3 Best Kodak Film for Beginners

Apr 6

Getting into film can be a scary process. Most of us have been using digital cameras for such a long time that we need to buy all sorts of equipment to make the switch, not to mention the learning curve that associated with all that near gear. I remember when I first decided to get into film, I had no idea what I was doing. I spent a lot of money and rarely got the results I was wanting. It was frustrating and expensive and I went through a lot of rolls of 35mm film before I finally figured a few things out and started getting the results I was hoping for in the beginning.

Today we are going to look at some great Kodak 35mm films that are perfect for beginners and won’t break the bank! That’s right - today we’re focusing on cheap Kodak film for beginners!!!

Kodak Gold 200

When I’m shopping for a cheap and reliable daylight speed film, I always go for Kodak Gold 200. It handles the daylight really well and doesn’t leave the shadows looking too dull or lifeless. With these more affordable Kodak films, I never try to push or pull, I’m not that brave! I just shoot at the box speed and go for it. That being said, Kodak Gold 200 is great for outdoors and awful for anything too shady or indoors. Even with a bright flash in the shade the results are just not as nice.

This film is honestly just an amazing affordable film to take with you to the lake or camping or hiking or to an outside sporting event or concert. As long as you are in daylight you won’t be disappointment with a roll of Kodak Gold 200.

You can get this film in rolls of 24 or 36 and if you’re just starting out, I would definitely advise going with the 24 exposure roll. Sometimes it take forever to shoot 36 exposures and when I’m outside, I’ve lost the daylight before I’ve finished my roll which basically forces me to waste the rest of my roll so that I can load a faster film.

Kodak Gold 200 can also be purchased individually or in packs, I recommend getting at least a 3-pack or the 24 exposure rolls. The rolls you don’t use immediately can just be placed in the fridge for safe keeping! I shoot and use a lot of professional Kodak film, but I always keep some rolls of Kodak Gold 200 on-hand. We stock and sell rolls of Kodak Gold 200 on our online store for local pick-up - you can shop our film here! Of course, if you aren’t local to us, you can always pick some up from Amazon and get it delivered to your house pretty quickly!

Kodak UltraMax 400

The second film I recommend is Kodak UltraMax 400. I use the Kodak Gold 200 for daylight, I use UltraMax 400 for almost everything else. This film stock from Kodak holds up a little better under varied lighting conditions that the Gold 200 does. Also I feel that it does a better job or color reproduction. It can become very grainy very fast, but many times, I appreciated that grungy kind of look to my photos. I would never use this as a substitute for a professional film on a paid project, but for personal use, I love this stock! Daylight or flash, the film does well in capturing the image. You don’t need to fear shade or shadows as much with the UltraMax 400 stock. However, the film does fall apart fast if things get too dark. You will get a lot of color noise if you are shooting at night or in really dark spaces. This is a more versatile and faster film that the Gold, but not by much.

Where these more affordable Kodak films really are lacking in their ability to be pushed or pulled. Professional Kodak films usually afford the photographer a lot of latitude where exposure is concerned, but not so much for these two film stocks. But the affordability and fun of Kodak UltraMax 400 makes it a great film stock for a beginner!

We carry UltraMax 400 in our ONLINE STORE for local pick-up, but you can pick it up just as easily on Amazon and have it delivered to your house pretty quickly. When ordering for personal use, I always just buy a three-pack because its always great to have around!

Kodak Tri-X 400 B&W Film

Both Gold 200 and UltraMax 400 are considered to be consumer films, which means that they while they aren’t really designed for the demands of professional use, that they are good for the average user. This last film I want to recommend to you is not a consumer film, but rather is one of Kodak’s professional films. Kodak Tri-X 400 is one of the most amazing and versatile film stocks every produced in my opinion. It can be pushed, pulled, underexposed and overexposed and still produce a decent image. Compared with other black and white films, Tri-X tends to be more contrasty and a little more punchy but it still produces a really great image.

I’ve used Kodak Tri-X 400 for years and have shot hundreds and hundreds of rolls of this film in every type of situation you can imagine. From bright daylight out doors to inside of dark restaurants with a flash, this film is just a lot of fun to use and the results are always interesting! It really is a classic film stock and a great bridge between the consumer and professional film stocks that Kodak produce. It is also a good black and white film to play with. It is, however, not the most affordable, costing a few dollars more per roll, but it isn’t ridiculously expensive either.

We carry Kodak Tri-X 400 in our Online Store if you’re local (we can deliver or arrange for pick-up) or you can purchase a three-pack from Amazon by clicking the link.

conclusion

There are a lot of other really great and really affordable film stocks out there besides these three, but when it comes to Kodak 35mm film, these three are the best for photographers transitioning over to film from digital and also for photographers that are just picking up a camera for the first time and want to start with film instead of digital. This post will get you started with a good film stock, but there is still going to be a lot that you will have to learn! Film photography is a process and it does take a little while to get it figured out. These Kodak 35mm film stocks are fun and easy to use and will help you find your footing in the film world as you learn your own style and develop techniques!

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