Camera Dojo

Kodak Gold 200: what it looks like and how to shoot it

The short answer

Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced ISO 200 color negative film (C-41) sold in 35mm and 120, and a 36-exposure 35mm roll costs $8.99 to $10.90 at US camera shops (October 2026).

Owners and reviewers like its warm, sunny color, flattering skin tones and low price, and Kodak rates its latitude at two stops under to three stops over. The trade-offs are grain that shows more than on Portra or Ektar and muddy, off-color results in dim or artificial light.

Speed
ISO 200
Process
C-41
Formats
35mm and 120
Latitude
2 stops under, 3 over
See sample photosWhat shooters say

Built from 139 opinions from 33 pages and videos. Not yet tested by Camera Dojo. Updated .

Kodak Gold 200 box of 36-exposure 35mm film on a wooden table
Photo: Willwongprd, CC BY-SA 4.0

The short version

Gold 200 is the film people reach for on a bright day out: travel, the beach, street, family snapshots. Reviewers describe the look in the same few words: warm, nostalgic, golden hour. Many also call it sharp and forgiving for a film this cheap. It wants light, though. On gray days, indoors and at night it struggles, and the shadows turn grainy if you underexpose. If you often shoot in dimmer light, see how it stacks up in Kodak Gold 200 vs Ultramax 400.

Good fit if

  • You shoot outdoors in good light: trips, beach days, street, family photos.
  • You want warm, nostalgic color and flattering skin tones without paying Portra prices.
  • You are new to film and want a cheap color stock that tolerates some overexposure.
  • You shoot 120 and want a cheaper everyday roll than Portra or Ektar.

Think twice if

  • You shoot mostly indoors, at night or on cloudy days without flash. A faster film such as Kodak Ultramax 400 suits that better.
  • You want fine grain for big prints or detailed landscapes. Ektar 100 and Portra 160 are finer.
  • You want neutral color. Gold leans warm and yellow, and harsh midday sun can push it further.
  • You shoot under tungsten or mixed indoor light and don't want to correct colors afterward.

Photos shot on Kodak Gold 200

Photos shot on Kodak Gold 200 in 35mm and 120, shared under free licenses on Wikimedia Commons.

What owners and reviewers say, topic by topic

We sorted 139 opinions about the Gold 200 from 33 pages and videos on 25 websites and channels. Each row shows how many people raised a topic and how many of them were positive. Open a row to read short quotes, each linked to its source.

Most of these opinions come from photographers' blogs, editorial reviews and YouTube. Reddit, Photrio and big-retailer reviews could not be read, so everyday owner voices are thinner than we'd like and the mix leans positive. Several reviewers shot the 120 version, and two had ties to the brand: Tony Wodarck says Kodak invited him to beta test the 120 film before its launch, and the Focus Nordic reviewer is an ambassador for that Nordic Kodak distributor. No source discussed halation, so that topic is missing.

  1. Color55% positiveof 22

    Most reviewers like the warm color, with reds, yellows and greens that glow in sunlight. A sizable minority report casts, from yellow in harsh light to a magenta lean, and two found the 120 version cooler than 35mm.

  2. Grain33% positiveof 18

    Opinion is split. Some call the grain fine for a consumer film, but most who compare it with Portra, Ektar or Fujicolor C200 find it more visible.

  3. Exposure latitude47% positiveof 17

    Many call it forgiving, but several say shadows go muddy when underexposed and that it has less latitude than Portra.

    • “In my experience with this film, especially in 35mm, it can be very easily under exposed.”

      Aly's Vintage Camera Alley 2022-06Owner

    • “It’s a great film for beginners too because it’s surprisingly forgiving”

      Myles Katherine Photography 2023-10Owner

    • “Kodak Gold is a versatile film with wide exposure latitude and is a good general-purpose film”

      Martin H, 35mmc 2026-04Owner

    • “it seems to have been right on the edge of losing detail in those people’s faces, although it did just hold on”

      Lee, My Favourite Lens 2020-04Owner

  4. Overall look87% positiveof 15

    The warm, sunny, nostalgic look is the main reason people buy it. Two reviewers call it decent but not a favorite.

