Kodak Gold 200 for 120 | Medium Format Film Review

The Perfect Switch

For the longest time, it was a 35mm only stock. It was pretty slept on too, in my opinion; for awhile, you could get a 3 pack for $15 (so sorry, this is going to make you feel sick if you bought film recently). It was what I would consistently reach for when I didn’t feel like paying the same amount for a single roll of Kodak’s more expensive film (*shouts* Portra). It did everything I wanted it to do, always. I would shoot a roll and it’s like the film understood what I wanted without too much extra work. Ever since I picked up my first roll of Gold, it’s my go-to for every kind of setting, from sunny days to wildly lit concerts.

I think the prices for Gold 200 skyrocketed because it’s such a solid alternative to the Portra family. Bright pops of color, a warm glow around the edges of most things in your frame, not a bad portrait stock if you’re in the right light — I could go on. But because of that price increase and the subsequent demand, now we have something most film photographers have been talking about and manifesting for years...

Kodak Gold for medium format.

What can I say about it? It’s PERFECT and pretty near identical to the results you’d get with 35mm film... in terms of color, tone, and grain. It’s timeless and yet somehow makes you feel like you’re looking into another time when you see photos made with it. I shot 5 rolls and spread them out over mornings, middays, afternoons, and early evenings. The results sang every single time. While I didn’t shoot this stock under cloudy conditions, I have shot its 35mm counterpart under clouds and still gotten rich colors and comfortably warm scenes, so I feel fairly confident about this stock’s ability to handle itself well under any lighting conditions considering how similar they are.

So, besides the price point, why reach for Gold over Portra with your Hassy in your hand? This one is really a matter of opinion, since I know some folks who actually prefer a little less warmth and more consistent colors and tones vs ~extra warm~ and pops of color. But if you are looking for those nice jewel tones and pastels that look like someone just decorated a cupcake, Gold is for you. I didn’t shoot any portraits with this stock, and I know most portrait photographers reach for Portra where that’s concerned, so I’d say stick with that.

Look, I love this film, and you will too. I would exclusively shoot Gold across all of my setups forever if I had access to a steady stream of it. It’ll give you everything you want, every time. Check out some of the photos I made with this stock and feast your eyes on those colors!