Kodak Ektar 100 vs Ilford Delta 400: Colour or B&W?

By Camera Clix | Published: 2026-11-03

Category: Comparisons

Kodak Ektar 100 vs Ilford Delta 400: one delivers ultra-vivid colour with fine grain, the other handles low light in black and white. Here's how to choose.

Quick answer

Choose Kodak Ektar 100 when you want ultra-vivid colour, extremely fine grain, and can shoot in good light. Choose Ilford Delta 400 when you need ISO 400 speed for handheld or difficult lighting and prefer the look of black and white.

The ISO gap changes how you shoot

The most practical difference between these two films is speed. Ilford Delta 400 is rated at ISO 400/27°, which means it can handle handheld photography and difficult lighting without forcing you to open the aperture wide or drop your shutter speed dangerously low. Kodak Ektar 100 is a slower, daylight-balanced colour negative film, so it rewards bright conditions and stable shooting.

That ISO difference is not just a number. If you shoot indoors, at dusk, or in shade, Delta 400 gives you more exposure latitude in real situations. Ektar 100 pushes you toward sunlight, tripods, or faster lenses. Neither is better in the abstract — they simply suit different shooting conditions.

Grain and sharpness: two different design goals

Ektar 100 is built around an extremely fine grain structure and optimized sharpness, with a colour palette that is ultra-vivid and highly saturated. That combination makes it a strong choice for landscapes, architecture, and any scene where you want colour to carry the image.

Delta 400 uses core-shell crystal technology to produce high sharpness with a fine, uniform grain structure at a higher speed. In black and white, grain is part of the aesthetic rather than a defect, and Delta 400 keeps it controlled while still delivering the speed advantage. If you want the cleanest possible colour image, Ektar 100 has the edge; if you want speed without sacrificing too much sharpness, Delta 400 is the practical pick.

Colour workflow vs black and white workflow

Ektar 100 is a colour negative film, so it needs colour development — either through a lab or a home C-41 process. Delta 400 is a black and white negative film developed in standard black and white chemistry, which is more forgiving for home developers and gives you control over contrast and tonality.

If you already develop black and white at home, Delta 400 fits naturally into your routine. If you send film to a lab, both are straightforward, but colour negative film typically costs more to process. Factor that into your decision alongside the film price itself.

Trade-offs to weigh before you buy

Speed vs colour: Delta 400 gives you ISO 400 for handheld and low-light work, but you give up colour. Ektar 100 gives you vivid colour and fine grain, but you need good light or a stable support. Decide first whether the scene needs speed or colour — that choice usually settles the film.
Grain character: Ektar 100 aims for extremely fine grain and optimized sharpness in colour. Delta 400 delivers high sharpness with fine, uniform grain at twice the speed. In black and white, grain is part of the look; in colour, it is usually something to minimize.
Development path: Delta 400 uses standard black and white chemistry, which is friendlier to home development. Ektar 100 requires colour negative processing, typically through a lab or a C-41 kit. Check your development options before committing to a bulk purchase.

Product facts

Ilford Delta 400 ISO Professional 35mm 36 Exposure - Black & White Negative Film: Ilford Delta 400 Professional is a high-speed black and white negative film with a nominal sensitivity of ISO 400/27°. That speed makes it well-suited to handheld photography and working in difficult lighting conditions.
Ilford Delta 400 ISO Professional 35mm 36 Exposure - Black & White Negative Film
Kodak Ektar 100 ISO Professional 35mm 36 Exposure - Colour Negative Film: Kodak Ektar 100 Professional is a daylight-balanced colour negative film with an ultra-vivid colour palette, high saturation, and an extremely fine grain structure. It rewards bright, stable shooting conditions with rich colour and clean detail.
Kodak Ektar 100 ISO Professional 35mm 36 Exposure - Colour Negative Film

Which film fits your shoot?

Choose this if

You shoot landscapes, architecture, or travel in daylight and want ultra-vivid colour with fine grain (Kodak Ektar 100).
You shoot handheld in changing or low light and prefer black and white (Ilford Delta 400).
You develop black and white at home and want a forgiving, high-speed film (Ilford Delta 400).

Look elsewhere if

You need colour in dim indoor light — Ektar 100's ISO 100 speed will fight you.
You want colour saturation and a vivid palette — Delta 400 is black and white only.
You want the simplest home-development workflow — Ektar 100 requires colour processing.