  5. Skin tones86% positiveof 14

    Almost everyone who mentions skin likes it: warm and natural in good light. The two mixed voices say it needs the right light and that reds look a little subdued on 120.

  6. Price and availability86% positiveof 14

    Praised as one of the cheapest and easiest color films to find, and as a cheaper alternative to Portra in 120. Two reviewers say it is no longer dirt cheap: Long Weekend thinks prices skyrocketed, and Tahusa calls it not exactly cheap but affordable.

    • “Lately, it’s actually one of the cheapest films you can buy”

      Myles Katherine Photography 2023-10Owner

    • “Gold is my favourite for landscapes I think. And also reasonably affordable.”

      35mmc 2026-07Owner

    • “It’s one of the most affordable films out there, but that’s not the only reason I love using it.”

      Aly's Vintage Camera Alley 2019-11Owner

    • “I think the prices for Gold 200 skyrocketed because it’s such a solid alternative to the Portra family.”

      Nat Meier, Long Weekend Gear zineOwner

  7. Low light and night10% positiveof 10

    The clearest weakness: most say ISO 200 struggles on cloudy days, indoors and at night, and artificial light gives odd colors. One owner found it held up fairly well indoors.

  8. Scanning and printing44% positiveof 9

    Several reviewers say it scans easily, but just as many stress that the lab scan or your own color correction changes the result as much as the film does.

  9. Sharpness and detail88% positiveof 8

    Reviewers consistently call it sharp for the money. One video reviewer finds it slightly soft, which he says flatters portraits.

  10. Pushing and pulling43% positiveof 7

    Reviewers report usable results pulled to 100 or pushed to 400. A push adds contrast, saturation and grain, and some still found box speed looked best.

  11. Consistency80% positiveof 5

    Most say it gives predictable results roll after roll, even in simple cameras. One commenter has had mixed results.

PositiveMixedNegative

How to shoot Kodak Gold 200

Gold 200 is simple to use. The main rule is to give it plenty of light.

  1. 1

    Set the camera to ISO 200

    The 35mm cartridge is DX-coded, so most automatic cameras set the speed themselves. On a manual camera, set the ISO dial to 200.

  2. 2

    Shoot in daylight

    Lens Lurker says it does best in bright daylight. For average frontlit subjects, Kodak's data sheet suggests 1/250 second at f/11 in bright or hazy sun with distinct shadows, f/8 in weak hazy sun, f/5.6 when it's cloudy bright, f/4 in heavy overcast or open shade and f/16 in bright sun on light sand or snow. The sunny 16 rule explains how to work without a meter.

  3. 3

    Meter for the shadows and lean over

    Kodak lists more room for overexposure (three stops) than underexposure (two). Decaf Journal rated every frame at ISO 100, and Lens Lurker shoots it at box speed or one stop over, because underexposed shadows turn grainy and muddy.

  4. 4

    Use flash indoors

    The film is balanced for daylight and electronic flash. Carlos Garcia found direct flash balanced its yellow cast and gave contrasty portraits.

  5. 5

    Use a tripod for night scenes

    Kodak's data sheet says no exposure or filter adjustment is needed from 1/10,000 second to 1 second, so exposures up to a second need no extra compensation. Put the camera on a tripod.

  6. 6

    Load in dim light and send it to a C-41 lab

    Kodak's data sheet says to load and unload the camera in subdued light. Any lab that develops color negative film can process it.

Sources: carlosgrphoto.com, myfavouritelens.com, lenslurker.com, business.kodakmoments.com, kodak.com, decafjournal.com, mpex.com, longweekendgear.com

Can you push or pull Kodak Gold 200?

Yes, within limits. Long Weekend says you can rate Gold 200 at ISO 100 (a pull) or ISO 400 (a push), but recommends box speed for reliable results. Alex Luyckx shot it at 100, 200 and 400 with normal processing and found it took the pull well and the push okay.

