Quick answer

Choose Japan Camera Hunter StreetPan 400 if you shoot 120 and want a contrasty, characterful black and white negative film for street and documentary work. Choose Revolog Kosmos 400 only if you shoot 35mm and want blue stardust and nebula effects baked into your images, because it is not a 120 film. If you need a budget 120 black and white option, consider Flic Ultrapan 400 instead.

The format gap you need to know first

The most important difference between these two films is not their look, it is their format. StreetPan 400 is supplied as 120 roll film, so it fits medium format cameras and gives you the larger negative that 120 shooters expect. Revolog Kosmos 400 is supplied as 35mm film, so it will not load into a 120 back or a medium format camera without an adapter system. If your camera takes 120 film, Kosmos is simply not an option unless you also shoot 35mm. This is not a quality judgment, it is a compatibility fact that should decide the comparison before you think about grain or contrast.

How the two looks differ in practice

StreetPan 400 is a panchromatic black and white negative film with a contrasty, characterful rendering. Its fine grain and high speed make it versatile across daylight and lower light, and the polyester base is coated for dimensional stability. That combination suits handheld street photography where you want deep blacks, bright highlights, and a monochrome look that does not need heavy editing. Revolog Kosmos 400 is a color special effects film that adds blue stardust and blue nebula patterns to your frames. The effect is strongest in darker areas of the image and less visible in bright areas, so exposure changes how obvious the galaxies become. It is a creative tool, not a neutral recording film.

Exposure and workflow trade-offs

With StreetPan 400 you can meter normally at its rated speed and develop it as a standard black and white film. The main trade-off is that you get a specific contrasty look rather than a flat negative, which means less latitude for pulling back highlights in post. With Kosmos 400 you are deliberately playing with exposure to control how much blue effect appears. The trade-off is unpredictability: you cannot fully preview where the stardust will land, and the effect may overwhelm a frame you wanted to keep clean. Neither film is harder to load than the other in its own format, but Kosmos asks you to accept surprise as part of the process.

Cost and value in context

StreetPan 400 is listed at USD 12.57 for a 120 roll, compared with a catalog comparison price of USD 16.99. Kosmos 400 is listed at USD 10.97 for a 35mm roll, compared with a catalog comparison price of USD 17.99. Per frame, 120 film usually gives you fewer exposures than a 35mm roll, so the higher 120 price is not a direct like-for-like comparison. If budget is the deciding factor and you want 120 black and white, Flic Ultrapan 400 at USD 5.75 is a lower-cost alternative with good resolution and exposure latitude, though it does not carry the same contrasty character as StreetPan.

Trade-offs at a glance

  • Format compatibility: StreetPan 400 is 120 roll film; Revolog Kosmos 400 is 35mm. A 120 camera cannot load Kosmos without an adapter. Check your camera's format before comparing looks.
  • Creative control: StreetPan gives a consistent contrasty black and white negative. Kosmos adds blue stardust and nebula effects that change with exposure and are strongest in dark areas. Pick StreetPan for control, Kosmos for deliberate unpredictability.
  • Price per roll: StreetPan is USD 12.57 for 120; Kosmos is USD 10.97 for 35mm. Flic Ultrapan 400 is USD 5.75 for 120 black and white. Compare cost per frame, not just per roll, and consider Ultrapan if budget leads.

Product facts

  • Japan Camera Hunter StreetPan 400 Black and White Negative Film - 120 Roll Film: Japan Camera Hunter StreetPan 400 is a contrasty, characterful panchromatic black and white negative film supplied as 120 roll film, with a 100μm polyester base. The 120 format fits medium format cameras, and the contrasty rendering gives street and documentary shooters a distinctive monochrome look without heavy editing.
  • Revolog Kosmos 400 ISO 35mm Special Effects Film: Revolog Kosmos 400 is a 35mm special effects film that adds blue stardust and blue nebula patterns, which are more visible in darker parts of the image than in brighter areas. It is a creative 35mm option, not a 120 film, so it will not work in a 120 camera. Exposure control determines how strongly the effect appears.
  • Flic Ultrapan 400 Black and White - 120 Roll Film: Flic Ultrapan 400 is an ASA 400 panchromatic black and white negative film supplied as 120 roll film, with good resolution and exposure latitude for lower light conditions. It is a budget-friendly 120 black and white alternative if StreetPan's price or contrast is more than you want.

Which film fits your work

Best for

  • Medium format shooters who want a contrasty black and white film for street and documentary work
  • Photographers who prefer a monochrome negative with fine grain and high speed for handheld shooting
  • 35mm shooters who want blue stardust and nebula effects and enjoy exposure-driven surprises

Not for

  • 120 camera owners who want Revolog Kosmos 400, because it is a 35mm film
  • Photographers who want a neutral, predictable color or black and white result from every frame
  • Anyone who needs the lowest-cost 120 black and white option and does not need StreetPan's specific contrast