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Black-and-white negative · Black & white

Kodak T-Max P3200

Push-to-3200 grit, born on night football fields.

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Planned media

A fast black-and-white film pushed two stops to EI 3200: gritty grain, harder contrast and dark shadows. Original vs Ashigrain.

Kodak T-Max P3200, Kodak B&W Print Film 2302

stock
Kodak T-Max P3200
mode
Print
print_film
Kodak B&W Print Film 2302
film_format
35mm still (135)
push_pull_stops
2
ei
3200
Exposure index
800
Introduced
1988
In production
Process
KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX RS Developer and Replenisher, large tank, 20 C (68 F)
Prints on
2302
Kodak B&W Print Film 2302

About the film

Kodak's T-Max P3200 had its first field test in October 1986, when the Gannett photographer Kevin Higley was told to shoot a night high-school football game in East Rochester, New York, at 6,400, a speed he had not thought possible.

Kodak introduced the film eighteen months later, in April 1988, at a list price of $5.45 a roll, more than twice what newspapers paid for Tri-X. It was built on Kodak's T-Grain emulsion, whose flat, tabular silver-halide crystals catch more light than the pebble-like grains of films such as Tri-X. Its nominal speed is 800, and the P stands for push processing: Kodak designed it to be pushed to EI 3200 and beyond. Press photographers went much further: Ted Kirk of Nebraska's Lincoln Journal Star told The New York Times he had published a picture made at 12,500 and had tried 100,000. Kodak withdrew the film in 2012 as sales fell, conceding in its announcement that the speed came with a heavy grain penalty. Kodak Alaris announced its return in 2018, in 135-36, and still lists it for handheld street photography, night work and dim venues. The data sheet warns that the film is very sensitive to environmental radiation and asks for visual inspection at airport X-ray checks and prompt processing.

Sources for this history
  1. KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Black-and-White Film Technical Data, Kodak Alaris Inc.
  2. KODAK T-MAX Professional Films Technical Data, Eastman Kodak Company
  3. Time to start hoarding: Kodak discontinues T-MAX P3200 film, Imaging Resource
  4. Kodak Discontinues T-Max P3200 Film, Fstoppers
  5. KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Black & White Negative Film Technical Data (March 2018), Kodak Alaris Inc.
  6. KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Film Launches in March 2018, Kodak Alaris Inc.
  7. Increasing the Speed of Film: Kodak's New Development, The New York Times
  8. KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Film, Kodak Alaris Inc.

The look

Kodak T-Max P3200 is a T-Grain black-and-white negative with a nominal speed of 800, made to be pushed to EI 3200 and beyond; each push adds contrast and coarse, gritty grain. It prints on Kodak B&W Print Film 2302 by default, or near-neutral on a colour print film with that print's own tint.

Planned media

An available-light concert with pushed grain and contrast.

Kodak T-Max P3200, Kodak B&W Print Film 2302

stock
Kodak T-Max P3200
mode
Print
print_film
Kodak B&W Print Film 2302
film_format
35mm still (135)
push_pull_stops
2
ei
3200

Planned media

Wet streets and reflections in gritty, high-contrast black-and-white.

Kodak T-Max P3200, Kodak B&W Print Film 2302

stock
Kodak T-Max P3200
mode
Print
print_film
Kodak B&W Print Film 2302
film_format
35mm still (135)
push_pull_stops
2
ei
3200

