HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp)vs A7C 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)
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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.
Full-Frame Hybrid — A7C II (2023): Full-frame AI autofocus in the most compact body available — the best camera under £1,500 for hybrid shooters.
Who should buy what
A7C II (2023)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact body
- Hybrid shooters who need full-frame video and IBIS in a small package
- A7C owners looking for a significant AF and video upgrade
- Portrait and wedding photographers who want a discreet full-frame backup
Quick take: The hp5 plus 400 (36 exp) is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp) | A7C II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £10 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | 35mm black & white negative — ISO 400 (pushable to ISO 3200+) | 33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 33.0MP |
| Video | N/A — film stock | 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal |
| Autofocus | N/A — film stock | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | N/A — film stock | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | N/A | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~30g per roll | 514g body only |
| Dimensions | 35mm 135-format cartridge, 36 exposures | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | N/A | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | ISO 400 — push-processable to ISO 3200+ with Ilford DD-X or Microphen | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | N/A | Dual slots: SD UHS-II + CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp) | A7C II |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Documentary | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp)
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