Ever since Fujifilm discontinued Pro 400H, film photographers have been searching for something that captures that same magic. Not necessarily an exact replica, because nothing truly replaces Fuji Pro 400H, but a film with similar flexibility, smooth highlight roll-off, fine grain, and forgiving dynamic range.
After recently shooting a roll of Ilford Ilfocolor Vivid 400 through my Leica MP, I genuinely think this might be one of the closest modern alternatives we currently have.
Now, the colour palette is different. Ilford Vivid 400 is more saturated and contrasty than Fuji Pro 400H ever was. Reds are punchier, greens are richer, and overall images have more energy straight out of the scan. But underneath that vivid look, there’s something surprisingly familiar happening.
It’s the way the film handles light.
Highlights transition smoothly without abruptly clipping, shadows retain an impressive amount of detail, and the overall exposure latitude feels forgiving in the same way Fuji Pro 400H did. In mixed lighting situations and outdoor scenes, particularly around golden hour, there’s a softness and balance that instantly reminded me of why I loved shooting Fuji’s legendary stock in the first place.
Another surprise is the grain. For a 400-speed film, Ilford Ilfocolor Vivid 400 is remarkably clean and refined, much closer to the look of a slower professional film stock than something like Kodak Ultramax 400.
No, it isn’t Fuji Pro 400H reborn.
But in a film photography world where so many iconic emulsions have disappeared, Ilford Ilfocolor Vivid 400 feels like one of the first modern colour films in a long time that genuinely captures some of that same spirit — flexible, forgiving, detailed, and enjoyable to shoot.
And honestly, that’s something worth getting excited about.
