The Role of Kodak ColorPlus 200
When I first started my photography journey, I primarily focused on digital photography. I first practiced with film photography while taking a class during my brief time in New York. During that time, i shot several rolls while with my dad's Canon AE-1 SLR. It was a fun and exciting process, but rarely a consistent one. It wasn't until recently that I decided to take film photography more seriously, shooting on a more consistent basis while also being more creative and intentional in my shots. Overall, I absolutely love shooting 35mm film. It's such a fun and rewarding experience holding a film camera and having to compose your image through the viewfinder. I simply cherish the more mechanical experience of photography.
The constant dilemma I would always face; however, was the cost. In today's age, where digital remains the most popular and budgetary means of capturing photos, film photography has become a bit of a luxury, at least if shooting consistently. The average film roll costs anywhere from $10-$20, a cost that builds up rapidly. You then have to consider the developing and scanning process, which increase the already demanding price, unless you develop and scan yourself, but the materials still need to be purchased.
This is when I began to shoot with Kodak ColorPlus 200, which has become my budgetary film stock, the choice I go to when experimenting on a shoot or when I am simply shooting for fun and don't want to rely on a more expensive film. ColorPlus is what I ultimately choose if I am testing a new camera or lens. It is a simple stock that gets the job done as far as color rendition and grain structure. It isn't perfect nor unique, but it works. It gives off the film aesthetic that allows people to gravitate toward film photography, encouraging them to shoot on a budget.
As for me, ColorPlus 200 became one of my starting rolls during my return into film photography. I shot with it because of the cost and overall value for money. It offered solid results for a reasonable cost. It allowed me to test the waters of film photography once more, encouraging me to experiment a bit as well as accustoming myself to the limitations of film photography without breaking the bank.
When I looked at my results, I wasn't a whole lot impressed, but satisfied enough to continue shooting with it. ColorPlus give an ordinary look that is still fresh and retro. It isn't stylish or unique, but its natural rendition make it a safe option to rely on. It was a film I enjoyed using for a while, but the excitement quickly diminished. As I became more comfortable shooting on film and working through the beautiful limitations that make film photography so special and rewarding, I found myself less and less excited to shoot with it, gravitating towards more premium or experimental film stocks.
Nevertheless, I have found myself using less and less of ColorPlus 200 and reserving it as more of a fun roll or a test roll, something in which I don't feel too bad over wasting. I have recently stocked up on Acros, Provia, CineStill, and a few other higher quality films. Because of this, I don't see myself shooting much ColorPlus 200 anymore as I also aspire to be more intentional in my shots.
The last time I shot with Kodak ColorPlus 200 was on March 30, 2025. I was shooting some behind the scenes photos for a miniseries project. Although most of the photographs were taken with my digital workhorse, the Fujifilm X-H2S, I was able to snatch a single roll on my Nikon F3T, making a little photo series out of it. The photos gave off a warm, vintage aesthetic. Its grain structure isn't the most pleasant in my opinion, but its general vintage look is what overall makes this film a worthy candidate for casual shooting. I love the retro look that it gives. The skin tones looked very clean, making it a great option for portraits and candid photography. As I was mainly shooting portraits of the cast and crew for the behind the scenes shoot, the ColorPlus excelled with flying colors. Its low speed of 200 made it a bit difficult when shooting some of the subjects moving in rapid movement; there were some moments throughout the shoot where I did wish I had higher-speed film, but that can be said for any low-speed film.. Although I was happy with the results, the next time I find myself shooting behind the scenes photos, I'm going to experiment with other film stocks, probably a higher-speed film too .
While Kodak ColorPlus 200 is a fantastic budget film stock for beginners and casual shooters, the role it played in my photography journey was more as my entryway into the world of film photography rather than a full-on creative tool. It was what allowed me to step foot into the realm of film photography and, through its budgetary nature, encourage me to shoot and gain comfort in my shooting skills. That's not to say it isn't a fantastic film stock; I was more than happy with the results. I don't see myself photographing more creative projects with this film nor simply using it a whole often, but when I intend to be casual or experimental, I can come back to this one.
