Ilford Photo has a new black-and-white film, and it may not be around for long. On September 16, 2026, PetaPixel reported on the Ilford Delta 400 Professional Collector’s Edition, a limited-edition 135-format film. Ilford says it is available only “in very limited quantities while stocks last.” The company hasn’t said how many rolls it made.
At first glance it looks like a design exercise, since the film comes in an all-black cassette and carton. The real change is under the emulsion.
What’s different
Standard Delta 400 Professional is Ilford’s ISO 400 all-rounder, built on Core-Shell crystal technology that Ilford credits with exceptional sharpness and very fine grain. The Collector’s Edition keeps that emulsion but coats it on what Ilford calls a “clearer roll film base with anti-halation protection.” According to PetaPixel, this is the first time Ilford has put one of its 35mm black-and-white films on that base.
Anti-halation protection matters because it stops light from bouncing back through the film. Without it, bright highlights can bloom into soft halos. A clearer base should also help anyone who scans their negatives. Ilford says the new version brings subtle gains in:
- dynamic range
- shadow detail
- scanning
- overall sharpness
Everything else stays the same as regular Delta 400 Professional. The speed and processing times haven’t changed, so existing development recipes still work. Ilford lists ID-11, MICROPHEN, ILFOTEC HC, LC29, DDX and ILFOSOL 3 as suitable developers for Delta 400 Professional. Rolls carry 36 exposures.
Why make it limited?
If the new version is better, why not replace the old one? Ilford answered this in the comments under its Instagram post: “It’s a test to see what people think and if there’s a market for it.” The company added that if buyers like the film, it would certainly consider making it again as a regular product. In that case, Ilford warned, the price would “likely be higher than the existing product.”
That fits a likely explanation: the anti-halation base probably costs more to make. A wider release would have to cover that extra cost, while the trial run can sell at the old price.
Price and availability
For now, the Collector’s Edition costs the same as regular Delta 400 Professional. PetaPixel lists a roll at $15.19. The film is sold in stores only, through Ilford’s authorized retailers, and isn’t available from Ilford’s online shop. Anyone who wants a roll should check local film stockists quickly, because at least one retailer already showed it as sold out.
Ilford is known for bringing back and adding film stocks, and this release is a low-risk test. If enough photographers buy it and like it, the clearer base could become a regular product, just at a higher price.