A real push means rating it at 400 and asking the lab to extend development. The Darkroom charges $2 for push or pull processing and says a push adds contrast and often makes grain more noticeable. Ivan Studynskyi's pushed roll on 35mmc came back more saturated and punchier. Emulsive's bracketing test, two stops either side, still found box speed looked best.

Sources disagree on which way to miss. Kodak allows three stops of overexposure and two of underexposure, and Lens Lurker thinks it looks best a little overexposed. Dehancer's exposure test found the opposite: it handled underexposure slightly better than professional films and overexposure worse. More on the technique in how to push and pull film.

When you send a pushed roll to a mail-in lab, The Darkroom asks you to note the stops on the order form and on the canister.

Sources: longweekendgear.com, alexluyckx.com, thedarkroom.com, 35mmc.com, emulsive.org, kodak.com, lenslurker.com, dehancer.com

Kodak Gold 200 vs Ultramax 400

Gold 200Ultramax 400
SpeedISO 200ISO 400, one stop faster
Print Grain Index (4x6 print from 35mm)4446
ColorWarm, yellow-leaningSlightly cooler, similar saturation (Focus Nordic)
PriceUsually a dollar or two less per roll (Lens Lurker)Usually a dollar or two more
Best lightBright daylightCloudy days, shade, indoors with flash

Pick the Gold 200 if

  • You shoot mostly in sun and want the warmest look for the least money.
  • You want slightly less grain: Parallax found Gold less grainy than Ultramax.

Pick the Ultramax 400 if

  • You shoot 35mm in dimmer light or indoors and need the extra stop.
  • You want one roll that copes with mixed weather on a trip.

Sources: focusnordic.com, lenslurker.com, parallaxphotographic.coop

Kodak Gold 200 vs Portra, Ektar and Kodacolor 200

Kodak's Print Grain Index measures how visible grain is on a print, and lower is finer. On a 4x6 print from 35mm, Focus Nordic gives Gold 200 a 44, against 37 for Portra 400 and 28 for Portra 160. Analog.Cafe works out Gold's grain at about 19% larger than Ektar 100's.

Grain is not the whole story. In good light several reviewers find Gold surprisingly close to Portra: Tony Wodarck saw Kodak colors similar to Portra but a little more muted on the 120 version, and Vuhlandes compared his 120 results to Portra 400. Tahusa and Wodarck both found less latitude than Portra.

How the usual alternatives differ from Gold 200, according to the reviewers cited
FilmISOHow it differs from Gold 200
Portra 400400More neutral color, less saturation, finer grain, sharper (Focus Nordic); more latitude
Portra 160160More neutral color, finer grain; Tahusa prefers it for portraits
Ektar 100100Finer grain and more saturation; Decaf Journal suggests it for landscapes
Kodacolor 200200Analog.Cafe says it is the same film as ColorPlus, whose grain it found identical to Gold's at 10K DPI

Gold 200 makes sense when the light is good and price matters; Portra earns its higher price in mixed light and big prints.

Sources: focusnordic.com, analog.cafe, tonywodarck.com, youtube.com, tahusa.co, decafjournal.com, analog.cafe, analog.cafe

Kodak Gold 200 in 35mm vs 120

Gold 200 came back in 120 in March 2022 as a five-roll pro-pack, the first time it had been offered in that format since Kodak Gold replaced the earlier Kodacolor Gold emulsion in 1997, per Kosmo Foto. Kodak said it intended to price it 25 percent lower than comparable Portra and Ektar 120 films.

The 120 film is coated on a 3.94 mil (0.10 mm) Estar base, while Glazer's lists the 35mm film on a 0.13 mm (4.92 mil) acetate base. Reports differ on the emulsion: Exibart Street calls the 120 a new formula compared with the old 120 Gold, while Emulsive says it is based on the current Gold 200 emulsion.

