Usually when shooting film, my go to stock would be either Kodak Portra 160 or 400, both of which are very reliable, deliver consistent results, and have a great exposure latitude. However, having seen the price of film recently, I thought I would try Kodak’s cheaper offering of ColorPlus 200 as I had seen a lot of other photographers rave about this film stock on Twitter and various forums, along with seeing some beautiful results from it on Instagram.

I ordered three rolls from Amazon and was eager for them to turn up and head out. As soon as they arrived, I loaded up my 1961 Leica M3 and hit the coast. It has been a while since I shot some film, especially 35mm, and I must say that it was an absolute joy to do so again after so long! I mostly just wanted to head out there and enjoy it – guessing exposures rather than being too precious about a light meter.

While Portra is pretty forgiving, I often wondered if I would be perhaps testing this film somewhat with how I shoot – which is often wide open.

Within a month, I’d shot four rolls of 35mm and I was keen to get them sent off to FilmDev to see the results. I’ve used this lab in the past and cannot fault them for their service and quality of scans.

Needless to say, I am very impressed with the results that came back. When there is a lot of available light, this film works really well. The colours are very pleasant and the blues render a somewhat pastel shade. There is a bit of a soft and classic look to the film which makes sense when considering that this is a fairly old emulsion. I personally wouldn’t say that the latitude nor sharpness was up there with the likes of Portra, which to be fair, I expected, but it isn’t bad at all to my eyes, especially considering the price. Would I shoot with it again? Most definitely! I’ve since ordered more rolls of it, so need I say more? For the price, it certainly packs a mean punch.

Kodak has a long history of producing high-quality films, and ColorPlus 200 is no exception. It delivers pretty consistent results with every roll, making it a reliable option for photographers who value consistency in their work.