Best sheet film
If you thought that large format film was scarce by now, you'll be pleasantly surprised! Again, there are more films out there than we have space to list, so we've picked a few highlights to give you a flavour of what you can get. Processing sheet film is trickier than with smaller formats, but we figure if you've got the dedication and skill to handle a large format camera you're not going to be daunted by the processing.
We've picked the 'universal' 5 x 4 inch format for our buying links, but note than may of these films are available in larger sizes too, up to 10 x 8 inch and beyond! Be aware that while large format film is easy enough to get in the US, you might have to resort to some international shopping in other territories.
• Best 35mm films
• Best 120 roll films for medium-format cameras
• Best sheet films for large-format cameras
• Best film cameras in 2023
• The best film scanners in 2023
Color negative sheet film
Kodak's fine grain color negative film with high saturation and sharpness is available in large format sheet film sizes too. With the advent of digital imaging and tools for colour negative film masking, large format photographers are not necessarily restricted to just transparency or black and white film.
Large-format portrait photographers have a ready-made film in Portra 160. There are ISO 400 and 800 versions too, but if you're working with a large format camera you're hardly likely to be running around taking handheld shots via available light, so the ISO 160 version looks the best best for quality.
Black and white sheet film
Ilford Delta 100 comes in sizes from 35mm through medium format and right up to sheet film size. The Delta range is like a more modern, finer-grained replacement for Ilford's classic black and white films like FP4, though many photographers still prefer the look of the older product and you can still buy both.
This is the same FP4 Plus offered in medium format and 35mm sizes, though when used in large format cameras its fine grain pattern will be far less visible and you can concentrate instead on its tonal qualities. You have a choice of developers, including Ilford ID11, Kodak D-76) the same thing or various liquid concentrates.
Kodak Professional T-Max 100 is like the Kodak equivalent of Ilford's Delta 100 film, boasting very fine grain, thanks to Kodak's T-Grain technology. In fact, Kodak says it's the finest-grain film of its speed in the world. Yes, another one. Don't worry, this was what they argued about in the days before autofocus speed comparisons.
Interestingly, the large format Tri-X is rated at a slightly lower speed than the 35mm version. It's recommended for portraits, indoor photography and situations with high brightness ranges – this is a classic virtue of faster black and white films that can often offset their increased grain for pictorial photography.
More film photography buyers' guides:
• The best 35mm film
• The best 120 roll film
• Best film cameras
• The best film scanners
