Kodak UltraMax 400 Film Review

Kodak Ultramax 400 is a popular 35mm film that's known for its affordability and high-quality photos. In this review, we'll take a closer look at this budget-friendly film and see what sets it apart from other options on the market.

How Much Does Kodak Ultramax Cost? 

First and foremost, let's talk about the price of Kodak Ultramax 400. This film is highly affordable, making it a great option for those on a tight budget. It's often available at a lower price point than other popular 35mm films, which makes it a great value for the money. But don't let the low price fool you - Kodak Ultramax 400 is also known for its impressive image quality. 

Of course, there are other 35mm films on the market that are similarly affordable. For example, Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 400 is another budget-friendly film that offers impressive image quality at a low price. However, Kodak Ultramax 400 stands out in terms of its versatility and color saturation, making it a top choice for many photographers.

The price of Kodak Ultramax 400 is a major selling point for this film. Its affordability makes it accessible to a wide range of photographers, and it offers a great value for the money. Whether you're a professional photographer or a hobbyist on a tight budget, Kodak Ultramax 400 is a film that's worth considering.

What Is Kodak Ultramax Good For?

Another standout feature of Kodak Ultramax 400 is its versatility. This film is suitable for a wide range of applications, from outdoor photography to portrait and studio work. It's also compatible with a wide range of cameras, so you can use it with just about any 35mm film camera on the market. Although it can be used in a variety of shooting situations doesn’t mean you necessarily would want to.

The film has a high ISO of 400, which allows it to capture clear and detailed photos in a wide range of lighting conditions. It also has a fine grain structure, which gives photos a smooth yet satisfyingly grain look which new film shooters will enjoy. 

How Are the Colors for Kodak Ultramax 400?

Kodak Ultramax 400 film review test image shot on Yashica Electro 35 GX

In terms of colors, Kodak Ultramax 400 produces vibrant, saturated colors that are sure to impress. The film has a high color saturation and a wide color gamut, which means that it can capture a wide range of colors with great accuracy. This makes it a great choice for photographers who want to capture the full range of colors in their scenes.

Overall, Kodak Ultramax 400 is a fantastic film that offers a great balance of affordability and image quality. Its low price, high ISO, and vibrant colors make it a great option for photographers on a budget who want to capture beautiful, professional-looking photos. If you're looking for a budget-friendly 35mm film that doesn't sacrifice on quality, Kodak Ultramax 400 is definitely worth considering.

What Are the Cons of This 35 MM Film?

While Kodak Ultramax 400 is a fantastic film that offers a great balance of affordability and image quality, it's not without its drawbacks. Here are a couple of cons to consider when deciding whether or not to use this film.

One potential con of Kodak Ultramax 400 is its limited dynamic range. The film has a relatively low contrast ratio, which means that it may not capture the full range of tones in a scene. This can result in photos that appear flat or washed out, especially in high-contrast lighting conditions. This can be an issue for photographers who want to capture a wide range of tones in their photos, such as landscape photographers who want to capture the full range of colors in a sunset.

Another potential con of Kodak Ultramax 400 is its susceptibility to overexposure. The film has a relatively narrow exposure latitude, which means that it may be prone to overexposure in bright lighting conditions. This can result in blown-out highlights and lost detail in the brightest areas of a photo. This can be an issue for photographers who shoot in bright environments, such as outdoor photographers who shoot in sunny conditions.

While Kodak Ultramax 400 has many positive qualities, its limited dynamic range and susceptibility to overexposure are worth considering. These factors may not be an issue for all photographers, but they may be a concern for those who shoot in challenging lighting conditions.

Would I recommend Kodak Ultramax 400?

Overall, I think Kodak Ultramax 400 serves its purpose as an affordable and easily accessible film stock for all film shooters. When it comes to film photography, accessibility is the biggest draw back. But with Ultramax, you can purchase a box of several rolls of film at most corner drug stores such as Walgreens, CVS, or even stores like Walmart. That just can’t be said for more professional grade films like Kodak Portra or Fujifilm. 

Ultramax 400 isn’t something I would ever look down on! It is my go to film for family trips where I plan to shoot several rolls of film or if I am testing out newly purchased film cameras. It is a great way to test for light leaks or other malfunctions without loosing money on a more expensive roll of 35 mm film. 

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