Best for

  1. Night sport under stadium lights
  2. Concerts in available light
  3. Handheld night streets

Among the films

FilmSpeedGrain, RMS σD · lower is finerYears made
Technicolor Process IITechnicolor Process II−5⅔ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain coarserEI 16−5⅔ stops.0201922
DS-5MDS-5M−4⅓ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 40−4⅓ stops.0051979
Kodak Aerochrome III 1443Kodak Aerochrome III 1443−4⅓ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain coarserEI 40−4⅓ stops.0242001
Kodak Vision3 50DKodak Vision3 50DMade since 2011, in production · −4 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 50−4 stops.0052011–
Fujifilm Velvia 50Fujifilm Velvia 50Made since 2007, in production · −4 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 50−4 stops.0092007–
Agfa Agfacolor Ultra 50Agfa Agfacolor Ultra 50−4 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 50−4 stops.0051995
Kodak Kodachrome 64Kodak Kodachrome 64Made 1974–2009 · −3⅔ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 64−3⅔ stops.0121974–2009
Fujifilm Fujichrome 64T Type IIFujifilm Fujichrome 64T Type II−3⅔ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 64−3⅔ stops.0102002
Ilford Ortho PlusIlford Ortho PlusMade since 1997, in production · −3⅓ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 80−3⅓ stops.0151997–
Polaroid Type 669Polaroid Type 669−3⅓ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain coarserEI 80−3⅓ stops.0241981
Svema LN-9Svema LN-9−3 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 95−3 stops.0071988
Fujifilm Astia 100FFujifilm Astia 100FMade 2003–2012 · −3 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 100−3 stops.0082003–12
Agfa Agfachrome RSX II 100Agfa Agfachrome RSX II 100−3 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 100−3 stops.0121998
Agfa Agfacolor Optima II 100Agfa Agfacolor Optima II 100−3 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 100−3 stops.0051998
Kodak Ektar 100Kodak Ektar 100Made since 2008, in production · −3 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 100−3 stops.0052008–
Kodak Ektachrome 100DKodak Ektachrome 100DMade since 2018, in production · −3 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 100−3 stops.0142018–
Fomapan R 100Fomapan R 100Made since 1980, in production · −3 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain coarserEI 100−3 stops.0221980–
NK-2NK-2−3 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 100−3 stops.0131980
Fujifilm FP-100CFujifilm FP-100CMade 1992–2016 · −3 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain coarserEI 100−3 stops.0231992–2016
Eastman Color Negative 5247Eastman Color Negative 5247−2⅔ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 125−2⅔ stops.0051983
Agfa Agfacolor Portrait XPS 160Agfa Agfacolor Portrait XPS 160−2⅓ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 160−2⅓ stops.0071995
Kodak Vision3 200TKodak Vision3 200TMade since 2010, in production · −2 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 200−2 stops.0072010–
Kodak Tri-X Reversal 7266Kodak Tri-X Reversal 7266Made since 2003, in production · −2 stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain coarserEI 200−2 stops.0252003–
Kodak Vision3 250DKodak Vision3 250DMade since 2009, in production · −1⅔ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 250−1⅔ stops.0072009–
Fujifilm Eterna 250DFujifilm Eterna 250DMade 2005–2013 · −1⅔ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 250−1⅔ stops.0042005–13
Kodak Aerocolor IV 2460Kodak Aerocolor IV 2460Made since 2009, in production · −1⅔ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 250−1⅔ stops.0132009–
Eastman Double-X 5222Eastman Double-X 5222Made since 1960, in production · −1⅔ stops vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 250−1⅔ stops.0151960–
Fujifilm Pro 400HFujifilm Pro 400HMade 2004–2021 · −1 stop vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 400−1 stop.0042004–21
Kodak Vision3 500TKodak Vision3 500TMade since 2007, in production · −⅔ stop vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 500−⅔ stop.0072007–
Kodak Vision2 Expression 500TKodak Vision2 Expression 500T−⅔ stop vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 500−⅔ stop.0092003
Fujifilm Eterna 500Fujifilm Eterna 500Made 2004–2013 · −⅔ stop vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 500−⅔ stop.0042004–13
Fujifilm Eterna Vivid 500Fujifilm Eterna Vivid 500Made 2009–2013 · −⅔ stop vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 500−⅔ stop.0042009–13
Kodak Portra 800Kodak Portra 800Made since 2000, in production · same speed vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain finerEI 800same speed.0082000–
Kodak T-Max P3200Kodak T-Max P3200Made since 1988, in production · this filmEI 800this film.0191988–
Kodak Ektachrome P1600Kodak Ektachrome P1600+1 stop vs Kodak T-Max P3200 · grain coarserEI 1600+1 stop.0381999

