Kodak Tri-X 400 is one of the most popular black and white films in the world and a true classic. It is an iconic film stock and for a good reason. It is timeless. Perhaps the best.

The good news is that Tri-X is not a discontinued film. But. The sad news is that even though it is still somewhat readily available, it just too expensive at the moment, costing typically more than 15€ (2024) per roll. Quite often out of stock too. I could buy me a roll or two every now and then, but I see those as rather special occasions. As rare treats. Something to savour.

I remember shooting a brick load of Tri-X not too long ago. I was really invested in it and that is what I miss. It was my go-to film. Devoting to a certain film stock is completely different than shooting one roll occasionally.

These days I basically shoot whatever I can get my hands on with a reasonable cost. That means jumping from one film to another, switching between mindsets and trying bear in mind what did I load into my camera, how the film in question handles and renders.

So I guess all this is to say that I really miss the active film photography days. The days of abudance.

Sure, it can be refreshing to try different things every once in a while, but there is a lot to be said about having a trusty main film to always rely upon. No need to switch from one mindset to another. Having one film stock that you know like the back of your hands is valuable for a number of reasons. You should always know your equipment like it’s your second nature and Tri-X is my second nature.

A film stock is like a glass of wine. For someone who’s not particularly into wine, most of them taste pretty much the same, but if you on the other hand really love wine, there is a whole bunch of nuances to be explored.

I love the nuanced characteristics of Tri-X. I personally think it is one of the most beautiful film stocks. For a novice, it probably looks just another black and white film. Let me tell you though, the tonality, the grain, it’s all perfect. So pleasing to the eye.