Updated August 2026. This review was first published in 2021. I’ve updated film prices, availability, and where to buy and develop your film, and expanded the comparisons to Kodak Gold 200 and Kodak Ultramax 400. All of the sample photos are still from my original rolls.
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Kodak ColorPlus 200 was the first film stock I ever tried and I have been using it ever since.
Of the cheaper Kodak films I’ve shot, ColorPlus 200 is still one of my favorites, especially if you’re just getting into film. Kodak Gold 200 and Kodak Ultramax 400 are both great too, but ColorPlus has a softer look that I keep coming back to.
The reason I like it so much is its classic, balanced vintage colors, its flexibility, and the fact that it’s still one of the cheapest color films Kodak makes.
For this Kodak ColorPlus 200 review, I loaded up my Pentax K1000 and documented my daily life over the course of a couple of days. Since my schedule usually revolves around our Shih Tzu, Sushi, you’ll see a lot of photos of her 🙂
As a heads up, this article is geared towards the beginner, but if you’re a seasoned film pro I think you’ll find some useful information in here too.
Kodak ColorPlus 200 at a glance
If you just want the short version: ColorPlus 200 is a budget 35mm color negative film with soft, warm, vintage-leaning colors. It’s cheaper than most of the alternatives, it’s forgiving to shoot, and it looks surprisingly close to films that cost twice as much when you expose it well. The main limitation is its 200 speed, which wants plenty of light.
- Film type: Color negative (C-41 process)
- ISO (ASA): 200
- Formats: 35mm only
- Price: Around $8 to $10 per roll as of August 2026
- Best for: Sunny-day everyday shooting, travel, and budget portrait work
Why It’s One of My Favorite Film Stocks
The main reason why I keep coming back to this film stock is because of its balanced color profile, cheap price, and consistency. I actually think that when exposed properly, Kodak ColorPlus 200 has a very similar look and feel to the more expensive Kodak Portra 400.
So, if you want to save some money, are looking for a budget film stock for portrait work, or are just shooting for fun, this is a great choice.
PROS
- Still one of the cheapest Kodak color films you can buy, and it’s stayed easy to find.
- A classic well-balanced vintage color rendition that’s perfect for everyday use and even portrait work.
- Of the budget Kodak films I’ve tried, its softer color rendering reminds me the most of Portra 400.
- Has good exposure latitude, meaning it deals well with underexposure and overexposure.
CONS
- It’s a 200-speed film so it’s not as flexible to use as a 400-speed film like Kodak Ultramax 400.
- The slower speed isn’t as easy to use in low light or on cloudy days.
- The warm color tones might not fit with everyone’s style.
- Only sold in 35mm, so it’s not an option if you shoot medium format.
As of August 2026, ColorPlus runs about $8 to $10 for a 36-exposure roll. One thing that has changed since I first wrote this review: ColorPlus used to be reliably cheaper than Kodak Gold 200, and that gap has mostly closed. These days the two usually sit within a dollar of each other, so I’d pick between them based on the look you prefer rather than the price.
Kodak ColorPlus 200 Features
Colors
Like all Kodak film stocks, Kodak ColorPlus 200 features a classic, warm, vintage vibe.
What’s nice about ColorPlus is that it has a more balanced color profile and isn’t as saturated as Kodak Gold 200, the other popular 200 speed Kodak film stock.
Kodak ColorPlus 200 performs best slightly overexposed and loves bright light. In good sunlight, the film stock does a very nice job of accentuating the warm tones in the image. At the same time, it doesn’t oversaturate the stronger colors, so you get a softer, less contrasty look, especially when compared to Kodak Gold 200.
Additionally, one of the strongest aspects of Kodak ColorPlus 200 is how it renders skin tones in both sunny and cloudy conditions. Because it’s less punchy and contrasty with the warm Kodak undertone, it gives the skin a nice soft glow that is similar to Kodak Portra 400.
Here are two example photos to illustrate what I’m talking about.
Image #1
In this image, Melissa is sitting on the bed with Sushi and is lit by natural light streaming in through a window on the left side of the image. Most of the natural light is hitting Sushi’s face, but there is still some soft natural light on Melissa’s face.
As you can see, the skin tone rendering in the sunlight looks very good and natural. On the temperature scale, the film stock definitely has a warm tint which gives her skin a nice warm glow. Most importantly, even though the film stock has a warm undertone, it doesn’t overpower or over-saturate the skin tones even in sunlight.
Image #2
In this image, Melissa is holding Sushi in front of a fence on a cloudy day. Even though it was cloudy, there was still enough light flowing through the clouds to use this 200 speed film stock at a reasonably fast shutter speed.
When you compare this image to image #1, you’ll notice that even with less light to work with, the film stock still does a great job of rendering her skin with a warm, soft look.
Film Speed
The 200 ISO (ASA) speed of Kodak ColorPlus is by far its biggest weakness, as it’s on the slower side of the film stock speed spectrum.
