Harman Ilford HP5 Plus 400 - Film Review

The Harman Ilford HP5 Plus 400 Single Use Disposable Camera is an excellent choice for anyone wanting the classic look of Ilford’s iconic black and white film in an easy, point and shoot format. Loaded with Ilford HP5 Plus 400 – one of the most celebrated black and white films ever made – this camera delivers beautiful subtle tones, lower contrast, noticeable but pleasing grain, and exceptionally high exposure latitude. As with all disposable cameras, the exposure is fixed for bright sunlight, so for anything less than direct sun, we strongly recommend using the flash. Black and white film can lose detail quickly when underexposed, and HP5 performs best with plenty of light. The camera features a simple flash switch you can turn on and keep on, and once the light indicator glows, the flash is charged and ready.

Here at The Darkroom, this Ilford HP5 Plus single use camera – alongside the Kodak Tri-X 400 version – is one of the two most commonly developed black and white disposable cameras we receive. We process hundreds of them every week. Compared to Tri-X, which is known for bold contrast and punchy tones, HP5 offers a more classic, subtle look. If you prefer smoother tonal transitions, lower contrast, and slightly more pronounced grain, the HP5 disposable camera is a fantastic choice. It’s especially great for documentary style photography, portraits, and anyone who enjoys a more traditional black and white aesthetic.

Tip: Like all disposable cameras, the Ilford HP5 model has a fixed focus. It will be generally sharp from roughly 4 feet out to infinity, but the sweet spot – and the distance where both sharpness and flash coverage are best is around 4–9 feet. The flash will only reach subjects within approximately 3–9 feet, so for the strongest results and best tonal detail, keep your subject close and well-lit by the flash.

The HP5 Plus disposable includes 27 exposures and is widely available online and we recommend FreeStylePhoto.com!

Why We Recommend It:
At The Darkroom, we develop, scan, and print a huge number of Ilford HP5 disposable cameras and we recycle every one. As a traditional dip and dunk film lab, all of our true black and white films (including HP5 from these single use cameras) are developed using real dip-and-dunk processors for the highest consistency and archival quality. When you send your HP5 camera to us, we develop it the traditional way, upload your high-resolution scans, and offer true darkroom silver-gelatin RC black and white prints.

Many customers fall in love with black and white photography through these disposable cameras. The quality of HP5 prints – even from a plastic-lens throwaway camera – often surprises people and inspires them to explore black-and-white SLRs, rangefinders, and other higher-end film cameras. These HP5 disposable cameras are perfect for beginners, weddings, parties, travel, and any scenario where you want the look of authentic black and white film without risking a more expensive camera. In our opinion, this HP5 version is one of the best black and white disposable cameras available thanks to its subtle tones, forgiving latitude, and classic Ilford rendering.