Choosing Between Two Kodak 120 Films
When you load a medium format camera, the film choice shapes the entire look of your images. Kodak offers two very different 120 options: the color negative Ektar 100 and the black-and-white T-Max 400. Each excels in distinct situations, so the right pick depends on your subject and the mood you want.
This comparison focuses on what the catalog confirms about each film, helping you decide which roll to load next.
What the Catalog Confirms
- New! Eastman Kodak Professional Ektar 100 Film - 120 Film - Single Roll: Ektar 100 delivers vibrant, saturated colors and exceptional sharpness in a versatile 120 format. This fine-grain color negative film excels in daylight and studio conditions, producing rich skin tones and stunning landscape detail. If you shoot color landscapes or portraits in controlled light, Ektar 100's saturation and fine grain give you a polished, high-detail look.
New! Eastman Kodak Professional Ektar 100 Film - 120 Film - Single Roll - Kodak Professional T-Max 400 Black and White Negative Film - 120 Roll Film: T-Max 400 is described as the sharpest, finest-grained 400-speed black-and-white film in the world, using KODAK T-GRAIN Emulsion for high speed and high detail. For black-and-white work in lower light or with moving subjects, T-Max 400 offers speed and sharpness without the grain you might expect from a 400-speed film.
Kodak Professional T-Max 400 Black and White Negative Film - 120 Roll Film
Color vs. Black-and-White: What Each Film Delivers
Ektar 100 is a color negative film built for vibrant, saturated colors. The catalog highlights its exceptional sharpness and fine grain, making it a strong choice for landscape and studio work where you want maximum color fidelity and minimal grain. Its wide exposure latitude also makes it forgiving in mixed lighting, though the catalog doesn't specify exact latitude values.
T-Max 400 is a black-and-white film with a high speed of ISO 400, giving you more flexibility in lower light or when you need faster shutter speeds. The T-GRAIN emulsion is designed to keep grain fine while maintaining sharpness, which is a key advantage for a 400-speed film. If your subject is monochrome or you plan to print in black-and-white, this film is built for that purpose.
Ektar 100 vs T-Max 400: Key Differences
- Color vs. black-and-white: Ektar 100 is a color negative film; T-Max 400 is a black-and-white film. Your choice of color or monochrome is the first and most obvious decision.
- Film speed: Ektar 100 is an ISO 100 film, while T-Max 400 is ISO 400. The higher speed of T-Max 400 suits lower light or action, while Ektar 100 prefers bright conditions.
- Grain and sharpness: Both films are described as fine-grained and sharp, but Ektar 100's fine grain is tied to its low speed, while T-Max 400 achieves fine grain at a higher speed thanks to its T-GRAIN emulsion.
- Best use cases: Ektar 100 excels in daylight and studio conditions, producing rich skin tones and landscape detail. T-Max 400 is a versatile black-and-white film for general shooting, especially when you need more speed.
Which Should You Choose?
Start with your subject and the look you want. If you're photographing colorful landscapes, studio portraits, or any scene where color is central, Ektar 100 gives you vibrant, saturated results with fine grain. Its ISO 100 speed means you'll want good light or a tripod.
If you prefer black-and-white photography or need a faster film for lower light, T-Max 400 is the stronger pick. Its 400-speed rating and fine grain make it a flexible choice for handheld shooting in varied conditions.
Many medium format photographers keep both in their bag: Ektar 100 for color work in controlled light, and T-Max 400 for black-and-white versatility. Whichever you choose, you're working with two respected Kodak professional films.
