The 5 Best & Most Affordable Black & White 35 mm & 120 Film Stocks with Reviews & Sample Photos

120 film

2. ILFORD HP5 PLUS 400

I haven’t tried this one out quite as much, but it’s actually one of the films that I first started shooting with back in the day. It’s a little less contrasty than Neopan Acros 100 II, but I find it to have a bit more detail in the shadows. Because it is a litle more flat, it gives you more flexibility when it comes to editing and post-processing. It definitely has that classic nostalgia that I’m always looking for when it comes to black and white film and automatically makes it look like your photos were taken 50 years ago. Since it is a 400 ISO film, you’ll find it has more grain and grittiness that the Neopan Acros 100 film. But this also means that it performs better in low light and is more versatile overall. This is a great film to throw in your bag when you’re traveling or when you’re not sure what the lighting conditions are going to be. I recently ordered more of this film and I’m excited to add more Ilford HP5 Plus photos to my portfolio. :) It also comes in both 35 mm and 120 formats.

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35 mm

120 film

3. KODAK TRI-X 400

Kodak Tri-X 400 is probably the most common and most easily accesible film on the list. It’s super affordable and really has that traditional black and white film look. I definitely buy this one the most out of all of the films on this list, because it’s a great price and has never failed me. I love how dark the blacks and I find it to have the perfect amount of contrast. These days it’s probably one of my favorite black and white films because it really fulfills that nostalgia and classic black and white look that I’m always on the hunt for. It’s super sharp and not too grainy for a 400 ISO film. I always have a handful of this film in my fridge. You really can’t go wrong with this one!

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35 mm

120 film

4. LOMOGRAPHY EARL GREY 100

Honestly, any Lomography black and white film is fun to experiment with, and they won’t break the bank. I shoot a LOT of Lomography film, especially the color negative 400 which comes in both 35 mm and 120 film. But lately, I’ve gotten into trying out all of their black and white films. They are all so unique and great for finding your personal style. I particularly love the Lomography Earl Grey 100 film, which has that nostalgia that I’m always looking for, but also has a unique tonal range compared to others on this list. You’ll notice it has an overall muted and gray tone. It reminds me of a faded black and white photograph you might find in an old trunk in your grandparent’s attic. It’s moody and dreary, which I absolutely love. There are a ton of other black and white films you can try out from Lomography, like the Lady Grey 400 & Potsdam 100. Those are also two great black and white film stocks!

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5. KENTMERE PAN 100

Kentmere Pan 100 is a film stock that is somewhat directed towards beginners and students, so it’s very affordable. It’s also super forgiving and versatile, which makes it a great film stock all around. Even though I love the way it looks, something about it doesn’t feel quite as special as the others on this list. But maybe it’s just because I have more of a history with some of the others. :) If you’re on a bit of a budget though, this one is a perfect place to start and won’t disappoint. I just took a few rolls with me on a trip to England, and I’m pleasantly surprised by the beautiful contrast and sharpness. When I first started shooting with the Holga 120 GCFN (which I used for all of the images below), I pretty much exclusively used 100 ISO film. The lens on a Holga is naturally soft so using a 100 ISO film brings more sharpness and clarity to your images. I’m reminded of why 100 ISO film is so great with toy cameras, but it is temperamental on cloudy days or in low-light settings. When I’m not sure of the environment I’m going into, or if I notice the weather is going to be overcast, I tend to stick with 400 ISO film. If you’re interested in learning more about Holga cameras, make sure to check out my blog post here, or my YouTube video here! It also comes in a 200 ISO and 400 ISO film speed.

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35 mm

120 film

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If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

The Best 120 Film Stocks and Where to Buy Them | My Top 5 Favorite 120 Film Brands

March 27, 2025

At this point, I’ve tried quite a few 120 film stocks and there are definitely a handful of them that I consistently return to. I’m also always on the hunt to save money where I can, so I try to balance quality and price when possible. I wanted to share my Top 5 Favorite 120 Film Brands and where to find them. To be honest, there aren’t really that many 120 films out there, unfortunately. Lomography, a company that promotes and sells cameras and film, has been doing what it can to keep 120 film alive. They have so many interesting experimental films and cameras, and are consistently creating new film stocks and quirky, creative cameras. I actually teamed up with them recently to help support their fight to keep 120 film alive! You can check out my YouTube video featuring Lomography’s Turquoise 120 film here! And while I love Lomography dearly, there are a few other film stocks I tend to stick with as well that balance sharpness, consistency, and pricepoint.

Ok, now let’s get into my top recommendations for 120 film!