In use, the bigger negative gives a smoother look, as Aly's Vintage Camera Alley puts it. Japan Camera Hunter and Aly both found their 120 scans cooler than the 35mm Gold they knew, while Long Weekend calls the results nearly identical in color, tone and grain. Unique Photo sells a single 120 roll for $8.55, less than any 36-exposure 35mm roll in the price table below, though a 120 roll holds fewer frames. More on the formats in 35mm vs 120 film.

Sources: filmphotographyproject.com, kosmofoto.com, exibartstreet.com, glazerscamera.com, emulsive.org, alysvintagecameraalley.com, japancamerahunter.com, longweekendgear.com, uniquephoto.com

Developing, scanning and storing Gold 200

Gold 200 is standard C-41 film, so any lab that develops color negatives can process it. Develop-only at Dwayne's Photo starts at $7.50 for 35mm and $10.00 for 120, and The Darkroom's 35mm service with scans starts at $14 (October 2026). Parallax developed a roll at home with a Tetenal Colortec C-41 kit. Compare labs in how much it costs to develop film.

Analog.Cafe and Alex Luyckx both call it easy to scan, but the scan shapes the look. Decaf Journal liked the subdued contrast of a Noritsu HS-1800 lab scan, Myles Katherine scans his own on an Epson V750 and adjusts color afterward, and a 35mmc commenter finds scanning often matters more than the stock. If a roll comes back cyan or magenta, ask for a rescan or correct it yourself; scanning film at home covers the options.

Kodak's storage guidance, as printed on Glazer's product page, is to keep unexposed film at 21°C (70°F) or lower in the sealed package, or 13°C (55°F) for long periods, and to let refrigerated film warm to room temperature before opening it. Kodak's data sheet adds: process film as soon as possible after exposure.

Sources: longweekendgear.com, dwaynesphoto.com, thedarkroom.com, parallaxphotographic.coop, analog.cafe, alexluyckx.com, decafjournal.com, myleskatherine.com, 35mmc.com, glazerscamera.com, business.kodakmoments.com

What a roll of Gold 200 costs

On October 28, 2026, a 36-exposure 35mm roll cost $8.99 to $10.90 at US camera shops with stock, and 120 ran from about $8.50 to about $12 a roll in five-packs, or $8.55 for a single roll. B&H, Adorama, Walmart, Freestyle and KEH could not be checked, so they are not listed.

  • MPEX

    New, 35mm, 24 exposures, single roll

    $6.59

    See listing

  • Procam (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio)

    New, 35mm, 36 exposures, single roll

    $8.99

    See listing

  • G&S Cameras (Long Beach, CA)

    New, 35mm, 36 exposures, single roll

    $10.90

    See listing

  • The Shutterbug (Oregon)

    New, 35mm, single roll (exposures not stated)

    $10.99

    See listing

  • Lumentation

    New, 35mm, 3-pack

    $25.99

    See listing

  • Unique Photo

    New, 120, single roll

    $8.55

    See listing

  • Unique Photo

    New, 120, 5-pack

    $42.50

    See listing

  • Procam (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio)

    New, 120, 5-pack

    $59.99

    See listing

  • Bellows Film Lab (Chicago)

    New, sold out, 35mm, single roll, 24 or 36 exposures

    $12.00

    See listing

  • District Camera (Washington, DC area)

    New, sold out, 35mm, 36 exposures, 3-pack

    $26.90

    See listing

  • Glazer's Camera

    New, sold out, 35mm, 36 exposures, 3-pack

    $38.95

    See listing

  • Glazer's Camera

    New, sold out, 120, 5-pack

    $49.95

    See listing

Prices checked on October 28, 2026. They move every week, so treat them as a range, not a quote. Per roll, Lumentation's 3-pack works out to about $8.66 and Unique Photo's 120 five-pack to $8.50. Several listings were sold out on the day. For a wider view, Analog.Cafe's July 2026 tracker put the average 36-exposure roll at $10.34 across 13 major stores, not all of them in the US.

