Popular Types of Camera Film & What They Look Like

by Mastin Labs
Popular Types of Camera Film & What They Look Like - Mastin Labs

Whether you’re thinking about learning how to shoot film photography or you’re interested in how to make your digital images look like film, one of the first steps is knowing about the different types of camera film and which one has the look you’re going for.

There are plenty of amazing film brands out there, and each has different film stocks to choose from. Different types of camera film will create different looking images, thanks to variances in color tones, contrast, saturation, grain, and so on.

In this blog, we’re listing some popular types of camera film and showing you some examples of what they look like to help you decide.

Many of the images in this blog are actually digital images that were edited with presets that emulate that film very accurately, so you can learn how to get the film look on your digital images, too!

PS: Before purchasing real camera films, make sure they come in the right format for your camera, whether it requires 35mm film, medium format film, or something else. 

Types of Camera Film: Color Negative Films

Also known as color print film, color negative film is the most common type of camera film. It’s typically the most affordable and easy to develop. 

Here are some popular types of color negative film brands and stocks to check out!

Kodak Films

Kodak Portra 

There are a few different versions of Kodak Portra film, including:

  • Kodak Portra 160
  • Kodak Portra 400
  • Kodak Portra 800
A bride and groom stand together in white room in an image edited with film preset emulating portra film.

Photographer: Eric Rudd | Preset: Portra 400

Kodak Portra is known for its true-to-life colors, great skin tones, and low grain. This film look is lovely on natural-light portraits (hence the name) and a popular film choice for photographers in the wedding, family, lifestyle, fashion, and boudoir genres. 

Kodak Portra film stocks are super versatile and perfect for a warm and neutral look on your photographs. 

Another reason why Portra films are popular is because they can be easily pushed. When you push color negative film, it increases the contrast and grain, creating a more “dark and moody” image. 

 

A bride and groom stand together in front of a black rock cliff while holding hands in an image edited with portra pushed film preset by mastin labs.

See more examples and learn more about our Portra presets here, and Portra Pushed film presets here. 

Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200 is another popular type of camera film that offers a more bright and vivid film look.

a beautiful pregnant woman with long brown hair wearing a green dress holds her belly while standing on a path in nature in a maternity photo edited with mastin labs gold 200 film emulation preset.

Photographer: Nicole Anderson | Preset: Gold 200

As the name implies, Gold 200 is a golden-toned film with medium contrast and saturation, offering rich colors while still being very versatile. It’s known for being nostalgic and affordable—a great film look for travel, landscape, and candid photos. 

See more examples and learn more about our Gold 200 preset here. 

Kodak Ektar 100

Kodak Ektar 100 takes the bright and vivid film look up a notch!

 

A family stands together in a beautiful field in an image edited with ektar 100 preset by mastin labs.

 Photographer: Eric Sowers | Preset: Ektar 100

Ektar 100 is a bold film look with high saturation and contrast. It’s bright and colorful with fine grain and saturated reds. If you want your images to really pop, give this one a try!

See more examples and learn more about our Ektar 100 preset here. Along with Gold 200, this is by far one of the most popular presets we see used by the Mastin Labs Community! 

Fujifilm Films

Fujicolor Pro 400H 

If you’re interested in a light and airy film look, Fujicolor Pro 400H is where it’s at! 

 

A couple with a baby and puppy wearing all white sit together for family photos edits with Mastin Labs Fuji 400H film preset.

Photographer: Michal Ben Abir | Preset: Fuji 400H

Fujicolor 400H is known for its natural skin tones, pastel tones, cyan greens, and low saturation. It’s an especially popular type of camera film amongst wedding photographers and family photographers.

Like Portra, Fujicolor films can also be pushed to create a punchier look with higher contrast and grain. 

 

A beautiful bride wearing yellow holding a large bouquet stands with her groom in front of a stunning lake and mountain scenery in a photo edited with fuji pushed film preset by mastin labs.

Preset: Fuji Pushed Pack

See more examples and learn more about our Fujicolor 400H preset here, and Fujicolor Pushed presets here. 

Fujicolor Superia 400

Fujifilm Superia 400 is a versatile film that is a great option for everyday photography. 

 

A beautiful lanscape image of a lake, forest, and mountain edited with superia 400 film preset by mastin labs.

Photographer: Heather Broom Holdiness | Preset: Superia 400

Superia 400 offers a bold and balanced film look with deeper reds and neutral shadows. Perfect for a bit of pop without going over the top! Some people consider Superia 400 to be “Ektar light,” with similarities in the vividness but a bit less saturation and contrast. It works well for natural and low-light photography. 

See more examples and learn more about our Superia 400 preset here,

Fujicolor Natura 1600

Fujicolor Natura 1600 is a discontinued film, sadly. But we’re still mentioning it on this list because it’s a classic film look and can still be emulated with the help of film presets.

A woman in a yellow and black striped dress leans on a window in a portrait edited with fujicolor natura 1600 film preset by Mastin Labs.

Photographer: Daryl Love | Preset: Natura 1600

Natura 1600 is a versatile film that is great for low light photography with warm skin tones and medium contrast. It’s also a great film look for off-camera flash and studio photography. 

See more examples and learn more about our Natura 1600 preset here,

Cinestill Films

Cinestill 800T

Cinestill 800T is one of those cult classic types of camera film, especially when it comes to night film photography.

 

A couple kisses in front of a lit up diner at dusk in an image edited with cinestill 800t preset by mastin labs, emulating a popular type of camera film.

