35mm Color Film

Professional photographers often keep two (or even three) cameras loaded, each with a different film recording the same image. Conversely, there are also experts who believe the camera has more to do with the finished result than the film. And, of course, the experience of the person behind the lens has a large effect on the end result. But for average consumers who count on their cameras to record birthdays, holidays and vacations, lugging around a bunch of cameras or keeping ten types of film on hand is pretty impractical. So we looked to experts to identify the best general-purpose films.

No film receives more kudos on review sites than Kodak Royal Gold. Kodak has recently updated the name to the more modern sounding Kodak High Definition (*est. $6) , but it's the same film. A favorite of both amateurs and professionals such as the editors of Photographic magazine, Popular Photography and Photo.net, Kodak Royal Gold/High Definition offers excellent grain and color-reproduction, and even one-hour photo labs in the mall are familiar with developing and enlarging prints accurately with Kodak film. Kodak High Definition is currently available in two ISO speeds, 200 and 400. Some reviewers on opinions sites have even noticed an improvement over the Gold series, though Kodak representatives told us that the two films are identical.

Most experts say that 200-speed film is a good choice for most everyday purposes, with the notable exception of Photo.net's Philip Greenspun, who doesn't see much advantage over 100- or 400-speed film. Still, if you are only going to keep one film on your shelf, 200 ISO is your best bet. See our ISO discussion below for more information on choosing a speed.

You can fine-tune the quality of your vacation landscape and scenery shots by using Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 (*est. $5) . Experts say this film has sharp grain—important for enlargements—and exaggerated color saturation, due to red and magenta shifts. This is one of the unique characteristics of this film, which tends to render excessive reds in skin tones, making it a poor choice for portraits, but an excellent film for nature shots and landscapes. If you are a more experienced photographer with an SLR, you can experiment with different exposures, aperture and ISO settings on your camera to fine-tune even further.

While reviewers say Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 isn't appropriate for people shots such as weddings and portraits, they recommend Kodak Portra 160NC (*est. $5) as a better choice. This is a low-contrast film, which experts say is great for rendering detail in wedding fabrics, such as white silk and black tuxedo. Kodak Portra smooths out skin tones, giving people a flattering, "glowing" look.

Important Features

Choosing the right film speed can make a difference in print quality, so it's important to try to match up ISO numbers with the nature of your subject. Some professional photographers carry around two or three cameras loaded with different film or speeds, but clearly, this is impractical for most amateur shutterbugs.

• 100 ISO. If you are mostly shooting non-moving outdoor subjects in daylight, such as landscapes and scenery, 100-speed film is your best bet. This speed also works well for indoor shots with a flash.

• 200 ISO. For occasional photographers and general-purpose use, 200-speed film is a good default choice. This film produces good outdoor photos in both sunny and cloudy daytime conditions, as well as indoor flash shots. 200-speed film, like 100-speed film, is best for subjects that don't move around much. You'll need a faster ISO if you want to capture moving subjects.

• 400 ISO. Faster speeds like 400 and 800 ISO are best for moving subjects, like wildlife and sports. With the faster speed comes less definition. Faster film-speeds also produce better low-light photos.

• Other speeds. You can find film up to 1600-speed, but unless the subject is a 200-mph Nascar race, most people won't need a film this fast.

Also keep in mind that an enlargement beyond an 8x10 print can turn out blurry if you've used a high-speed film, since you can lose detail due to stretched grain. If you're hoping to blow up a print for a poster or other larger format, go with 100-speed film. For other speeds, enlargements will look better in sizes under 8 x 10 inches.

It isn't absolutely necessary to store unexposed film in the refrigerator, but do keep it in a cool, dry place. And while it's cheaper to buy film in larger quantities, it does have a shelf life. Don't buy so much film that you end up with expired film; you risk poor prints by using film after the expiration date on the box.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

As demonstrated in the consensus chart, reviewers clearly prefer Kodak Royal Gold (now renamed Kodak High Definition) film. Fujicolor Superia also receives a number of recommendations; this is a general-use film on par with Kodak High Definition, but it doesn't receive as many votes from reviewers as Kodak. Kodak Portra 160NC is included in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers as a good choice for weddings and portraits; Fuji Superia Reala is the best choice for landscapes.