Technical data

Film

Type
Daylight-balanced color negative film for everyday photography
Speed
ISO 200 (24°)
Process
C-41
Formats
135 (24 and 36 exposures) and 120; no sheet film
DX coding
Yes (35mm)

Exposure

Latitude
Two stops under to three stops over
Light source
Daylight or electronic flash; tungsten and photolamps only with filters
With filters
ISO 50 with No. 80A (3200 K tungsten); ISO 64 with No. 80B (3400 K photolamps), per the data sheet
Long exposures
No adjustment from 1/10,000 to 1 second, per the data sheet

Grain and base

Print Grain Index
44 (4x6 print from 35mm)
35mm base
0.13 mm (4.92 mil) acetate
120 base
3.94 mil (0.10 mm) Estar

Catalog numbers

135-36
7518251
135-24
7518269
120, 5 rolls
7518418

Storage

Unexposed film
21°C (70°F) or lower, sealed; 13°C (55°F) for long periods

Video reviews worth your time

  • Testing Kodaks NEW Kodak Gold 200 in Medium Format.

    Vuhlandes, 2022

    The reviewer praises Kodak Gold 120 for its warm color palette, rich green rendering, and strong similarity to Portra 400 at an expected lower price point.

    • 0:47 Revealing the direct message invitation from Kodak to test the film.
    • 3:15 Unboxing disguised test rolls labeled with stars.
    • 4:18 Displaying outdoor portrait samples with exposure variations.
    • 6:45 Loading the film into a medium format camera for autumn photos.

  • Kodak Gold 200 - LONG LIVE CONSUMER FILM | ROLL REVIEW

    Analog Resurgence, 2020

    Kodak Gold 200 is a budget-friendly consumer film that delivers warm, saturated images with nostalgic charm, making it a great option for casual daylight shooting despite its noticeable grain and limited low-light performance.

    • 0:20 Overview of Kodak Gold as a consumer color film.
    • 1:43 Sample photos displaying color warmth and contrast.
    • 2:20 Displaying available packaging formats for Kodak Gold.
    • 3:29 Side-by-side portrait comparison with UltraMax 400.

  • Kodak Gold 200 Color Negative Film Review | All About Film

    David Hancock, 2022

    Kodak Gold 200 is a versatile consumer film stock that delivers beautiful warm tones and skin tones when used in good cameras, though it exhibits moderate grain and contrast in harsh lighting.

    • 0:30 Introduction to Kodak Gold 200 film specifications and format availability
    • 3:35 Comparing print grain index across Kodak color film stocks
    • 8:21 Evaluating exposure latitude and development performance
    • 8:58 Analyzing the spectral sensitivity and dye density charts

  • Kodak Gold 200 vs Portra 400 | The Best Films For EVERYTHING

    Grainmaker | Film Photography, 2023

    The creator shares his film photography trip on the West Coast, highlighting Kodak Gold 200 as a forgiving film stock with great dynamic range.

    • 0:20 Host introduces film trip using Portra 400 and Kodak Gold 200.
    • 2:05 Photographing Cox Bay beach in Tofino.
    • 4:07 Photographing the Amphitrite Lighthouse near Ucluelet.
    • 7:09 Capturing a float plane at the Tofino dock.

  • is Kodak Gold 200 that good? | life on film

    Matt Day, 2024

    Kodak Gold 200 in 120 format delivers clean, attractive results with good detail, making it an extraordinarily budget-friendly alternative to Portra films.

    • 0:03 Introduction to Kodak Gold 200 in 120 format
    • 0:32 Film scanning setup using a Lumix S5 II
    • 3:28 Discussing Kodak Gold 200 color characteristics and tint
    • 7:35 Analyzing highlight retention and overexposure when shooting into light

Questions people ask about the Gold 200

Is Kodak Gold 200 good for beginners?