1. Kodak Portra 160 or 400 Film

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Kodak Portra is one of the best 120 film stocks out there. While it is the priciest on my list, it is also the most consistent and most accuratate in terms of skin tone, color balance, and clarity. The images I get with Kodak Portra 160 and 400 are always sharp, beautiful, and natural. I would say Kodak Portra is the closest to reality you will find in any 120 film stock. By this I mean, the colors beautifully mimic real life and you will end up with photos that are a stunning representation of your subject. When I’m shooting weddings, I prefer to use Kodak Portra because it has smooth skin tones, which is great for portraits, and it isn’t too weird or unusual in a way that will confuse my client. As creative as I like to get with my photography, I also want my client to be happy. I usually always have a few rolls of Kodak Portra in my fridge at all times. If you’re unsure whether Kodak Portra 160, 400, or 800 is for you, I’ll explain a little deeper. I recommend Portra 160 if you’re shooting in a super bright environment or in direct sunlight. If you’re at the beach, or in a bright field, 160 is the way to go. If it’s cloudy outside, I’d choose 400. If it’s overcast and you’re in the shade or shooting indoors, I’d recommend Kodak Portra 800. I didn’t include Portra 800 in my recommended list though because it is EXPENSIVE. I order it every once in a while and I absolutely love it, especially when shooting with the Holga 120 camera, but most of the time I simply don’t have the money to spend on it.

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2. Kodak Gold 200 Film

Kodak Gold 200 is probably the film stock I use the most. It’s super affordable and has that sharp crispness that Kodak film is known for. It has a beautiful golden glow to it that is perfect for days at the beach or on vacation. I take it with me every time I travel because I love that vintage golden glow. It creates sort of a nostalgia and old timey-ness (is that a word??) that reminds me of photographs from my childhood. I try to convince myself to try out other films when I’m placing an order, but it’s really hard to beat the price and the quality on this one. I use it with my Holga pretty often too, but I try to make sure I have a lot of sunlight when using it, just because at 200 ISO, it won’t be able to capture as much detail in the shadows as a 400 ISO film. I do love it so much though and recommend it for beginner 120 film shooters because of the awesome price.

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3. Lomography Color Negative 100 or 400 Film

I love Lomography’s Color Negative film so much. It’s affordable, has bright, vibrant colors, and is consistent. When I’m doing a fashion shoot or trying to capture the vivid colors of a landscape, this is a great film to use. If Kodak Portra mimics the colors in reality, Lomography Color Negative takes it up a notch. Sometimes, I have to bring down the colors in this film when scanning my images. But I’d rather have to bring it down that add saturation to my images. This is a film I always have on hand too. The Color Negative 400 is the one I’ll grab as I run out the door if I’m not sure of what environment I’m going to be shooting in. It can be difficult to get your hands on sometimes, as they sell out often, but they always restock eventually so just keep checking back. Lomography is a somewhat small company so I think it’s hard for them to keep up with the demand sometimes. That’s why I always buy in bulk when I find it for a good price on Amazon or eBay. Every once in a while I order direct from their website too, but oftentimes, I can find a better deal elsewhere. They also have an 800 ISO version too, but again, 800 film can be pricey. Sometimes, I can’t justify spending that much money on film I’m going to use in my Holga because at most, I’ll only get 12-16 shots out of it. Again, use the 100 ISO film in bright, direct sunlight, and the 400 ISO film for cloudier days or for use in the shade. :)

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Lomography Color Negative 100

Lomography Color Negative 400

Lomography Color Negative 800

4. Neopan Acros 100 II Black and White Film

Neopan Acros is super special to me because it’s one of the first film stocks I ever used. It reminds me of when I first became obsessed with film photography and was shooting exclusively in black and white. The original version of the film has been discontinued unfortunately, but the new version is (almost) just as good. It’s one of the sharpest film stocks out there, in my opinion. And for a 100 ISO film, the shadows carry quite a bit of detail. Still, I’d recommend shooting this film in bright lighting conditions. Even on a cloudy day, you might get some unwanted graininess in the shadows. Personally, I love the moodiness that this film has. It’s great for printing in the darkroom because of it’s tonal range. These days. I always gravitate towards color film first because I like to have the option of color or black and white in post-processing. A part of me wants to get back into black and white though, because there is something so special about a true black and white photograph.

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5. Kodak T-MAX 400 Black and White Film

Kodak T-Max 400 probably one of the most affordable black and white 120 films out there. But, once again, Kodak’s quality and pricepoint is hard to beat. I don’t shoot black and white as often as I used to, but if you're a new film photography, black and white is typically cheaper in general versus color film. But I like to shoot in color and then convert to black and white in post-production if I feel the need. I just like to have the option. But if you’re new to 120 film, especially if you’re trying out a Holga or Diana F+ for the first time, cheaper is better, because I promise you, your first few rolls are going to be rough. It just doesn’t make sense to spend a bunch of money on images that will likely not turn out the way you want them to. As I always say though, don’t give up! You can also read more about the Holga here and Diana F+ here if you are interested in toy cameras. They are super affordable and great for beginners wanting to try out 120 film. They also create insanely unique images and will get you excited about film photography. Just have patience, and most importantly, have FUN!

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