At 200 ISO (ASA) it works great on bright sunny days. However, on cloudy days it’s more difficult to use and you’ll need wider apertures, slower shutter speeds, and maybe even a tripod depending on how low the light is.
Indoors, you can still get good results, but you’ll need lots of natural light flowing in from the windows or you’ll probably need to use flash.
As for night photography, it’s possible, but at 200 ISO it’ll be harder to use and definitely not the best choice. If you know you’ll be shooting a lot in low light or at night, a 400 speed film like Kodak Ultramax 400 or Kodak Portra 400 will make your life much easier.
By the way, if you’re deciding what to load in a specific camera, we also have guides to the best film for the Pentax K1000 and the best film for the Canon AE-1, and ColorPlus is a pick on both.
Latitude of Film Stock
Kodak ColorPlus 200 has a pretty wide exposure latitude, comparable to Kodak Gold 200, the other 200-speed budget Kodak film stock. The reason this matters is that the more exposure latitude a film stock has, the more you can underexpose or overexpose an image while still getting good results.
What this also means is that if you’re shooting a high contrast scene with bright highlights and dark shadows, you’ll be able to retain more detail at both extremes.
One thing to keep in mind is that, like other Kodak film stocks, ColorPlus performs much better overexposed than underexposed.
In general, you can easily overexpose Kodak ColorPlus 200 by 1 or 2 stops. On the other end, you can probably only get away with about 1 stop of underexposure before the colors become a bit muddled.
Of course, the big downside is that it doesn’t have as much exposure latitude as Kodak Portra 400 or Kodak Ultramax 400, the two popular 400-speed film stocks from Kodak.
Beginner’s Note: “Latitude” means how well the film stock performs when it’s under or overexposed. If a film stock has high latitude, it performs well throughout a wide range from underexposure to overexposure. If it has low latitude, it only performs well in a narrow exposure window.
Grain
Kodak ColorPlus 200 has fairly fine grain, which is one of the things I like about slower film. When it’s exposed well, the scans hold plenty of detail and the grain stays relatively unobtrusive.
The obvious downside is that since it’s a slower film, it’s not as sensitive to light, so it won’t perform as well in low light conditions as a 400-speed film.
Beginner’s Note: This is one of the trade-offs between low speed (low ISO) and higher speed film stocks (high ISO). In general, the lower the ISO, the finer the grain. The higher the ISO, the coarser/larger the grain. That said, coarser grain isn’t a negative, it’s just a different look, and it comes with better low light performance.
How to Meter for Kodak ColorPlus 200
TL;DR – Get the best results by metering at box speed 200 or 1 stop overexposed at ISO (ASA) 100.
As I mentioned, Kodak ColorPlus 200 has pretty good exposure latitude and performs best slightly overexposed. After shooting and developing a few rolls, I’ve found it best to meter at the box speed of ISO (ASA) 200 or 1 stop overexposed at ISO (ASA) 100.
The best way to make sure you’re not underexposing your image too much is to expose for the shadows. For example, in this image I set the camera ASA to 100. Then I used the internal light meter of the Pentax K1000 to meter and expose for the shadows, which also means the highlights were overexposed.
By metering for the shadows, I was able to keep them properly exposed while staying confident that ColorPlus could easily handle the overexposed highlights.
Beginner’s Note: If your camera doesn’t have a built-in light meter, one easy option is a phone light meter app like this one. I’ve had good results using one, and a dedicated Sekonic light meter is another option if you want a separate meter.
Kodak ColorPlus 200 vs Kodak Gold 200
This is the comparison I get asked about the most, since they’re both budget 200 speed Kodak color films.
Kodak Gold 200 is a classic film stock with rich, warm, vintage colors that is noticeably more saturated and contrasty than ColorPlus. If you’re looking for punchier colors or want the warmest vibes for sunny days, Gold might be the better choice.
ColorPlus, on the other hand, is softer and more muted, and I think it’s the closer of the two to Portra’s look, especially for skin tones. The exposure latitude of the two is comparable, and both like to be shot slightly overexposed.
Price used to be the tiebreaker, since ColorPlus was consistently the cheaper roll. As of August 2026, the two usually sit within a dollar of each other (around $8 to $10 per roll), so it really comes down to whether you want the punchier Gold look or the softer ColorPlus look.
If you want a more detailed look into my experience with this film stock, make sure to check out my Kodak Gold 200 review too.
ISO (ASA): 200
Best Shot At: Slightly overexposed. Try shooting it metered at 100 to 160 ISO.
Kodak ColorPlus 200 vs Kodak Ultramax 400
Kodak Ultramax 400 is another great budget film stock option from Kodak, and it features a similar saturated, warm color profile to Kodak Gold 200.
The biggest difference from ColorPlus is that it’s twice as fast, with an ISO (ASA) of 400. That extra speed makes it noticeably more flexible in shade, on cloudy Pacific Northwest days, and indoors. The trade-offs are slightly larger grain and a punchier look than ColorPlus, plus a slightly higher price, usually around $11 to $13 per roll as of August 2026.
