Kodak Reviews

According to Kodak, the new High Definition is actually Royal Gold repackaged. I own 2 Nikon N80s, and did a side-by-side comparison of the HD against Konica. HD has the beautiful greens that Fuji is well-known for, but also softer, warmer skin tones. It's the best film around. However, it's cheaper just about anywhere else from KMart to B&H.

FYI, the Konica greens were very blue in tone.

I grabbed a roll of 800 speed film by mistake once and have avoided it like the plague ever since that day. For regular photography 800 speed is a waste and causes the photographer to give up a lot of detail and color in their pictures. I used a roll for a trip to Las Vegas and regret it to this day because of the colorless grainy pictures I got with that roll. On the same trip under the same lighting with the sme camera, my pictures using both 200 and 400 speed film are much clearer and have a lto more saturation of color and detail. Under specific circumstances this film could be useful, but skill with a camera and aperture/shutter speed settings will do the same on a good camera with lower speed film and make better pictures.

... I would dare to say the photo-finishing lab has a lot to do with the results you see. I was horrified by one lab I tried recently. Incompetence in the lab can totally ruin your prized shots. As always, it's best to shoot a test roll or two and make sure you don't photograph anything you can't reshoot later. Test a new lab the same way, with photos that can be redone.
Keep this film cool. Refrigerate unopened rolls and let them aclimate before using. Try to load your camera in as much darkness as you can achieve. Process this film as soon as you can, after shooting. Leaving the film sitting around or in heat will cause the dyes to deteriorate. If you need to travel by air, ask for a hand-inspection at the airport. Don't pack this film in checked luggage. It is more sensitive to X-Ray equipment than an average film.
This film actually has a better grain index (48) than Kodak's professional negative film (Portra - index 50) at a 4.4 magnification, ISO 800. (I haven't seen any other index value data from Kodak for this film, so I can't comment about larger print sizes.)
If you need a fast color film for poor lighting conditions or for action photos, this is a good film. It is not as good in controlled lighting situations as the Portra or Supra or even Royal Gold films at lower ISO ratings. If you need the speed and don't intend to enlarge beyond 5x, this film is perfect. If you need to enlarge beyond that, the grain becomes more and more apparent. In photography, as in every other endeavor, choose the right tool for the job. Film is a very important tool for serious photography. Don't depend on just one type of film.

I have used this film for years--with both my older point and shoot Cannon 135 Zoom and my current Nikon N65. The fact that it is a higher speed film makes it very versatile for all types of situations I shoot in--indoors, outdoors, low light, beach photography, fast-action sporting events, etc. I have not had a problem with graininess but I have not blown pictures up past 11x14 size. I have shot approximately 200+ rolls with this film and my lab has never had to color-correct my film. I wonder if some people who use this film and have had problems with graininess have more of a problem with their camera or photo processing lab than it is with the film. This film can be used in all types of situations and I will keep using it with confidence!

This film ensures the best photo experience ever. Even if you are not a pro, your pictures will be devoloped with the best color, and contrast a photograph will offer. This film is especially good for zoom cameras.

Skip this one and get either: Kodak Royal Gold 400 or Fuji Superia 400. If you settle for this film you are going to possibly compromise your photo shot.

This film is okay. The color isn't nearly as realistic as some other films. I would recommend Fugi Superia Extra 400. It has much better color reproduction and is cheaper.

This is the film I buy whenever I'm out. My exposures always return crystal-clear! The blue-green color of my stuffed walrus is particularly well-served by Kodak's masterful Gold Max 400 film. I'm also fond of Kodak's 110 film, but due to the nature of that format, my pictures were much dimmer. After the switch to 400, whoa! Watch out! What a vivid walrus!

When I first started doing more serious photography, I went to this old and time-tested reserve, Kodak Max 400. The results, I'm sad to say, were a bit disappointing. The pictures were just too grainy (too many apparent dots in the photo). If you don't know what alternatives are available, it is good enough for your typical snapshot, but I think all of us can do a little better.

As you are probably aware, film comes in various "speeds," which allow you to shoot in differing light conditions. The higher the number, the less light needed. Thus, 100 film often requires bright outdoor sunlight, whereas 400 and 800 film is used for indoor or "high speed" (sports) photography. The problem with high-speed film, however, is that it is grainy. In order to get the film to react more quickly to light, the film needs to use larger silver crystals. Result? Your pictures will tend to be comprised of "dots" rather than smoother blends of color.

Despite improvements from 400 and 800 films of the past, Kodak's current low-end consumer film (i.e. Kodak Max) still suffers from excessive graininess. With everyone switching to 4x6 and 5x7 prints nowadays, pictures shot on these low-end consumer films will often still show "dots" when observed up close. If you want pictures to be treasured for years to come, do you really want dots?

The solution I found was Kodak's Royal Gold series, and... to my delight recently started carrying this line of film. Unlike Max 400, Royal Gold 400 has a remarkably small grain size, offering you the best of both worlds -- sharpness and speed. It is a real shame that more consumers don't know about Kodak's Royal Gold line of film. I would expect that most people normally buy the Gold (low speed 100 or 200) or Max (high speed 400 or 800) series of film simply because it is the only type of film sold in nonspecialty stores. Don't -- it's a mistake. "Royal Gold," even though a little more..., is much better, and you will certainly appreciate the difference in quality.

After taking pictures in Africa, Turkey, Greece, Alaska, and many other places, I've learned (sometimes the hard way) to take film seriously. A great camera will still take muddy pictures if the film quality is questionable.

I recently loaded this Kodak Gold Max 400 film into a new camera to take a test roll before another trip, and was surprised by the wonderful color quality of the returned pictures. A second test roll, taken of brightly-colored holiday decorations, came back excellent as well.

Now, if Amazon would only sell it in 10-packs, I'd be happy...

the 200 speed film is better than the 100 speed. it is able to take pictures in low-light, good light, still. but, the only problem is that it cant take action pictures too well. if you are taking pictures of nature or family pictures on a vacation, this would be good. but, if you are taking pictures of children that are moving, animals, or sports, i would suggest the 400 speed. the 400 speed is as good as the 200, but it can also take action pictures.