Yes. Kodak rates its latitude at two stops under to three stops over, and reviewers such as Cultured Kiwi and Myles Katherine call it forgiving. It is also one of the cheaper color films. Give it plenty of light, though: underexposed shadows turn grainy and muddy.

Sources: kodak.com, culturedkiwi.com, myleskatherine.com, lenslurker.com

What is Kodak Gold 200 good for?

Daylight shooting: travel, beach days, street, outdoor portraits and everyday scenes. Decaf Journal suggests it for portraits, food, travel and still life, and a finer-grain film such as Ektar 100 for landscapes. It is weakest indoors and on dull, cloudy days.

Sources: decafjournal.com, lenslurker.com, 35mmc.com

What's the difference between Kodak Gold 200 and Ultramax 400?

Ultramax 400 is one stop faster, so it copes better with shade, cloudy days and indoor light. Focus Nordic describes it as slightly cooler with similar saturation and marginally more visible grain, a Print Grain Index of 46 against Gold's 44. Lens Lurker says Gold is usually a dollar or two cheaper per roll.

Sources: focusnordic.com, lenslurker.com

Is Kodak Gold 200 discontinued?

No. Kodak lists Gold 200 in 135 and 120 in its current consumer film range, and it brought back the 120 version in March 2022. On November 3, 2025, Eastman Kodak added a new-look Gold 200 in a retro yellow box to kodak.com; Kodak Alaris had distributed Kodak still films since 2013. The 110 version did end, in the late 1990s or early 2000s, per Wikipedia's list of discontinued films.

Sources: kodak.com, filmphotographyproject.com, kosmofoto.com, en.wikipedia.org

Can you push Kodak Gold 200 to 400?

Yes. Rate it at 400 and ask the lab to push one stop; The Darkroom charges $2 and says pushing adds contrast and often more visible grain. Alex Luyckx called his push okay, but Long Weekend recommends box speed and Emulsive's bracketing test found box speed looked best.

Sources: thedarkroom.com, alexluyckx.com, longweekendgear.com, emulsive.org

Is Kodak Gold 200 a cheap alternative to Portra 400?

In good light it gets close. Vuhlandes compared his 120 results to Portra 400, and Japan Camera Hunter thinks the savings over Portra in 120 are worth it in most conditions. Portra 400 still has finer grain (a Print Grain Index of 37 against 44), more neutral color and more latitude, so it wins in mixed or dim light.

Sources: youtube.com, japancamerahunter.com, focusnordic.com, tonywodarck.com

Can you shoot Kodak Gold 200 indoors?

Yes, with flash, which matches its daylight balance. Under tungsten bulbs it turns yellow and under fluorescent tubes it can go green, per Cultured Kiwi, and Kodak's data sheet calls for an 80A filter and ISO 50 under 3200 K tungsten. Without flash, Decaf Journal says you need a lens around f/1.4 or faster.

Sources: culturedkiwi.com, business.kodakmoments.com, decafjournal.com

Is Kodak Gold the same as ColorPlus or Kodacolor 200?

Reviewers disagree. Analog.Cafe's side-by-side found Gold and ColorPlus grain identical at 10K DPI, and it concluded that Kodacolor 200 is the same film as ColorPlus. Others see a gap: Parallax found Gold more vibrant, and a 35mmc writer found higher contrast and less grain than ColorPlus.

Sources: analog.cafe, analog.cafe, parallaxphotographic.coop, 35mmc.com

What people compare it with

  • Kodak Ultramax 400

    One stop faster for cloudy days and indoor light, with slightly cooler color and marginally more grain.

  • Kodak Portra 400

    Finer grain, more neutral color and more latitude for mixed light, at a higher price.

  • Kodak Portra 160

    Much finer grain and more neutral skin tones for portraits in good light.

  • Kodak Ektar 100

    Finer grain and stronger saturation for landscapes and travel when grain matters.

Every source behind this page

Read them yourself. How we pick and count them is in our methodology.

Show all 58 sources

Manuals and references 25

Independent blogs 16

Editorial reviews 9

Video reviews 5

Other 3