My simple rule: if most of your shooting happens outside on decent days, ColorPlus is the cheaper and softer-looking choice. If your light is unpredictable, Ultramax is the safer roll to have in the camera.
You can see my photos and full thoughts in my Kodak Ultramax 400 review.
ISO (ASA): 400
Best Shot At: The box speed of 400.
Kodak ColorPlus 200 vs Kodak Portra 400
Kodak’s premium offering, Kodak Portra 400, is my all-time favorite film stock, and there’s a good reason it’s so popular with other film photographers too.
Portra produces beautiful, well-balanced color, incredibly accurate skin tones, and keeps a crazy amount of detail in the image. It also has one of the best exposure latitude ranges, and since it’s a 400-speed film, you have more flexibility in low light.
The downside is the price, and the gap has only grown since I first wrote this review. As of August 2026, Portra 400 runs roughly $17 per roll if you buy a five-pack and $20 or more for a single roll, which is more than double the price of ColorPlus. That’s exactly why I think ColorPlus punches above its weight: when exposed well, it gets you a meaningful part of the Portra look for a fraction of the cost.
ISO (ASA): 400
Best Shot At: Overexposed by 1 stop. Try metering it at 200 ISO (ASA), although it works great at the box speed of 400 too.
Where to Develop Your Film
For newbies, having a professional lab develop and scan your photos is the best way to start. You’ll save time, get consistent results, and you’ll get to figure out if you want to continue with film photography before investing in development equipment.
The downside is the cost, and developing prices have climbed a lot since I first wrote this review. If you don’t have a professional lab in your area, here are a few of my favorites that take mail-in orders, with their prices as of August 2026:
- The Shot on Film Store in Seattle: $19.90 per roll for color develop and scan, $23.90 for hand-developed black and white. They’re my favorite local lab and always very helpful if you have questions, so give them a call if you want to talk through film stocks.
- The Darkroom in Southern California: develop and scan starting around $14 per roll, with flat-rate round-trip shipping.
- Blue Moon Camera in Portland: $27 per roll for color develop and scan, $30.75 for black and white.
All in, expect a roll of ColorPlus to cost $25 to $35 by the time it’s bought, developed, and scanned. It’s not the cheap hobby it was when I started, which honestly is part of why a budget stock like ColorPlus still earns its spot in my bag.
Where to Buy Your Film
ColorPlus is still easy to find in 2026. I’d stick with established photo retailers or a local camera store whenever you can:
- Amazon: Convenient shipping and easy returns, and often the fastest option if you’re a Prime member. Just check that the listing is fresh, in-date film from a reputable seller.
- Freestyle Photographic Supply: A huge supply of different film stocks at a great price.
- Adorama: Free shipping options are available. Another good choice for a wide selection of film stock at a fair price.
- B&H Photo: Another place to find a wide selection of film at reasonable prices, with free expedited shipping on orders over $49.
- The Shot on Film Store: An awesome film store in the Seattle area with a large selection, and you can pair your film order with their developing.
Be more careful with marketplace sellers on sites like eBay, especially when a listing doesn’t clearly show the expiration date or how the film was stored. Expired film can be fun to experiment with, but it shouldn’t be what you get when you thought you were buying fresh stock.
Kodak ColorPlus 200 FAQ
What ISO is Kodak ColorPlus 200?
ColorPlus 200 is an ISO (ASA) 200 color negative film. It’s DX coded, so point-and-shoot cameras will set the speed automatically. On a manual camera, set the ASA dial to 200, or to 100 if you want the slightly overexposed look I described above.
Is Kodak ColorPlus 200 still being made?
Yes. As of August 2026 it’s still in production and easy to find, but only in 35mm. If you shoot medium format, you’ll need to look at Gold 200, which is available in 120, or another stock.
Can you shoot Kodak ColorPlus 200 at night?
It’s possible, but at 200 ISO it’s not the best tool for the job. You’ll need very wide apertures, slow shutter speeds, or a tripod. For night or consistently low light, a 400 speed film like Ultramax 400 or Portra 400 is the easier choice.
Who’s Kodak ColorPlus 200 For and Conclusion
Overall, Kodak ColorPlus 200 is a great budget film stock that’s easy to use, delivers consistent results, and definitely has a place in everyone’s bag.
It features great vintage colors without being overly saturated or contrasty, so it’s flexible to use in a variety of situations.
The biggest downside is that it’s a slower 200 speed film stock. However, if you use it on bright sunny days, or even cloudy days with a decent amount of light, you’ll end up with beautiful images.
Just keep in mind that it’s still a budget film stock. If you’re a professional photographer or are looking to do more serious work, you might be better off spending the extra money for Kodak Portra 400.
Have you shot ColorPlus? I’d love to hear how you like it in the comments.