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Kodak TMAX / EKTAPAN p3200 - Film Review

TMAX / EKTAPAN p3200
film index
Rating
Rated 5 out of 5
TDR Rating
Rated 4.5 out of 5
TypeBW
Brand Kodak
ISO3200
Format35mm
Price
$ $ $
Contrast
+ + + + +
Latitude
+ + + + +
GrainFine - Coarse
+ + + + +

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Kodak T-MAX P3200 (also known as Ektapan P3200) is one of the best low-light black and white films available today. Built on Kodak’s T-Grain technology, it delivers a unique combination of high ISO performance, controlled grain, and a bold, modern look while maintaining the flexibility needed for challenging lighting conditions.

T-MAX P3200 produces high contrast, strong, expressive tones, and a distinct visual impact, especially in low-light environments. Despite its ISO 3200 speed, grain is surprisingly well-controlled. When properly exposed, it can appear finer than many traditional 400 speed films, giving images a cleaner look than you might expect from such a fast film.

What sets T-MAX P3200 apart is its ability to perform in situations where most films struggle. Its high speed makes it ideal for shooting handheld in low light, whether indoors, at night, or in dimly lit environments. It allows you to capture scenes that would otherwise require slower shutter speeds or a tripod, all while maintaining strong image quality.

Like most black and white films, we recommend metering for the mid-tones or shadows to maintain detail and avoid underexposure. T-MAX P3200 has very good exposure latitude and performs best when rated at box speed (ISO 3200) with a slight bias toward overexposure to preserve shadow detail.

Compared to other black and white films, T-MAX P3200 offers a more modern and controlled look despite its high speed. While traditional high ISO films often lean heavily into rough grain, T-MAX P3200 keeps things more refined, with smoother tones and a more polished overall rendering.

You may see this film labeled as either T-MAX P3200 or Ektapan P3200. The difference comes down to distribution. T-MAX is distributed by Kodak Alaris, while Ektapan is distributed by Eastman Kodak, the original manufacturer. Both are the exact same emulsion, produced by Eastman Kodak, and will deliver identical results.

At The Darkroom Lab, T-MAX P3200 is a go-to for low-light photography, offering the ability to shoot confidently in difficult conditions without sacrificing quality.

If you’re looking for a black and white film that excels in low light, delivers bold contrast, and maintains surprisingly fine grain for its speed, Kodak T-MAX P3200 is an excellent choice.

Buy this film online – 35mm

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4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5
4.5 out of 5 stars (based on 10 reviews)
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Low light best 35mm b&w film ever

Rated 5 out of 5
July 12, 2024

I love his the noticiable, but beautifull, grain.

Perfect for portraits.

Reinaldo de Medeiros

Opens Another Dimension of Possibilities

Rated 5 out of 5
February 26, 2024

I’m so used to having to use a tripod for low light shots with my Mamiya. But 3200 ISO gives me the ability to shoot handheld even at night.

Andrew Karmun

My favorite film, use it for everything.

Rated 5 out of 5
December 26, 2022

I love this film. I use it for everything. Day time, night time, shade, sunlight ETC. Doesnt Matter.

The real film speed is 800-1000 ISO depending on developers you use. XTOL or Tmax will give you a film speed of 1000 ISO. something like d76 will give you 800 ISO for normal speed.

Everything else above that, is PUSHING this film. It is NOT a 3200 ISO film. the P3200 stands for – PUSH UP TO 3200 ISO. You can push further, but it’ll lose shadow detail and get significantly more grain.

See Kodak’s data sheet for information.

Even in the sun, I use it, with a yellow-red filter to get into usable exposure speeds. In New England, its not super bright, so most of the time it is fine.

I have heard people complain about the highlights being blown, especially with TMAX developer. Kodak wouldn’t make a Tmax film, and a Tmax developer, and have them be unusable together, this is nonsense.

The biggest problem people have with film these days, is a lack of calibration and testing, to their supplies and their methods. You need to test a film, run different speeds for your camera, calibrate it to your enlarger, Work out max black testing in the darkroom, and then adjust your development times based on highlight printing tests, also in the darkroom. That way you know for the camera you use, to the film you use, to the developer you use, to the agitation you use, to the enlarger you use, what your EXACT film speed ratings are for your camera, development times, etc to get great prints under an enlarger.

Testing and calibrating things takes only a few hours. We didn’t jump about from film to film like folks do now, we tested and calibrated to get the BEST prints. This was 101 in the classrooms.

If you don’t do these things, don’t complain about bad pictures, blown highlights, etc on this amazing film. That is user Error, and its usually from shooting 10 different films at once, and using 40 different options for scanning, developing, etc. Which is a recipe for bad prints. this film is BEAUTIFUL, if you use it right, and know what you’re doing.

If someone doesn’t know how to do this, contact me and I will send you detailed instructions on calibrating your tools, for free, in a DM.

Nicholas