Top 35mm & 120 Film Stocks
|
|
Time to read 5 min
Film is here to stay. Here are the best 10 film stocks to get, no matter the camera.
1. Kodak Portra 400
Best All-Around Color Film
If I had to pick one roll for life, this would be it. Portra 400 brings out the strongest color retention whether I’m in the studio or shooting in golden fields. Due to its perfect middle-ground 400 ISO, it handles skin tones like magic and with enough latitude to shoot in almost any lighting situation.
Why We LOVE It: Portra 400 is the one I ALWAYS tell people to try first. It handles light like a dream and just makes things look extremely lovely. Great skin tones, super forgiving if you accidentally overexpose, and easy to scan. I’ll shoot it forever and ever.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Looks amazing in all lighting situations, super versatile, beautiful skin tones.
Cons: Pricey, but worth it. Might feel a little too safe for some.
Who It’s For
Everyone for beginners to pros looking for a consistent, dreamy look.
Key Features
- ISO 400
- Warm, soft color palette
- Wide exposure latitude
- 36 exposures per roll
2. CineStill 800T
Best for Low-Light or Night
This one’s got the loooook. Meant for tungsten lighting (but works creatively in all sorts of scenarios). That red halation glow around the lights is iconic and gives off an underground noir vibe no matter the scene. It shoots beautifully in brighter daylight too, but was made to be pulled for low light scenarios.
Why We LOVE It: CineStill 800T brings cinematic vibes to your images… literally. It’s quite literally crafted from Kodak’s 500T motion picture film, with a simple removal of the remjet backing layer. It’s tungsten-balanced for artificial light and has signature halation glow around highlights, especially from street lamps, neon signs, or highlights. It’s a fave for nighttime city photoshoot vibes.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Stunning night visuals, unique cinematic aesthetic, looks absolutely stunning if you’re pushing film.
Cons: Halation may be too strong for some tastes, can be a little too grainy with not the most natural skin tone. Its super stylized look would be a make or break for particular subjects.
Who It's For
Moody portrait shooters, night owl street photographers, and anyone chasing those Blade Runner vibes.
Key Features
- ISO 800
- Tungsten balanced
- Halation effect around highlights
- Best used with artificial light
- Available in 35mm and 120
3. Kodak Portra 160
Best Color Film for Landscapes
This iteration in the Porter series holds lower contrast than Portra 400, but pulls incredible detail in skies, shadows, and subtle textures. It’s crisp and creamy in the best way. I love to use Portra 160 in bright, airy conditions where light-hungry scapes demand attention.
Why We LOVE it: A little slower and lower contrast that Portra 400, BUT it brings out crazy good detail in skies, shadows, and skin. Super fine grain and super dreamy tones that gives your photos warm, nostalgic glow.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Sharp and clean with soft color.
Cons: Needs a lot of light, it's a stock that's easy to underexpose (and looks muddy when so).
Who It's For
Landscape peeps, nature lovers, slow and intentional shooters.
Key Features
- ISO 160
- Ultra-fine grain
- Low contrast, high detail
- Great for natural light and soft light palettes
- Available in 35mm and 120 film
4. Kodak Gold 200
Best Color Film for Sunny Days
Affordable, nostalgic, and warm in all the right spots. Kodak Gold 200 thrives under full sun, skin tones glow, skies get that pastel softness, and it has just enough grain to feel like an old memory. This is my personal go-to option if Portra 400 isn't around.
Why We LOVE It: Shooting Kodak Gold always feels like summer to me. Gold 200 is gold, duh, it’s in the name. Warm and nostalgic. Easy on your wallet, huge plus.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Budget-friendly Classic Kodak warmth. Beautiful in sunlight.
Cons: Not great in shade or indoors and can get muddy if underexposed
Key Features
- ISO 200
- Warm tones with subtle contrast
- Fine grain structure
- LOVES sunlight
- Available in 35mm and 120
5. Kodak Portra 800
Best Color Film for Low Light
Portra 400’s moody sibling. I shoot this when I know I’ll be inside or catching the last light. It’s soft, dreamy and incredibly clean for ISO 800 with loads of retained detail. The shadows become dreamy when pushed, and adds the perfect touch of warmth.
Why We LOVE It: The shadows glow in a way that feels cinematic. It’s romantic without trying.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Reliable in low light, beautiful skin tones, low grain for ISO 800.
Cons: Higher price point (boo).
Key Features
- ISO 800
- Excellent dynamic range
- Warm tone retention
- Available in 35mm and 120
6. Kodak Ektar 100
Best Color Film for Beaches
Ektar is wild. It’s super saturated and tack sharp, especially in sunlight. Blues and reds absolutely pop that look like something out of old travel magazines. It’s a light-hungry film that really loves bright light and handles darn near perfectly when shooting in direct light.
Why We LOVE It: Ektar reminds me of how colors looked when I was a kid: over the top and full of life.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Super vibrant, insanely fine grain, perfect for scenic travel.
Cons: Harsh on skin tones, SUPER limited in low light.
Key Features
- ISO 100
- High saturation
- High sharpness
- Available in 35mm and 120
7. Ilford HP5 Plus 400
Best B&W For Portraits
It’s classic, forgiving, and emotional. HP5 Plus is my go-to for black and white portraits for its rich tones, smooth shadows, and timeless grain. It gives more a creamy contrast that only Ilford can produce, a cult favorite for most monochrome purists.
Why We LOVE It: No matter how many fancy rolls I try, I always come back to HP5. It’s my ride or die.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Great contrast, pushes well, soft but gritty.
Cons: More grain than Delta or T-Max.
Key Features
- ISO 400
- Pushes well to 1600
- Available in 35mm and 120
8. CineStill 400D
Best Color Film for Street
Clean, consistent color and great in a range of lighting. Just enough edge to make it feel fresh.
Why We LOVE It: 400D lets me move fast and trust what I’ll get and it always comes out looking modern.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Handles mixed light, neutral color profile, low halation.
Cons: Harder to find locally.
Key Features
- ISO 400
- Daylight-balanced
- Great in street/natural light
- Available in 35mm and 120
9. CineStill BWXX
Best B&W for Street
Moody and high contrast with a gritty vintage feel. Originally a cinema film, it has beautiful shadows and a ton of drama. Its sports that dark, gritty CineStill name tag and brings in more punch than others on this list.
Why We LOVE It: Every frame I shoot on BWXX looks like a film still. It’s pure texture and mood.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Beautiful grain, strong contrast, unique look.
Cons: Can blow highlights.
Key Features
- ISO 250 (daylight)
- Based on Kodak Double-X
- Available in 35mm and 120
Beatriz Valim
LA- based medium format film photographer Beatriz "BEACASSO" Valim captures intense use of color through fashion and portraits to tell a story.
