Foma · In production
Fomapan 400 Action
Budget 400-speed film with gritty, characterful grain.
| ISO / Speed | 400 |
| Type | Black & White |
| Process | BW |
| Formats | 35mm · 120 · 4x5 |
| Grain | Pronounced |
| Exposure latitude | Moderate |
| Color cast | Neutral，low saturation, moderate contrast |
| Brand | Foma |
Generated color character — not a sample photograph
Fomapan 400 Action is Foma's affordable fast black-and-white film, offering a classic, grainy, characterful look for street and documentary work. It trades ultimate refinement for low cost and vintage attitude.
Character & look
Fomapan 400 has a noticeably grittier grain structure and a true speed closer to EI 250, giving images a raw, documentary character that suits street, reportage and moody work. Tonality is classic and slightly soft, with pleasing mid-tones and characterful shadows, and it pushes reasonably for a budget film. It is less consistent than premium 400 stocks and shows more grain and fog, but those qualities give it a distinctive vintage attitude. As one of the cheapest 400 films available, it invites experimentation and heavy shooting, and rewards a slight rating adjustment with fuller, more usable negatives.
Best for
StreetDocumentaryGrit and moodValue shooting
Shooting & development tips
Rate it at EI 200-250 to protect shadows, as its true speed is slower than 400. It pushes with growing grain; develop in ID-11 or HC-110 for a balanced classic look.
FAQ
Is Fomapan 400 really ISO 400?
Its measured speed is closer to EI 250, so rating it a bit slower gives better shadow detail. At box speed shadows can look thin.