Ilford Delta 400 vs Kodak Portra 800 in 120: Which to Load?

By WALKENS House of Film | Published: 2026-11-03

Category: Vergleiche

A practical comparison of Ilford Delta 400 and Kodak Portra 800 in 120 format, covering speed, grain, color versus black and white, and which film suits your next roll.

Quick answer

Load Ilford Delta 400 when you want black-and-white negatives with fine grain at ISO 400 and plan to develop in standard chemistry. Choose Kodak Portra 800 when you need the extra stop for low light or fast shutter speeds and want color negatives with neutral skin tones.

Speed and light: ISO 400 versus ISO 800

Delta 400 is rated at ISO 400/27°, while Portra 800 is rated at ISO 800/30°. That one-stop difference matters in dim interiors, at dusk, or when you want to keep a fast shutter speed with a slow lens. Portra 800 gives you more exposure headroom in low light; Delta 400 asks for either more light or a deliberate push, which changes contrast and grain.

Both films list wide exposure latitude, so neither is fragile. The practical split is how you plan to shoot: if your meter often sits near the edge at ISO 400, Portra 800 buys you a stop without changing lenses.

Color workflow versus black-and-white workflow

The biggest trade-off is not speed but process. Portra 800 is a daylight-balanced color negative film in C-41, the same chemistry as most consumer color films. Delta 400 is a panchromatic black-and-white negative film in standard black-and-white processing. If you develop at home, that means different chemistry, temperatures, and timing for each film.

Color negative film also leaves you with color-cast decisions in scanning or printing, while black-and-white gives you tonal interpretation through filtration and development. Neither is more correct; they demand different kinds of attention after the shutter.

Grain, sharpness and the look of 120

Delta 400 uses core-shell crystal technology and is described as fine grain with high sharpness and a wide tonal range. Portra 800 is described as fine grain with high sharpness and edge detail, vivid color saturation, and low contrast. On 120 negatives, both benefit from the larger frame area compared with 35mm, so grain is less dominant than the ISO numbers might suggest.

The difference is rendering: Delta 400 gives you a black-and-white tonal scale you can shape, while Portra 800 gives you low-contrast color with neutral skin tones. If your final output is a color portrait or a scene where color carries the information, Portra 800 is the more direct route.

Trade-offs to weigh before you load

Low-light capability: Portra 800 gives you ISO 800 in C-41 color, so it handles dim scenes and fast shutter speeds more easily. Delta 400 needs a stop more light or a push, which can increase contrast and grain. Check your typical meter readings before buying: if they often fall below 1/60 at f/2.8, the ISO 800 film is the simpler fit.
Development and scanning: Portra 800 requires C-41 color processing; Delta 400 requires standard black-and-white chemistry. Home developers should confirm they have the right kit and temperature control for the film they choose. Decide on the lab or chemistry before you expose the roll, not after.
Color information versus tonal control: Portra 800 records color with low contrast and neutral skin tones, leaving less room to reinterpret tone later. Delta 400 records a black-and-white tonal range that you can adjust with filters and development. If the subject depends on color, choose Portra 800; if it depends on shape and tone, Delta 400 gives more control.

Product facts at a glance

Kodak Portra 800 120 Film: Daylight-balanced color negative film, ISO 800/30°, C-41 process, with fine grain, high sharpness, vivid color saturation, low contrast and neutral skin tones. This is the choice when you need color and an extra stop of speed in one roll, especially for people and low-light scenes.
Kodak Portra 800 120 Film
Ilford Delta 400 120 Film: Panchromatic black-and-white negative film, ISO 400/27°, standard process, with fine grain, high sharpness, core-shell crystal technology, and wide exposure latitude and tonal range. This suits shooters who want a flexible black-and-white negative at a moderate speed and are set up for standard black-and-white development.
Ilford Delta 400 120 Film

Which film fits your shoot?

Best for

Shooters who need ISO 800 color negatives for low light, events, or fast shutter speeds in 120
Portrait and documentary work where neutral skin tones and low-contrast color are the goal
Photographers who already send color negative film to a C-41 lab

Not for

Home developers who only run black-and-white chemistry and want to process the roll themselves
Scenes where color is irrelevant and you want to interpret tone through filtration and development
Shooters who prefer to rate film at ISO 400 and want a standard black-and-white negative