Top 35mm & 120 Film Stock - Moment

1. Kodak Portra 400

Best All-Around Color Film

If I had to pick one roll for life, this would be it. Portra 400 brings out the strongest color retention whether I’m win the studio or shooting in golden fields. Due to its perfect middle-ground 400 ISO, it handles skin tones like magic and with enough latitude to shoot in almost any lighting situation.

Why We LOVE It: Portra 400 is the one I ALWAYS tell people to try first. It handles light like a dream and just makes things look extremely lovely. Great skin tones, super forgiving if you accidentally overexpose, and easy to scan. I’ll shoot it forever and ever.

Pros & Cons

Pros: Looks amazing in all lighting situations, super versatile, beautiful skin tones.

Cons: Pricey, but worth it. Might feel a little too safe for some

Who It’s For

Everyone for beginners to pros looking for a consistent, dreamy look.

Key Features

ISO 400
Warm, soft color palette
Wide exposure latitude
36 exposures per roll
Available in 35mm and 120

Kodak

Professional Portra 400 Color Negative Film 35mm

$82

Kodak

Professional Portra 400 Color Negative 120 Film - 5 Rolls

$79

Shot on Kodak Portra 400 by Beatriz Valim

Shot on Kodak Portra 400 by Natalie Carrasco

2. CineStill 800T

Best for Low-Light or Night

This one’s got the loooook. Meant for tungsten lighting (but works creatively in all sorts of scenarios). That red halation glow around the lights is iconic and gives off an underground noir vibe no matter the scene. Shoot beautifully in brighter daylight too, but was made to be pulled for low light scenarios.

Why We LOVE It: CineStill 800T brings cinematic vibes to your images… literally. It’s quite literally crafted from Kodak’s 500T motion picture film, with a simple removal of the remjet backing layer. It’s tungsten-balanced for artificial light and has signature halation glow around highlights, especially from street lamps, neon signs, or highlights. It’s a fave for nighttime city photoshoot vibes.

Pros & Cons

Pros: Stunning night visuals, unique cinematic aesthetic, looks absolutely stunning if you’re pushing film.

Cons: Halation may be too strong for some tastes, can be a little too grainy with not the most natural skin tone. Its super stylized look would be a make or break for particular subjects.

Who It’s For

Moody portrait shooters, night owl street photographers, and anyone chasing those Blade Runner vibes.

Key Features

ISO 800
Tungsten balanced
Halation effect around highlights
Best used with artificial light
Available in 35mm and 120

CineStill

800 Tungsten Color Negative 35mm Film

$16.99

CineStill

800 Tungsten Color Negative 120 Film

$15.99

Shot on CineStill 800T by Natalie Carrasco

3. Kodak Portra 160

Best Color Film for Landscapes

This iteration in the Porter series holds lower contrast than Portra 400, but pulls incredible detail in skies, shadows, and subtle textures. It’s crisp and creamy in the best way. I love to use Portra 160 in bright, airy conditions where light-hungry scapes demand attention.

Why We LOVE it: A little slower and lower contrast that Portra 400, BUT it brings out crazy good detail in skies, shadows, and skin. Super fine grain and super dreamy tones that gives your photos warm, nostalgic glow.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Sharp and clean with soft color.

Cons: Needs a lot of light, it's a stock that's easy to underexpose (and looks muddy when so).

Who It’s For

Landscape peeps, nature lovers, slow and intentional shooters.

Key Features

ISO 160
Ultra-fine grain
Low contrast, high detail
Great for natural light and soft light palettes
Available in 35mm and 120 film

Kodak

Professional Portra 160 Color Negative 35mm Film - 5 Rolls

$69

Kodak

Professional Portra 160 Color Negative 120 Film - 5 Rolls

$59

4. Kodak Gold 200

Best Color Film for Sunny Days

Affordable, nostalgic. and warm in all the right spots. Gold 200 thrives under full sun, skin tones glow, skies get that pastel softness, and it has just enough grain to feel like an old memory. This is my personal go-to option if Portra 400 doesn’t

Why We LOVE It: Shooting Gold always feels like Summer to me. Gold is gold, duh it’s in the name. Warm and nostalgic. Easy on your wallet, huge +.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Budget-friendly Classic Kodak warmth. Beautiful in sunlight.