Science & sources

Kodak T-Max P3200 calibration chart: OriginalKodak T-Max P3200 calibration chart: Processed
Synthetic test chart (grey ramp, ColorChecker, hue sweep, point highlights) before and after the full Ashigrain pipeline: print branch on Kodak B&W Print Film 2302, Super 35 4-perf, default controls, exposure +0.70 stops to match the original's mid-grey, frame 0.

A fast panchromatic black-and-white negative. The base curve is EI 800, Kodak's nominal speed; the EI 1600 and 3200 push settings use the datasheet's longer-development curves as an approximation. It prints on Kodak B&W Print Film 2302 by default.

Response curves and the evidence behind the model

Compare manufacturer data with the Ashigrain model on the same axes. This shows the calibration to source curves; comparison with photographed film is a separate question.

Characteristic response

Density against log H (lux-seconds) for channels N. R circles, G squares, B triangles, N diamonds; filled markers and solid lines are digitised, open markers and dashed lines are simulated: digitised and simulated.−4.0−3.0−2.0−1.00.01.0log H (lux-seconds)0.00.51.01.52.02.5Density

RMS granularity

RMS granularity (σD) against Density for channels N. R circles, G squares, B triangles, N diamonds; filled markers and solid lines are datasheet-based, open markers and dashed lines are simulated: datasheet-based and simulated.0.20.40.60.81.01.21.41.6Density0.00.0050.010.0150.020.025RMS granularity (σD)

Density variation (σD) measured through a 48 µm aperture. Where the datasheet gives a single grain value, the response away from that point is an approximation.

ChannelDensityDatasheet-based σDModel σD
N0.30.0098590.010196
N0.60.0139430.014419
N10.0180.018615
N1.50.0220450.022799

Model limits

These images show the film model in use. Spectral response, lighting and viewing conditions include approximations, while halation, bloom, grain size, weave and flicker are not fully measured for each film. A real film capture also depends on development and print timing.

  • The model assumes custom lighting spectra, camera metering and the spectral reflectance inferred from fixed-white-balance footage. These inputs are not measurements of the film.
  • The base curve is EI 800, Kodak's nominal speed (EI 1000 in T-MAX developers, rounded). The EI 1600 and EI 3200 push sets use the chart's 14 and 17 minute curves, which approximate the development table's 13½ and 16½ minutes; beyond EI 3200 a generic push applies.
  • The push curves start near log H −3.3; below that they are extrapolated into deep shadow.
  • MTF, spectral sensitivity and granularity are published for D-76 developer, while the characteristic curves are for T-MAX RS developer.
  • The source gives only RMS granularity 18 × 10⁻³ at net density 1.0. The response away from that point and the silver-clump size are modelled.
  • The source gives no colour balance. Spectrally neutral silver density is an assumption; an undercoat is assumed and the single-layer halation response is not measured.
  • In the print branch it prints on Kodak B&W Print Film 2302 by default. Black-and-white print timing is modelled.
  • Characteristic response outside the published exposure range is an extrapolation, not measured film data.

Film guide: assumptions and practical choices

Sources

  1. Exposure index: KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Black-and-White Film Technical Data, F-4001, Revised 04-19, p. 2
  2. Process: KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Black-and-White Film Technical Data, F-4001, Revised 04-19, p. 5
  3. Diffuse RMS granularity: KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Black-and-White Film Technical Data, F-4001, Revised 04-19, p. 7
  4. Characteristic curves: KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Black-and-White Film Technical Data, F-4001, Revised 04-19, p. 8

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