Skin tones are real-to-life and blend lovely within the picture.
Top 7 Kodak 35mm and 120 Film Stocks
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Time to read 6 min
Kodak is everyone's favorite and best-selling choice for a reason. Here's 7 of our favorites, including lots of sample images.
1. Kodak Portra 400
Best For: Photographers looking for a natural, warm film stock to capture any scene without a plan.
Everyone's favorite; this is THE film stock to buy if you're new to analog (or a professional that wants a faithful and true option). It's the kind of film you can count on for top-notch quality in pretty much any light. It gives your shots a warm, sunny vibe with colors and contrasts that pop just enough to make everything look fabulous without going over the top. Plus, it’s a champ at capturing skin tones — everyone looks flawless and vibrant. The 400 ISO is naturally forgiving in low-light situations, especially when pushed or pulled.
True To Color Tones
Skin tones are real-to-life and blend lovely within the picture.
Most Popular
It’s everyone’s favorite go-to for a reason. It’s easy to handle just about any scene.
Dynamic Range
Crisp detail can be seen in every image.
Key Features
- ISO 400
- Warm, soft color palette
- Wide exposure latitude
- 36 exposures per roll
Image By Natalie Carrasco on Kodak Portra 400
Image By Natalie Carrasco on Kodak Portra 400
Shot by Natalie Carrasco on Portra 400
Shot by Natalie Carrasco on Portra 400
Shot by Natalie Carrasco on Portra 400
2.Kodak Professional Portra 160
Best For: Photographers needing an even tone and colorful alternative to brighter lighting conditions.
This color-negative film is a treat. It’s pretty adaptable, handling different lighting conditions like a champ. You'll see tons of detail in bright highlights and deeper shadows, which isn't always true with higher-contrast films. Plus, it’s fantastic for skin tones—greens look neutral, and reds appear more natural, making everyone look their best.
With lower ISO film stocks like Portra 160, these images typically appear brighter and airier, making every frame look more dreamy than moody. This is definitely one of my all-time favorites to shoot with, especially during travels around my desert-filled home in Arizona.
Colorful Shadows
There’s something special about Kodak Portra 160’s shadow colorization: red hues and gorgeous undertones.
Great In Harsh Light
The lower ISO count makes it perfect for harsh, versatile light.
Clean Skin Tones
“Portra” is short for portraits; making clean, proper skin tones always take priority with Kodak.
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
Image by Natalie Carrasco on Kodak Portra 160
Image by Natalie Carrasco on Kodak Portra 160
Shot by Natalie Carrasco on Portra160
Shot by Natalie Carrasco on Portra160
Shot by Natalie Carrasco on Portra160
3. Kodak Portra 800
Best For: Photographers looking to create with Portra 400’s color profile but with a higher ISO for low light compatibility.
Kodak’s Professional Portra 800 film stock is reminiscent of Portra 400, only more grainy with added contrast. It has extraordinarily warm tones and a very good exposure balance. While its grain is more noticeable, it’s still very pleasant looking and adds an extra taste of texture. The high ISO makes photography ideal for lower-light shooting, perfect for reception dinners, moody portraits, and blue-hour mountain view.
Beautiful Grain
The added grain is aesthetically pleasing and gives a natural texture.
Low Light Compatible
This is one of the fewer film stocks on the market that can actually handle low light conditions.
True To Color Tones
Key Features
- ISO 800
- Excellent dynamic range
- Warm tone retention
- Available in 35mm and 120
Image by Natalie Carrasco on Kodak Portra 800
Image by Natalie Carrasco on Kodak Portra 800
Shot by Steven Schultz on Portra 800
Shot by Beatriz Valim on Portra 800
Shot by Beatriz Valim on Portra 800
4. Kodak Gołd 200
Best For: Photographers wanting an affordable option to capture warmer-toned images of any scene or subject.
Kodak Gold 200 is one of the most accessible film stocks on the market. You can find this bad boy in almost any nearby gas station or Walgreens equivalent. Gold 200 is the Bladerunner of all film stocks, curating a warm contrast and haze around subjects of any valor. The long exposure latitude can make it hard to catastrophically under or overexpose a shot, and the signature warm Kodak tones are ideal for nostalgic holiday snaps or family snags.
