Kodak Gold VS Ultramax 400 Compared

Kodak Gold and Ultramax are two very relatively priced film stocks which make them ideal for beginners starting out with film photography, and professionals.

But, with such a similar price point it can be difficult to know which one to go for. The most obvious difference is their ISO rating - their sensitivity to light. Kodak Gold is ISO 200, whereas Ultramax is ISO 400. This is always a good starting point when choosing a film stock so you know you've got a stock that's going to work with your lighting conditions.

We've put together a deep dive into both films to share all of their comparisons, along with sample images, and when you might choose to lean into each film stock.

Kodak Gold VS Ultramax 400 Compared

Here's a brief overlook at the spec of each film so you can clearly see where any noticeable differences are - the main differences which we'll explore below come from the ISO, colour tones, grain and sharpness.

Feature	Kodak Gold 200	Kodak Ultramax 400
Film Speed (ISO)	ISO 200	ISO 400
Best For	Bright daylight, outdoor photography, holiday snaps	Versatile use in varied lighting, indoor & outdoor
Grain	Finer grain, smoother look	Noticeably more grain, especially in low light
Colour Profile	Warm tones, rich reds & yellows, slightly vintage feel	Balanced colors, slightly cooler than Gold, more natural skin tones
Exposure Latitude	Narrower – best in well-lit conditions	Wider – more forgiving if over/underexposed
Sharpness	Good detail in strong light	Slightly softer due to higher ISO grain
Price	Usually slightly cheaper than Ultramax	Often a little more expensive
Availability	Widely available in 35mm, and 120	Common in 35mm, usually no 120 option
Ideal Use Case	Sunny outdoor portraits, landscapes, travel	Everyday photography, mixed lighting, action, low-light without flash

Price & Availability

Kodak Gold and Ultramax share a very similar price point, at FilmProcessing, 35mm Gold 24exp is £9.50 with Ultramax 24exp at £10.00. Availability and price point varies from stockist to stockist and they can be adaptable due to price changes in the supply chain.

Kodak Gold is available in both 35mm and 120, whilst Ultramax only comes as a 35mm option.

Film Speed

Kodak Gold 200 has a lower ISO, meaning it’s less sensitive to light and works best in bright daylight, producing finer grain and smoother detail.

In contrast, Kodak Ultramax 400 offers a higher ISO, making it more versatile in mixed or low-light conditions by allowing faster shutter speeds and easier handheld shooting indoors, though this comes with the trade-off of more noticeable grain.

Shot on Kodak Ultramax 400

Colour Rendition & Grain

Kodak Gold 200 is known for its warm, saturated tones that give images a nostalgic, slightly vintage feel, with reds and yellows appearing particularly rich. Its lower ISO also means the grain is finer, resulting in smoother detail and a cleaner look overall.

Kodak Ultramax 400, on the other hand, delivers more balanced and natural colours, often rendering skin tones more accurately, but its higher ISO introduces more noticeable grain, especially in low-light situations, giving photos a grittier, textured character.

Kodak Gold Sample Shots

Kodak Ultramax 400 Sample Shots

When To Choose Each Film Stock

Kodak Gold is ideal for: Photographers shooting mostly in bright daylight who want warm, nostalgic tones, fine grain, and a classic summer look with smooth detail. It's an ideal film stock for summer.

Kodak Ultramax is better for: Shooters needing flexibility in different lighting conditions—whether indoors, cloudy days, or evenings—who don’t mind a bit more grain in exchange for versatility and natural-looking colours. Ideal for autumn and winter shooting.

Each of these film stocks are highly popular within the film community, but being rated at a different ISO, your lighting conditions on the day, or a trip that you have planned should help you to lean into the right stock that you need, helping you get the best results out of your photography.

Do you have a favourite film stock out of the two? Let us know in the comments below!