Analog.Cafe › Film and Darkroom › 11 min read by Dmitri, with images by Betty. Published on July 3, 2025. Updated on July 4, 2025. The newly updated Kodak Tri-X packaging for the 135 format. Tri-X is among Kodak’s most renowned films, historically favored by journalists, and it is a black-and-white emulsion that has been available for over 85 years (though it has undergone changes over the years). Many photographers today opt for Tri-X almost exclusively in their cameras, and those mindful of costs have benefited from a significant decline in the global average price of Tri-X during 2024/2025. In this review, I will present the history that gives this film its significance, along with technical details such as grain structure and dynamic range that make it a superb option for home and lab scanning. I will also make a brief comparison between Kodak Tri-X and another longstanding ISO 400 black-and-white favorite, Ilford HP5+, and clarify the differences between Tri-X and T-Max. In this review: A brief history of Kodak Tri-X. Dynamic range and contrast. Grain structure, resolution, and sharpness. Developing Kodak Tri-X. Scanning Kodak Tri-X. Kodak Tri-X vs. Ilford HP5+. Kodak Tri-X vs. Kodak T-Max. Additional samples taken on Tri-X. Price and availability. Support this blog & access premium features with GOLD memberships! A brief history of Kodak Tri-X. The emulsion was initially launched in 1940 for large-format cameras only, in sheets rated at ISO 200¹ for daylight and ISO 160 for tungsten (indoor lighting). After fourteen years of success, the film was made available for 35mm and medium format cameras. Today, it can even be found as motion picture stock for Super 8 and 16mm cameras, as well as in 4×5, 5×7, and 8×10 sheets. The contemporary formula has also seen recent changes to reduce its environmental toxicity. A Popular Photography magazine advertisement from March 1940 promoted Kodak black-and-white films, highlighting Tri-X as “the fastest of all Eastman sheet films.” Archived by @Nesster on flickr.com/photos/nesster/4292948798, retrieved and cropped on July 2, 2025. Today’s Tri-X is exclusively manufactured by Kodak in Rochester and remains among the most popular black-and-white films ever produced: “World’s best-selling black-and-white film,” as stated on Kodak Alaris’ page (first published in 2023). Before the significant decline in film usage, Tri-X was also produced in Canada and the UK to meet the immense demand from photographers such as Vivian Maier, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and millions of amateur and press photographers who all favored this high-contrast, fast black-and-white film. It has been behind many newspaper and magazine covers from prior to the 2000s. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to Kodak's impressive brand, which has been a vital asset for over a century since its establishment. The reasons for choosing black-and-white film can vary widely, as the film's “look” is nuanced and only one aspect of what determines the ideal monochrome film for various situations. However, there is one characteristic that most users agree distinguishes Tri-X from others: its striking contrast, along with its recent ease of scanning.¹ — The shift in film speed from ASA 200/160 to the modern ISO 400 (or 320 in sheets) was due to major revisions to the ASA standard in 1960. Kodak Tri-X, developed in Ilford DD-X, scanned on Pacific Image PrimeFilm XAs, inverted with film Q (no edits). Dynamic range and contrast. Modern digital cameras are typically designed to provide an increased dynamic range for greater post-processing versatility. For film photographers, there’s a wide selection of films with excellent dynamic range, such as the Kodak Portra 800, which boasts an impressive DR of 12.5. However, films with wide dynamic ranges often exhibit lower contrast, which may necessitate editing to match the photographer’s vision of the scene or for printing requirements. High-contrast films like Kodak Tri-X are harder to edit because shadows often lack detail, just as highlights can. Yet, if no adjustments are needed, high-contrast films can greatly expedite the workflow by eliminating an entire editing step. ☝︎ Further reading: “How to Edit Film Scans.” With most films, I usually make numerous edits before sharing on this blog, requiring me to open Photoshop. In contrast, I can easily process Tri-X as I use film Q to automatically invert all frames of each roll without adjustments to contrast or color. I simply watch my images materialize, ready for sharing. Kodak Tri-X, developed in Ilford DD-X, scanned on Pacific Image PrimeFilm XAs, inverted with film Q (
Tri-X is one of Kodak’s most well-known films, with a history spanning over 85 years. In this review, I will highlight the historical significance of this film, along with its technical features, such as grain structure and dynamic range, that make it a great option for both home and lab scanning. Additionally, I will provide a brief comparison between Kodak Tri-X and another popular ISO 400 black-and-white film, Ilford HP5+, and clarify the distinctions between Tri-X and T-Max.
