 400BW
- Speed
- 400
- Process
- C-41
- Formats
- 135-36, 120, 220
- Base
- Triacetate
- Made in
- US
- Status
- Discontinued — replaced by T400CN
Character & history#
Professional chromogenic B&W film with exposure latitude from EI 50 to EI 1600. (400BW)
Description adapted from Wikipedia’s “List of discontinued photographic films” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Exposure guide at ISO 400#
Sunny 16 for this film: f/16 at 1/400 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 | — | — | — | 1/1000 s |
| EV 15 · Bright sun | — | — | 1/2000 s | 1/500 s |
| EV 14 · Hazy sun | — | — | 1/1000 s | 1/250 s |
| EV 13 · Cloudy-bright | — | 1/2000 s | 1/500 s | 1/125 s |
| EV 12 · Overcast / open shade | — | 1/1000 s | 1/250 s | 1/60 s |
| EV 10 · Sunset | 1/1000 s | 1/250 s | 1/60 s | 1/15 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior | 1/250 s | 1/60 s | 1/15 s | 1/4 s |
| EV 5 · Home interior at night | 1/30 s | 1/8 s | 0.5 s | 2 s |
| EV 3 · City street at night | 1/8 s | 0.5 s | 2 s | 8 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 200 | Lower contrast, finer grain |
| Push 1 stop | EI 800 | More contrast and grain |
| Push 2 stops | EI 1,600 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
| Push 3 stops | EI 3,200 | 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 400.
- AgfaPhoto APX 400 ISO 400
- Argenti ARF+ Reporter Film Plus ISO 400
- Bergger Pancro 400 ISO 400
- Film Photography Project Derev Pan 400 ISO 400
- Film Photography Project New Classic EZ400 ISO 400
- Film Photography Project Svema Foto 400 ISO 400
- Film Photography Project THE MUMMY 400 ISO 400
- Film Washi 'Z' ISO 400
- Flic Film Flic UltraPan 400 ISO 400
- Foma Fomapan 400 Action ISO 400
- Foma Ortho 400 ISO 400
- Holga 400 ISO 400
- Ilford DELTA 400 ISO 400
- Ilford HP5 Plus ISO 400
- Ilford PAN 400 ISO 400
- Ilford XP2 Super ISO 400
- JCH Streetpan 400 ISO 400
- Kentmere PAN 400 ISO 400
More Kodak films#
Frequently asked questions#
What ISO is Kodak Portra 400BW?
400 — set your meter to ISO 400 for box speed.
Is Kodak Portra 400BW still made?
No, it has been discontinued (c2001–?).
How do I develop Kodak Portra 400BW?
C-41 process. Standard colour-negative chemistry available at almost every lab and in home kits (Tetenal/Cinestill Cs41).
Is Kodak Portra 400BW available in 35mm?
Yes — formats: 135-36, 120, 220.
Sources & licences#
- Wikipedia: List of discontinued photographic films — CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources