Shooting Ilford Delta 400 with the Olympus Stylus
There’s something magical about pairing a compact point & shoot camera with a classic black & white film stock. For this roll, I loaded up Ilford Delta 400 into my Olympus Stylus and took it everywhere, from baseball games under the lights to quiet moments around the neighborhood.
First Impressions of Ilford Delta 400
Ilford Delta 400 is known for its fine grain and smooth tones, especially for a film in the 400 ISO range. In simple terms, that means you get crisp details without the “chunky” look some black & white films can have, while still having enough speed to shoot in a variety of lighting conditions. It’s versatile, great for daytime shooting but also capable at night under stadium lights.
How It Looks
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Tonal Range: Delta 400 produces a nice balance between deep blacks and clean whites, with plenty of soft grays in between. This gives photos a smooth, classic look without feeling too harsh or contrasty.
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Grain: The grain is there, but it’s tight and subtle, more of a texture than a distraction. It gives the images a timeless quality without overpowering the subject.
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Flexibility: I shot this roll in bright daylight, shade, and artificial light at night, and the film handled each situation well. Even in low light, it held onto detail without turning everything into muddy shadows.
Why It’s Great for Beginners
If you’re new to black & white film, Ilford Delta 400 is a forgiving choice. It has good latitude, meaning if your exposure isn’t perfect, you’ll still get a usable shot. You can load it up for a day out without worrying too much about changing lighting conditions.
The Photos
This roll took me from the ballpark to the city skyline, quiet streets, and even a sunlit morning with Fey(my cat and unofficial store mascot) on the bed. The consistent results across different settings really stood out, the film kept the look cohesive without me needing to think about it too much.
About halfway through the roll, I realized my camera’s flash wasn’t firing, which meant every shot on this roll is purely available light. No fill flash, no artificial pop, just the natural lighting of each scene. It ended up being a happy accident, letting the character of Ilford Delta 400 shine through without the extra brightness or shadows that a flash can create.
Final Thoughts
Ilford Delta 400 has a modern, clean black & white look that works well for both casual shooting and more intentional photography. Whether you’re picking up a film camera for the first time or adding a new stock to your lineup, it’s worth a try.
📷 Want to try it yourself? You can grab a roll of Ilford Delta 400 here and start shooting your own black & white stories.