Affordable
Affordable and accessible to anyone looking to start their film career.
Really Warm
It’s like a Bladerunner or another Mad Max movie equivalent, in a good way.
Great In Harsh Light
The lower ISO count makes it perfect for harsh, versatile light.
Key Features
- ISO 200
- Warm tones with subtle contrast
- Fine grain structure
- LOVES sunlight
- Available in 35mm and 120
Image by Natalie Carrasco on Kodak Gold 200
Image by Natalie Carrasco on Kodak Gold 200
Shot by Natalie Carrasco on Gold 200
Shot by Natalie Carrasco on Gold 200
Shot by Beatriz Valim on Gold 200
5. Kodak Professional Ektachrome E100
Best For: Photographers needing a stock to cater to their experimental colors, and wanting a more vivid expression.
This super vintage-like stock features a signature color saturation and contrast that is often not reflected in other film stocks. The blues and greens are rich, deep, and vivid. Austin Beeman's blog images from his Croatia trip show off otherworldly cobalt tones in the ocean water. Ektachrome has a lower contrast formula to provide balance and a wide dynamic range, and it offers a neutral tonal scale for interiors and studio portraiture for more radical color accuracy.
Unique History
Truly a remarkable and under-used film stock, your images will stand out against the rest.
Saturation
Vivid colors make an even more fun, vibrant picture.
Lower Contrast
It holds a lower contrast formula to provide balance and a wide dynamic range.
Key Features
- ISO 100
- Cooler toned
- Rare to find
- Available in 35mm and 120
Shot on Ektachrome 100 by Austin Beeman
Shot on Ektachrome 100 by Austin Beeman
6. Kodak Ektar 100
Best Color Film for Beaches
This one is a fantastically vibrant film stock that overdramatizes colors and hues yet still maintains the photo's integrity. With colorful blues in the skies and crisp detail due to the stock’s low ISO, Ektar provides a colorway and contrast line that distinguishes itself from the other stocks.
Some photographers love to crap on Ektar 100, but I truly believe it's how you use it and what subject matter you're shooting. Like with most photo-related arguments, it's the photographer, not the gear (oops!).
Made For Landscapes
Hones in on significant detail and colorizes natural tones in an exciting and memorable way.
Love Harsh Light and Shadows
This film catches my attention with bright highlights and contrasty shadows.
Easy To Shoot
It’s almost too easy to achieve super vibrant tones images without crazy manual metering.
Key Features
- ISO 100
- High saturation
- High sharpness
- Available in 35mm and 120
Image by Natalie Carrasco on Kodak Ektar 100
Image by Natalie Carrasco on Kodak Ektar 100
Shot by Willem V on Ektar 100
Shot by Natalie Carrasco on Ektar 100
Shot by Natalie Carrasco on Ektar 100
7. Kodak Professional Tri-X 400
Best For: Photographers wanting a detailed yet textured film stock to boast moody imagery for any fine art project.
An uber sharp and super contrasty black-and-white film stock proudly boasted by Kodak. Great for high-speed panchromatic films that are a good choice for photographing dimly lighted subjects or fast action. Tri-X does the heavy lifting with its punched blacks and detailed depth. Perfect to use against solitary backdrops, portraits, or abandoned scenes.
Black and White
Simply put, we love an excellent, high-concentrated black-and-white film.
Slight Grain
A textured picture makes a moody image even more intense and real.
High Contrast
Contrasted monochrome images serve their purpose; this film stock captivates every detail well and alive.
Key Features
- ISO 400
- Pushes well to 1600
- Available in 35mm and 120
Image by Janelle Hougland on Kodak Tri-X 400
Image by Janelle Hougland on Kodak Tri-X 400
Natalie Carrasco
Moment's Head Editor for The Journal, photographer, amateur gardener, natural wine enthusiast, yogi, sun bather, rambler / etc.
