HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp)vs A7 II
Ilford
HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp)
Starting from £10 new
Best for Street photography, documentary & low-light B&W
View HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp)
VS
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street Photography, Documentary & Low-Light B&W — HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp): The definitive black-and-white film. Versatile, beautiful, and made in Britain. If you only shoot one B&W stock, make it HP5 Plus.
Travel, Portrait — A7 II (2014): The camera that proved full-frame IBIS was possible in a compact body.
Who should buy what
A7 II (2014)
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want full-frame on a budget
- Film shooters adapting vintage lenses (IBIS helps enormously)
Quick take: The hp5 plus 400 (36 exp) is the most affordable; only the a7 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp) | A7 II (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £10 | £549 |
| Sensor | 35mm black & white negative — ISO 400 (pushable to ISO 3200+) | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm |
| Resolution | — | 24.3MP |
| Video | N/A — film stock | 1080p 60fps |
| Autofocus | N/A — film stock | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | N/A — film stock | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 5fps |
| Battery Life | N/A | 350 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~30g per roll | 599g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 35mm 135-format cartridge, 36 exposures | 126.9 × 95.7 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | N/A | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot |
| Mount | ISO 400 — push-processable to ISO 3200+ with Ilford DD-X or Microphen | Sony E-Mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Connectivity | N/A | Wi-Fi, NFC, Micro USB, Micro HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp) | A7 II |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Documentary | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
More comparisons with HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp)
Camera family history