Description
OVERVIEW
Kodak 135-36 KODACOLOR 100 ASA is a beloved classic in the 35mm film world—an ISO/ASA 100, daylight-balanced color negative film that delivers fine grain, natural color, and clean tonality. With 36 exposures per roll and the universally available C-41 development process, it offers a dependable, easy-to-love look for everyday photography, portraits, landscapes, and travel in good light.
The Look: Fine Grain, Natural Color, Balanced Contrast
KODACOLOR 100 ASA is designed to produce a natural, true-to-life palette. Greens are clean, skies are a reliable medium blue, and skin tones render warmly without excessive saturation. At ISO 100, grain remains subtle, allowing fine details to shine—great for enlargements and high-resolution scanning. The film’s contrast is balanced, offering good separation in midtones while retaining smooth highlight roll-off in bright sun.
Exposure Flexibility & Best Lighting
Rated at ASA 100, this film thrives in daylight, outdoors, and with flash or studio strobes. It has the exposure latitude typical of C-41 emulsions, so slight overexposure (by up to +1 stop) can yield even cleaner shadows and smoother tonal transitions. For consistent color, meter for the highlights in bright scenes and consider a lens hood to control flare.
Processing: Standard C-41
KODACOLOR 100 ASA uses the C-41 color negative process—the world standard for color print film. You can have it developed at most labs or at home with a C-41 kit. Negative density and color stability make scanning straightforward; most scanners and minilabs will profile it easily for pleasing baseline color.
Ideal Subjects & Shooting Scenarios
- Landscapes and nature in bright sun—clean detail and restrained saturation
- Portraits and group shots—pleasing skin tones and gentle contrast
- Travel and street in midday light—true-to-life color and easy scanning
- Architecture—refined grain helps retain texture and line quality
- Flash photography—neutral rendering keeps colors accurate
How It Compares
- Kodak Gold 200: Gold 200 is one stop faster with a slightly warmer, more saturated look. Choose KODACOLOR 100 ASA when light is abundant and you want finer grain and more neutral color.
- Kodak Portra 160: Portra 160 focuses on exceptional skin tones and wide latitude, often favored for portraiture and professional work. KODACOLOR 100 ASA offers a classic consumer-friendly palette with crisp detail at a lower ISO.
- Kodak Ektar 100: Ektar 100 delivers ultra-fine grain with punchier saturation and contrast, excellent for vivid landscapes. KODACOLOR 100 ASA is more restrained for a natural, documentary feel.
Tips for Best Results
- Rate at box speed (ASA 100) in daylight; consider +1/3 to +2/3 stop overexposure for extra-rich negatives and smoother shadows.
- Use a lens hood to minimize flare and maintain contrast in backlit scenes.
- Keep highlights in check—meter bright areas to maintain detail, especially around water, snow, or white buildings.
- Store film cool and dry; before shooting, let refrigerated film warm to room temperature in a sealed bag to prevent condensation.
- For scanning, start with daylight presets and fine-tune white balance; KODACOLOR 100 tends to scan neutrally with minimal correction.
Handling & Storage
- Store unexposed film in a cool, dry place; refrigeration is recommended for extended storage.
- Allow refrigerated film to reach room temperature before breaking the seal to prevent moisture condensation.
- Protect exposed but unprocessed film from heat and direct sun; process promptly for best color.
- Use lead-lined film bags when traveling through X-ray checkpoints to minimize potential fogging.
