Kodak Tri-X 400TX
Grain, contrast and sixty years of photojournalism proving that black and white is the format that ages best. This is what Cartier-Bresson and Winogrand shot, and it's still the benchmark for serious documentary work. Push it to 1600 and suddenly your low-light limitations become aesthetic decisions. The most reliable black and white stock ever made.
Kodak Portra 160
The slower, more deliberate choice when you have good light and want maximum sharpness. Finer grain than 400, tighter color rendition and less room for error (which either makes you a better photographer or exposes that you're not). Ideal for controlled situations where you can nail exposure. If you're shooting handheld in marginal light, this isn't it.
Kodak Portra 400
The professional standard for color negative portraiture. There are reasons every wedding shooter and fashion photographer keeps it stocked. Exceptional skin tones, impressive latitude that forgives metering mistakes and consistent results across different lighting conditions. Put simply: it delivers.
Ilford HP5 Plus 400
The British answer to Tri-X: cheaper and slightly more forgiving. Less romantic mythology but professional results nevertheless. If you're shooting black and white regularly, this is the stock that won't break the bank while helping you maintain actual standards. Responds well to push processing and darkroom manipulation.
Fomapan Action 400
Czech-made film that costs less than a decent lunch. Looks like it was pulled from a 1960s archive (because the formula basically was). More grain than HP5 and Tri-X. It pushes well, handles mistakes gracefully and gives you that legitimate vintage look. Perfect for when you don't want to overthink it.
Kodak Gold & UltraMax
Consumer stocks that produce results better than most "professional" digital presets. Gold delivers warm tones and the nostalgic aesthetic everyone's chasing without admitting it; UltraMax gives you an extra stop of speed for a similar look. This is what was in cameras during the 90s, not Portra.