Photographer: Lindsey Topham | Preset: Cinestill 800T

Cinestill 800T emulates a cinema-esque look on still photographs. It is tungsten-balanced (that’s what the “T” stands for) making it excellent for capturing neon lights and halation. This type of camera film is also known for its vibrant reds, edgy blue greens, and pink glow around lights.

See more examples and learn more about our Cinestill 800T preset here,

Types of Camera Film: Slide Film

Slide film works a bit differently than color negative film. 

Also known as color reversal film or color positive film, slide film is a bit less common because it is typically less accessible, more expensive, and harder to develop. Regardless, slide film is revered for its beautifully vivid colors, fine grain, and a true vintage feel. 

Here are a few popular types of slide film.

Kodak Slide Film

Kodak Ektachrome E100

Kodak Ektachrome E100 gives us all the nostalgic feels with rich, warm color tones and soft highlights.


A woman wearing a head scarf and white skirt twirls in front of a large green door in an image edited with Mastin Labs ektachrome 100 film preset.

Preset: Ektachrome 100

Ektachrome E100 is perfect if you’re going for a vintage look with fine grain, especially in daylight. It’s a popular film look for portraits, lifestyle, and fashion photography.

See more examples and learn more about our Ektachrome 100 preset here,

Fujifilm Slide Film

Fujichrome Velvia 50

Fujifilm’s Fujichrome Velvia 50 is a slide film with vivid colors, fine grain, and deep shadows. 

 

A beautiful woman stands in front of a brick wall covered in vines with purple flowers in an image edited with mastin labs film preset to emulate velvia 50, one of the most popular types of camera film.

Preset: Velvia 50

Velvia 50 brings out vibrant reds and muted blue-green tones, perfect for images with a pop of bright color. Velvia 50 is popular for travel, landscape, and lifestyle photography. 

See more examples and learn more about our Velvia 50 preset here,

Fujichrome Provia 100F

Fujifilm’s Fujichrome Provia 100F is still quite vivid, but has a softer look than Velvia 50 with medium contrast and saturation.

 

A woman with red hair wearing a white wedding dress poses for studio wedding images in a photo edited with mastin labs provia 100 film preset.

Preset: Provia 100

Provia 100F’s magenta tones offer a stylish edginess, making this film especially popular for fashion photography, studio photography, and lifestyle photography.


See more examples and learn more about our Provia 100 preset here,


Types of Camera Film: Black and White Photography Films

We couldn’t finish this list without talking about black and white camera films! 


Black and white film photography is an amazing way to create timeless photos. Removing the element of color creates space for storytelling and emotion.


Here are some types of black and white camera film to try.

Ilford Black and White Films

Ilford Pan F Plus

You can’t talk about black and white film without mentioning Ilford. Ilford considers themselves “the home of black and white film photography,” and with good reason! 

 

A beautiful young woman with long hair looks at the camera for portraits edited with ilford pan f film preset by mastin labs.

Preset: Pan F

One popular black and white film by Ilford is Pan F Plus. Pan F is a rich, high contrast black and white film with fine grain and moody tones. It works well in bright, natural light as well as studio lighting. If you’re looking for deep shadows, this is the one.

See more examples and learn more about our Pan F preset here,

Ilford HP5 

Ilford HP5 is a versatile black and white film with medium grain and contrast.

 

A still image of dishware on a wood counter edited with mastin labs hp5 film preset.

Preset: HP5

HP5 is a bit brighter than Pan F, making it great in a variety of types of lighting. This black and white film stock is popular for street photography, photojournalism, and documentary-style photography. 

See more examples and learn more about our HP5 preset here,

Ilford Delta 3200

Moving into an even brighter option, Ilford Delta 3200 is known for its expressive grain and glowing highlights, making it a great option for more challenging lighting conditions or action photography.

A woman with curly black hair and sunglasses looking serious in an image edited with mastin labs ilford delta 3200 preset.

Photographer: Andras Schram | Preset: Delta 3200

See more examples and learn more about our Delta 3200 preset here,

Kodak Black and White Films

Kodak Tri-X 400

Kodak Tri-X 400 is a black and white camera film with medium contrast and beautiful, fine grain.

 

A couple standing in front of a bridge in the city in an image edited with black and white film prestet tri-x by mastin labs.

Photographer: Ashley Giffin | Preset: Tri-X 400

This black and white film look is on the lighter side, making it versatile and perfect for a variety of photography genres and lighting situations. 

See more examples and learn more about our Tri-X 400 preset here,

Kodak T-Max 3200

Kodak T-Max 3200 is a black and white film with some serious attitude!

 

A portrait of a smiling bearded man wearing a hat edited with black and white preset that emulates the t-max 3200 film stock.

Photographer: Kirk Mastin | Preset: T-Max 3200

T-Max 3200 is known for its high grain, forgiving contrast, flat shadows, and smoothness throughout. It’s a great black and white film for photos with a gritty look and can preserve details in challenging lighting 

See more examples and learn more about our T-Max 3200 preset here,

Fujifilm Black and White Films

Fujifilm Neopan Acros 100

Fujifilm’s Acros 100 black and white film is known for its fine grain and rich, clean tones.

A black and white portrait of a man edited with acros 100 film presets.

Preset: Acros 100

Acros 100 has a deeper tonality and brighter look than Tri-X 400, and is perfect for moody indoor photos.

See more examples and learn more about our Acros 100 preset here,

Have Fun Experimenting With Different Film Looks!

We hope you found this list helpful, and that you have fun trying out some different film looks on your photography! 

If you use Mastin Labs presets to emulate these popular film looks on your digital photos, we would love to see them! Please feel free to follow us on Instagram for more inspiration and tag @mastinlabs in your images or share them in the Mastin Labs Facebook Community. 

 

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