Cons: Not great in shade or indoors and can get muddy if underexposed

Key Features

ISO 200
Warm tones with subtle contrast
Fine grain structure
LOVES sunlight
Available in 35mm and 120

Kodak

Gold 200 Color Negative 35mm Film - Single Roll

$8.49

Kodak

Professional Gold 200 Color Negative 120 Film

$42

Shot on Kodak Gold 200 by Natalie Carrasco

5. Kodak Portra 800

Best Color Film for Low Light

Portra 400’s moody sibling. I shoot this when I know I’ll be inside or catching the last light. It’s soft, dreamy and incredibly clean for ISO 800 with loads of retained detail. The shadows become dreamy when pushed, and adds the perfect touch of warmth.

Why We LOVE It: The shadows glow in a way that feels cinematic. It’s romantic without trying.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Reliable in low light, beautiful skin tones, low grain for ISO 800

Cons: Higher price point (boo)

Key Features

ISO 800
Excellent dynamic range
Warm tone retention
Available in 35mm and 120

Kodak

Professional Portra Color Negative 800 35mm Film

$19

Kodak

Professional Portra 800 Color Negative 120 Film - 5 Rolls

$87

Shot on Kodak Portra 800 by Beatriz Valim

Shot on Kodak Portra 800 by Natalie Carrasco

6.) Kodak Ektar 100

Best Color Film for Beaches

Ektar is wild. It’s super saturated and tack sharp, especially in sunlight. Blues and reds absolutely pop that look like something out of old travel magazines. It’s a light-hungry film that really loves bright light and handles darn near perfectly when shooting in direct light.

Why We LOVE It: Ektar reminds me of how colors looked when I was a kid over the top and full of life.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Super vibrant, insanely fine grain, perfect for scenic travel

Cons: Harsh on skin tones, SUPER limited in low light

Key Features

ISO 100
High saturation
High sharpness
Available in 35mm and 120

Kodak

Professional Ektar 100 Color Negative Film 35mm

$14.99

Kodak

Professional Ektar 100 Color Negative 120 Film

$54

Shot on Kodak Ektar 100 by Natalie Carrasco

7. Ilford HP5 Plus 400

Best B&W for Portraits

It’s classic, forgiving, and emotional. HP5 Plus is my go to for black and white portraits it has rich tones, smooth shadows, and timeless grain. It gives more a creamy contrast that only Ilford can produce, a cult favorite for most monochrome purists.

Why We LOVE It: No matter how many fancy rolls I try, I always come back to HP5. It’s my ride or die.

Pors and Cons

Pros: Great contrast, pushes well, soft but gritty.

Cons: More grain than Delta or T-Max

Key Features

ISO 400
Pushes well to 1600
Available in 35mm and 120

Ilford

HP5 PLUS Black and White Negative 35mm Film (36 Exposures) - 24 Exp

$8.94

8. CineStill 400D

Best Color Film for Street

Clean, consistent color and great in a range of lighting. Just enough edge to make it feel fresh.

Why We LOVE It: 400D lets me move fast and trust what I’ll get and it always comes out looking modern.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Handles mixed light, neutral color profile, low halation

Cons: Harder to find locally

Key Features

ISO 400
Daylight-balanced
Great in street/natural light
Available in 35mm and 120

CineStill

400Dynamic Color Negative - 120 Film

$16.49

Shot on CineStill 400D by Taylor Pendleton

Shot on CineStill 400D by Natalie Carrasco

9. CineStill BWXX

Best B&W for Street

Moody and high contrast with a gritty vintage feel. Originally a cinema film, it has beautiful shadows and a ton of drama.

Why We LOVE It: Every frame I shoot on BWXX looks like a film still. It’s pure texture and mood.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Beautiful grain, strong contrast, unique look

Cons: Can blow highlights

Key Features

ISO 250 (daylight)
Based on Kodak Double-X
Available in 35mm and 120

CineStill

BwXX - Black and White Negative 35mm Film

$12

10. Kodak Tri-X 400

Best B&W for Landscapes

The granddaddy of black and white film. Bold contrast, punchy blacks, and lots of character. Timeless and dependable.

Why We LOVE It: Ugh just pure perfection. You get the full range… bright whites, soft grays, deep blacks all blending into this beautiful black and white gradient.