Kodak Gold 200
Characteristics
- Grain: medium
- Contrast: medium
- Latitude: wide
- Formats available: 35mm
Kodak Gold 200 is Kodak's consumer color negative film at ISO 200 — the mass-market workhorse that has been in continuous production since 1988 (replacing earlier Kodacolor lines). Gold 200 is sold globally as the entry-level C-41 film; its distinctive warm palette with vivid yellows, oranges, and warm reds defines the "Kodak look" for casual amateur photography.
Key features
- ISO 200 rated; medium grain
- Warm palette with vivid warm colors (yellows, oranges, reds)
- Wide latitude (~±2 stops)
- C-41 process
- Available in 35mm only (no 120, no sheet)
- Mass-market pricing — significantly cheaper than Portra; sold at any drug store / convenience store
Workflow
- Box-speed exposure at EI 200; standard C-41
- Forgiving across mixed lighting (open shade, overcast, indoor flash)
- Push to EI 400 acceptable; EI 800 produces visible grain
- For best results, expose at EI 100 (overexpose 1 stop) — richer midtones, finer apparent grain
Practical notes
- Gold 200 is the family snapshot, vacation, casual photography default — not for professional work
- The warm palette flatters skin in outdoor daylight but can render warm interiors orange
- 35mm only — Kodak does not produce Gold in 120 or sheet
- Cold storage extends shelf life
Related films
- Kodak UltraMax 400 — faster Kodak consumer alternative
- Kodak Portra 160 — professional alternative at similar speed; finer grain, more accurate color
- Fuji Superia 400 — discontinued Fuji consumer alternative