Choosing the Right Film for wide frame photography
Panoramic film photography and especially the Hasselblad XPan is often associated with high quality. However, no matter what camera you shoot on, the width of the panorama allows you get a great wide perspective on the world.Panoramic compositions tend to draw the viewer in and often deserve to be printed large. That’s where film choice becomes vital. Whether you're capturing sweeping landscapes or intimate portraits, the film for wide format photography you select can dramatically shape mood, tonality, and resolution. When you are not utilising the right film for your panoramic film photography you might not end with an image that you might like.
Every camera and shoot is different, and the atmosphere you aim to create will vary accordingly. That’s why experimentation is essential. While some shoots demand predictability, whenever possible, test new panoramic film stocks. Doing so not only hones your artistic voice but also deepens your technical understanding—both essential for optimising your results with wide format cameras.
What I Look for in a Film Stock
When choosing film, a few factors consistently matter to me. Mostly, it is the grain, very specific grain. I’m drawn to fine grain, especially because I often print large-scale panoramic photographs. Fine grain film for large panoramic prints preserves sharpness and ensures that subtle tonal shifts don’t get lost in noise.
I also seek out film with high dynamic range. I want to see every shade of grey in a black-and-white image and maintain subtle colour gradations in colour shots. That usually leads me to lower contrast, less saturated films that give me the flexibility to make colour choices in-camera rather than having them imposed by the emulsion.
The Hasselblad XPan has lenses with f4 or slower, which means low-light performance becomes a concern and I love low light photography. I prefer to keep my iso as low as possible and only will crank it up when needing to. I prefer to push boundaries to get as low iso as possible. This often leads to handheld shooting in borderline conditions, when I should probably use a tripod, but opt not to. I guess its a creative choice too.
My favourite colour film for XPan and why
Kodak Portra
As I tend to take a lot of photos of people with my Hasselblad XPan I nearly always reach for Kodak Portra. I always have it available on stock and never go out without the film. It has a good dynamic range, works well in many different situations and has muted colours. Which all work well with wider compositions, making it one of the best film stocks for XPan photography. The Hasselblad XPan wide ratio means you almost always include both the subject and some environment. In darker situations it tends to showcase a slight orange/red tint and therefore you need to make sure you expose well.
Kodak Gold 200 35mm film
A highly underrated film stock that can be of use in many different situations. I often find myself reaching for Kodak Gold 200 35mm film in casual situations. It offers a reliable dynamic range, performs consistently across various lighting situations, and delivers vibrant, warmer colors that often add a nostalgic touch. These qualities work surprisingly well with wider compositions, making it a versatile and often overlooked film stock for XPan photography. The Hasselblad XPan's wide ratio means you almost always include both the subject and some environment, and Kodak Gold's characteristic warmth can enhance that connection. In brighter situations, its colors truly pop, lending a lively feel to the panoramic frame.
Kodak Portra never seems to disappoint
When Kodak Portra Isn't the Best Choice
Kodak Portra struggles in harsh, high-contrast lighting. I’ve shot it in the dessert or in situations where there is a steep contrast present in the images, the film then tends to give a red hues in underexposed areas. Obviously, most film doesn't tend to do well when underexposed and shows it strength in blown out highlights.
Top black and white film stocks for wide format cameras
Ilford Delta & XP2: The Go-To for Fine Grain and Tonality
By now, you probably already know that I love the details, which means not every black and white film works well for me. My all time favourite black and white film is the Ilford Delta range. However, the Ilford XP2 film is also high on my list of favourite film.
Both these types of film are known for the great tonality, depth, sharpness and little grain. The sharpness and grain are correlated obviously, meaning the finer the grain the sharper the images often appear. That means for soft light portraits and landscapes with lots of depth it works very well. Both Delta and XP2 offer exceptional tonality, sharpness, and low grain making them ideal black and white film for large panoramic prints.
When to Choose Kodak T-Max for Dramatic Contrast
For dramatic, high-contrast scenes, however, these films aren’t ideal. They render a full range of midtones and greys rather than stark blacks and whites. When I need punchy contrast, I turn to Kodak T-Max. I rarely use it, because there are not many situations where I think it will be relevant in my artistic vision, but I would love to use it more.
Black and white film also lends itself better to low light than many colour stocks. When necessary, I’ll push or pull in the lab—or even digitally lift the shadows—without overly compromising image quality. That’s part of what makes these films some of the top black and white film stocks for wide format cameras.
Why Experimenting with Film for wide format photography is Essential
Each film has unique characteristics and these can be used in your advantage when you know what you will be photographing. Personally, I don’t experiment as much as I’d like.I shoot deliberately, often taking just one photo per scene. That makes it hard to finish a roll in a single session, and I hesitate to commit to niche films I might not be able to use fully.
What I have learned of experimenting with panoramic film stocks is that it often leads to creative break throughs. Perhaps not in the moment, but after development, because you learn about the film and see how it works in different scenarios. This can then be utilised in different scenarios when you know they will occur. It will encourage you to push past comfort zones and let the experiment lead you. Which in turn results in trying unexpected choices.
Final Thoughts: Best panoramic film stocks
There is no universal best film for panoramic photography. There is only the film that best serves your subject, your mood, and your message.
For me:
Kodak Portra
Delivers soft, forgiving colour for portraits and everyday street scenes.
Ilford Delta and XP2
Offer fine-grain black-and-white results with excellent tonal range.
T-Max
Is my choice for contrast-heavy situations. Its texture, and classic grain are hard to beat.
Kodak Gold
A simpler film, good for many situations and always adds warmth to any picture.
Ultimately, panoramic photography is about relationships: between subject and space, light and shadow, mood and message. The film you choose shapes all of that. So shoot often, experiment fearlessly, and let the medium keep teaching you.