Kodak Gold Film Review: 35mm vs 120 📸✨ Which Format Wins?

calebknueven
3 days ago
3 min read

The Legendary Kodak Gold Film in Film Photography 🌟🎞️

Kodak Gold—the film your uncle probably shot your baby pictures on, the film you find stuffed in an old shoebox, the film that just won’t quit. But the question is: does Kodak Gold actually get better when you size up from 35mm to 120 medium format? 🧐

Or is it like buying a cowboy hat three sizes too big—just because it’s bigger doesn’t mean it’s better… 🤠

So, I took both formats—35mm and 120—out into the blazing Texas sun 🌞, because if any light can break a film stock, it’s this one.

In this Kodak Gold film review, I’ll break down whether the 35mm holds its scrappy charm, if the 120 earns its keep, and how these two formats truly differ in real-world shooting. 🎬

Kodak Gold in 35mm vs 120: A Tale of Two Films 📷🆚📷

Over the years, I’ve shot plenty of Kodak Gold in 120. Honestly, I’ve probably shot more medium format than 35mm in total.

But when Kodak officially released Gold in 120, it was… well, kind of “meh.” 😅

Kodak Gold in 35mm was released back in 1986, then updated in 2007. Fast forward 36 years, and we finally get Kodak Gold in glorious medium format! If these two films were siblings, they wouldn’t even know each other. 👯

Why Kodak Gold 35mm Is Still a Staple 💛🎞️

Gold in 35mm has always hit that sweet spot in film photography: a perfect balance of price and performance. Affordable, approachable, and versatile, it’s a film for photographers who want great results without breaking the bank. 💸

But now with 120, I started to see differences that weren’t just about size. 🔍

A weathered, unfinished concrete block building with exposed rebar and a partially collapsed roof stands in an overgrown, arid landscape. Dry golden grasses fill the foreground, and leafless trees frame the scene on either side of the structure. A large green prickly pear cactus grows near the right front corner of the building, partially obscuring a rectangular window opening. A rusted metal basketball hoop is mounted on a pole to the left of the building, positioned between two trees. The sky is pale blue with light clouds. The image was shot on Kodak Gold 200 film using a Mamiya 7 camera. — Gold In 120

Shooting Kodak Gold in 35mm & 120: Gear and Setup 🎒

For my test, I paired:

Leica M6 + 40mm Summicron (35mm)
Mamiya 7 + 80mm lens (120, giving a similar field of view)

All images were scanned with the same profile in Negative Lab Pro—no signature bad flash flare. At first glance, in the harsh Texas sun 🌞, the difference wasn’t massive. Resolution and grain were the main distinctions. 35mm is sharp with the right lens, but medium format starts showing its extra detail advantage. 🔬

Kodak Gold Color and Grain: First Impressions 🌈🎞️

Dead Tumbleweeds 🌵💀

In the 35mm frame, the colors of dead vs. not-so-dead bushes felt natural. But in the 120 frame, there’s a warmer reddish-golden tone that I personally love. 🧡

Greens in Nature 🌿💚

The 35mm greens pop more vibrantly and feel alive. The 120 holds detail, but the look leans warmer and more nostalgic—a classic medium format aesthetic.

Sunset Motel Shot 🌇🔥

Here, 35mm keeps a neutral white balance, while 120 drifts warmer. For my style, I prefer the warmth of 120—but that’s just me. 😏

A weathered, abandoned drive‑thru building sits on the right side of the frame beside a two‑lane asphalt road that runs horizontally in the background. The white cinder‑block structure has a wooden roof overhang and a large rectangular window on its front wall that is boarded up with brown plywood. Red painted letters on the wall read “DRIVE THRU”. A tall metal signpost with five stacked white arrow‑shaped panels stands in front of the building on the left, adjacent to the road. Power lines stretch across the sky above the scene. The foreground shows a gravel and dirt lot with sparse dry grass and broken wooden planks. In the distant background, a transmission tower is visible on the left side of the road under a blue sky with wispy clouds. The image has a warm, vintage color tone typical of film photography and was shot with Kodak Gold 200 film using a Mamiya 7 camera. — Gold in 120

Kodak Gold Film ISO and Low-Light Performance 🌙💡

Gold is ISO 200, not a fast horse 🐎—perfect for daylight but less ideal indoors. Surprisingly, in abandoned buildings with dim lighting, Kodak Gold still performed admirably. Details were preserved, almost on par with Portra.

The larger 120 negative gives extra shadow detail and fine texture, especially in grass blades and architectural features. But don’t underestimate 35mm—its latitude and tonal range are impressive for a smaller format. 🌤️

Scanning and Film Photography Workflow 🖥️🎞️

Every lab—Frontier, Noritsu, or others—has slightly different scanning profiles, influencing color and tone. You can tweak 35mm Gold to emulate 120’s warmth and richness, but medium format naturally carries more detail and depth. 💎

A weathered white motel building with pinkish-red trim around the windows and door, set in an overgrown, dry landscape of yellow grass and scattered pine cones in the foreground. A green tree branch hangs over the left side of the frame, partially shading the building. The motel has four visible windows with air‑conditioning units and a central pink door, all showing signs of aging and peeling paint. In the background, a smaller white structure with a blue graffiti tag is visible under a partly cloudy sky. The photograph was shot on Kodak Gold 200 film using a Leica M6 camera. — Gold in 35mm

Why Kodak Gold 120 Might Be the GOAT 🥇💛

Honestly, I didn’t expect to love Kodak Gold in 120 this much. It’s like a childhood friend you never considered dating until one day you realize—you love them. 😍

Gold is versatile, warm, and surprisingly robust in outdoor shoots. Is it great in low light? Not exactly—but for sunny landscapes, abandoned sites, or architectural photography, it shines. And let’s not forget: it’s insanely affordablecompared to other medium format options. 💰

For me, 120 is the ultimate Kodak Gold experience. I might not keep 35mm Gold heavily stocked—but both formats have their charm. ✨

Kodak Gold in 35mm vs 120: The Verdict ✅📷

35mm Kodak Gold: Affordable, sharp with the right lens, excellent latitude, versatile in daylight. ☀️
120 Kodak Gold: Warmer tones, finer detail, richer shadow information, ideal for medium format enthusiasts. 🏞️

At the end of the day, both formats deliver fantastic results—but if I had to pick one, 120 is my golden choice. 🏆

Your Turn: What’s Your Favorite Kodak Gold Format? 🤔💬

Do you shoot Kodak Gold in 35mm or 120? Which format do you prefer, and why? Drop your thoughts below—I’ll check them out in the next Bad Flashes video.

I love Kodak Gold, and I’m convinced—120 is the GOAT. 🥇💛