Kodak vs. Fujifilm | Two Popular Film Brands, But Which Is Better?

The resurgence of film photography continues to captivate the hearts of veteran and novice shooters alike. From classic cameras found on Etsy to beloved heirlooms handed down through generations, #filmisnotdead is an ever-growing, passionate movement. Fortunately, 35mm and 120 medium formats provide the perfect outlet to explore our creative desires.

The two industry giants, Kodak and Fujifilm, stand out among the many options. Best-selling, powerfully prevalent, and nearly always sold out on every shelf — these two film brands are some of our customer favorites.

But how do you know which is the right choice for you?

Let's dive in and look at both powerhouse film stocks to save you time, money, and effort.

Want to send in your rolls to a lab you trust? Check out FieldMag's article on the top 10 best mail-in photo labs across the USA.

1. Kodak

Best For Warmer Environments and Skin Tones

Besides their iconic yellow branding and an upended identity for quality tones — Kodak is often regarded as the leader of any photo-crafting frontier.

Established over a century ago in Rochester, New York, the Eastman Kodak Company has an illustrious legacy of pioneering photography and camera-related technology. Undoubtedly renowned for its film products, Kodak operates within Print Systems, Enterprise Inkjet Systems, Micro 3D Printing and Packaging, Software and Solutions, and Consumer and Film.

The jack of all trades.

Why Do People Love Kodak So Much?

Professional Porta Series is undeniably some of the best in film photography. The three giants, Portra 160, 400, and 800, are leaders in the analog industry regarding their near-perfect true-to-life results. Their graininess is just right, sharp yet not overly clinical, the colors are vibrant without being garish, and the speed is perfect for an all-day shoot.

From color to monochrome or from vibrant to a more natural palette — there's something to offer for any photographer and style.

A few of our personal favorites on the Moment Community includes...

Kodak Portra 400

"This is my go-to film stock. It's the film stock I've shot the most so far as a film photographer, and I love how it renders color and saturation. For budget, it's slightly more affordable than Portra 800 and is the perfect choice for portraits, landscapes, and general use." - Gene Yoon

Kodak Gold 200

"This film is *chef’s kiss* when you want to get reds like Ektar but better than Ektar. This film brings the vibrancy and richness of the colors out of a cityscape, emphasizing highlights you didn’t won’t even see with your eyes."- Nat Meier

Kodak T-Max 400

"There's no denying the beauty of this magical stock with its deep blacks and lovely whites. Both times I developed my T-Max rolls, I could see that my negatives were dense as soon as they came out of the tank. It's a strong monochromatic contender for artists that love contrast."- Hunter Lacey

Kodak Portra 800

"My go-to film stock for almost every scenario. It's perfect for shooting when the light gets low, and I generally value this film's stellar saturation, textured grain, and subtle contrast. It's the first film I reach for regardless of the situation because I know it'll deliver the exact results I envision before I pick up my camera." - Steven Schultz

2. Fujifilm

Best For Cooler, Clean Scenes

Fujifilm analog film stocks have long been renowned as some of the world's finest and most consistently reliable photographic films. First developed in the early 1900s and continuing production to this day, their iconic color and black and white emulsions have a long and illustrious history in the modern day.

The popularity of Fujifilm's various film stocks has surged due to its reliable color reproduction capabilities. Not only do their various stocks produce clean and naturally muted hues, but they also provide a distinctive look that is often difficult to match using digital capture methods. This has made them especially popular among photographers looking for unique results impossible to replicate with digital technology.

Nothing like the real thing, right?

Fujifilm Is Clean & Holds Range

Fujifilm also produces several highly acclaimed color emulsions. Their most popular one is probably the Pro 400H, offering bright, airy colors and smooth tones (although they've notably stopped and revamped production on this roll a few times). Fujicolor 200 is a highly popular consumer film often seen on local CVS or Walgreens locations racks. It makes it accessible for anyone who needs a quick 35mm roll.

Do you prefer monochrome? Fujifilm has more options than Kodak.

When it comes to black and white photography, Fujifilm's range of film stocks provides various options to suit nearly any subject matter or creative vision. Their flagship black-and-white product is Neopan 400, which offers excellent versatility, fine grain, and good tonal gradation. Fujifilm Acros 100 is another classic ISO 100 monochrome film, providing excellent sharpness and detail with software highlights. Lastly, their Superia 1600 is a high-speed black-and-white film that renders stunning images even in low light conditions.

Fuji Pro 400H

This film stock I've reserved for landscape use. I adore how it looks with lots of available sunlight, particularly its mesmerizing blues and greens that emulate storybook visuals. - Gene Yoon

My Consensus

Results vary widely depending on the camera you use, your settings, and whether it is 35mm or 120 formats.

From my experience of years working with both brands, I always find myself returning to Kodak’s undeniably gorgeous tones. While some of the images feel more “washed out” compared to Fujifilm’s Velvia, I’m noticing that the colors are much clearer and truer-to-life than the contrasted saturation from Fujifilm.

However, creative visions vary per project and scenario, so it's essential to feel the moods per shoot or situation and choose from there. The Velvia and Provia struggle with beach/pool scenes and high daylight, but I feel the C200 would thrive.

Kodak always performs best under a delicious golden hour, and Fujifilm also tends to shine its brightness during overcast days. Natural light sources are a huge component of film photography. Many prefer Fujfilm for product / still shots, whereas Kodak was always designed for a meaningful portrait (i.e., proper skin tones).

I’m not a massive fan of the Velvia and Provia’s tinted magenta vibes; they’re uneven and hard to manage in post. Nonetheless, I always recommend trying out the different film stocks under proper conditions to see what fits your vision the best.

How We Tested

Being an editor on the team and a professional film photographer, you can imagine my excitement to coherently jot my thoughts on the exciting practices of different film stocks.

Kodak and Fujifilm are comparable to the Titans of the universe, two incredibly sought-after brands fighting to the death. With oncoming popular competitors on the rise, like Cinestill or Ilford, it's an exciting time to be an analog shooter.

Having shot on both for years, I’ve been able to formulate my opinion based on precious time.

But, you be the judge.

Kodak always performs best under a delicious golden hour, and Fujifilm also tends to shine its brightness during overcast days.

💌 There's More!

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