XP2 for the holidays
My love letter to Ilford's C-41 film
December 26, 2025
I love Ilford XP2. It's my "I'm traveling but won't have a ton of time to think about photography" film of choice. I also just like using it every day. Trying to get out and enjoy the weather a bit with family over the holidays, I loaded it into the MP, mounted the Zeiss 35mm / 2.8 and shoot through a roll.
Don't have a meter? Doesn't matter. XP2 looks good from ISO 100 to 800 give or take. Do have a meter and want to get creative? Expose it at 100 for sharp and contrasty pics. Want it grainy and soft? Expose it at 800. It is almost impossible to shoot XP2 wrong. You can shoot one shot at 50, the next at 1600, and you develop it the same as you always would. I like shooting it in extremely bright light and at dusk. Even other great films like HP5 aren't quite as flexible on the same roll as XP2. When you have no idea where the day will take you, you simply can't go wrong with XP2.
The other advantage to XP2 as a travel film is that you can develop it basically anywhere in the world. As long as you can find a lab with a Noritsu or Frontier you're going to get decent results. Color film with random lab chemistry can be a crapshoot. I also wouldn't trust true black and white to a random lab, and would just bring it home. With XP2? You are going to get good photos back while you travel, which is something I've enjoyed on longer trips.
Now I'll admit, the grain of a true black and white film is prettier. I think for intentional photography I am much more likely to reach for something like FP4, Tri-X, T-Max, or even Delta. I also don't develop XP2 at home. C-41 chemistry isn't awful but I stick to B&W chem for my home darkroom. But I love the flexibility of XP2, and that I consistently produce images that I love.
