Best Reviewed
35mm Color Film
- Best general-purpose film Kodak High Definition *Est. $6
- Best professional-grade film Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 *Est. $7
- Best film for portraits Kodak Portra 160NC *Est. $4
Get info about new reports and updates
Best general-purpose film
- Good all-purpose film
- Sharp colors
- Somewhat hard to find
Kodak High Definition 35mm color film, formerly known as Kodak Royal Gold is the best general-purpose film for the average consumer. Although the 200 speed has been discontinued, the 400 speed film is still available. Reviews say the Kodak Portra 160NC (*est. $4) is the best film for portraits and Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 (*est. $7) is best for landscape shots.
We found the best reviews in the defunct PHOTOgraphic magazine, which has been absorbed by Shutterbug. But those reviews are no longer available online and Shutterbug doesn't sell back issues of PHOTOgraphic, so a library may be your best bet. The problem with the reviews at Jafa Photography is just about everything gets high grades, so it's hard to tell which really rates best. We found a few user reviews at Epinions.com.
Our Sources
1. PHOTOgraphic.comDetails/Subscribe
Defunct PHOTOgraphic, since absorbed by Shutterbug, simply lists ten films from slowest to fastest, among them Kodak Royal Gold, ancestor to Kodak High Definition.
Review: 30 Great 35mm Films, Jack and Sue Drafahl, May 2005
2. PHOTOgraphic.comDetails/Subscribe
Defunct PHOTOgraphic, since absorbed by Shutterbug, says Kodak Royal Gold 200, ancestor to Kodak High Definition 200, is good for general use.
Review: A Guide to 35mm Films, Editors of Photographic.com, Jan. 2003
Nearly every product seems highly recommended, so it's hard to tell which products are better than others. Kodak Royal Gold 200 is a "very sharp print film with saturated colors and wide exposure latitude. Grain is very tight and barely noticeable."
Review: Film Reviews, Editors of JafaPhotography.com
4. Epinions.com
A handful of owner reviews gives the earlier Kodak Gold Max 200 a high average score, with no ratings below four out of five.
Review: Kodak Gold Max 200 135-24 (4 Pack), 200 ASA Reviews, Contributors to Epinions.com
