Fujifilm Recipe: Kodak Tri-X 400

Tri-X is the most iconic black and white film ever made. It defined photojournalism and street photography for half a century. This Acros-based recipe captures its punchy contrast and gritty grain. Credit to Ritchie Roesch at FujiXWeekly.

About Kodak Tri-X 400

Kodak released Tri-X in 1954, and it quickly became the standard for working photojournalists. Everyone from Robert Frank to Don McCullin to Garry Winogrand shot it. The reason was simple: Tri-X had enough speed to shoot handheld in available light, enough latitude to survive imperfect metering, and a look that turned ordinary scenes into something dramatic.

The signature Tri-X look is high contrast with rich blacks that go truly deep. Midtones are punchy rather than smooth, and grain is visible and textured. It has a gritty, urgent quality that flatter B&W films lack. Push it to 1600 and the grain gets aggressive, almost crystalline. That push-processed look became synonymous with street photography in the 1960s and 70s.

Tri-X is still manufactured today and still widely shot. No other B&W stock has matched its combination of speed, tonal punch, and character. When photographers say they want "that black and white look," they usually mean Tri-X whether they know it or not.

When to Use It

Street photography, documentary, anything where you want drama. The strong grain and high contrast separate subjects from backgrounds and add that raw, authentic feeling that clean digital B&W can't match.

Tips

Look for hard light. Tri-X thrives on contrast -- direct sun, harsh shadows, bright highlights against dark backgrounds. In flat overcast light it can feel muddy. Wait for the light or find it.

Camera Compatibility

This recipe runs on every Fujifilm X-series camera with the Acros film simulation, which has been available since the X-Trans III sensor generation. That covers the X100VI, X-T5, X-T50, X-S20, and many older bodies like the X-T3 and X-T30. The Strong/Large grain setting is available on all Acros-capable cameras. No 5th-gen sensor required.

Related Recipes

For a softer, lower-contrast take on B&W, try the Ilford HP5 Plus recipe. HP5 is the gentler alternative when Tri-X feels too aggressive. Also worth reading: our guide to street photography settings on the X100VI, which covers metering, autofocus, and other setup tips beyond the recipe itself.

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