Kodak Ektar 100
The world's finest grain color negative film — made for landscapes
Color Palette
Ultra-vivid, hyper-saturated — maximum color impact
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Eastman Kodak (USA) |
| Film Type | Color negative |
| ISO Speed | 100 |
| Process | C-41 |
| Grain | The finest grain of any color negative film — PGI 25 or below |
| Exposure Latitude | Narrow for a color negative — requires careful metering |
| Color Palette | Ultra-vivid, highly saturated — the punchiest color negative |
| Available Formats | 35mm, 120, 4x5, 8x10 |
Reciprocity Failure Calculator
When exposures exceed one second, Kodak Ektar 100 requires additional time to compensate for reciprocity failure. Ektar has one of the lowest reciprocity exponents of any color negative film, making it excellent for long exposure photography.
Push & Pull Processing
Ektar 100 is designed to be shot at box speed. Push processing is not recommended, as the film's advantage lies in its fine grain and vivid saturation at ISO 100. Careful metering at box speed produces the best results. Expose for the shadows and let the highlights take care of themselves.
| Rating | Effective ISO | Stops | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pull −2 | 25 | −2 | Extremely slow, reduced saturation — rare |
| Pull −1 | 50 | −1 | Slightly reduced saturation, smoother highlights |
| Box Speed | 100 | 0 | Normal development — optimal for grain and saturation |
| Push +1 | 200 | +1 | Increased contrast, grain still very fine |
| Push +2 | 400 | +2 | Noticeable grain increase, loses fine-grain advantage |
| Push +3 | 800 | +3 | Not recommended — significant quality loss |
Character & Personality
Grain
The finest-grained color negative film in the world. Ektar 100 has a Print Grain Index of 25 or below, meaning grain is essentially invisible at any reasonable print size. The film uses Kodak's Micro-Structure Optimized T-GRAIN emulsion to produce sharp, virtually grainless images. In 120 and larger formats, grain is completely absent. Even in 35mm, Ektar scans with virtually no visible grain at 40 megapixels without sharpening.
Exposure Latitude
Narrow for a color negative film — medium to low latitude. Ektar 100 does not handle exposure errors as gracefully as Portra. Underexposure produces dense shadows, overly strong contrast, and blue color shifts. Overexposure is tolerated better but highlights blow out faster than with Portra. Metering must be careful — many photographers treat Ektar like slide film in terms of exposure discipline. Spot metering is recommended; place important midtones at zone V to VI.
Color Palette
Ultra-vivid, highly saturated colors with high contrast. This is the "punchiest" color negative film available — the polar opposite of Portra's soft, pastel rendering. Reds and greens are particularly vivid. Under daylight and sunlight, colors are warm and intensely saturated. Under overcast skies or shade, the results are cooler and more muted but still vivid. Skin tones can appear overly red or orange if exposure is not precise, so Ektar is generally not recommended for portraits unless a very specific look is desired.
Best Suited For
- Landscape and nature photography — the definitive landscape color film
- Architecture and urban photography
- Product and still life photography
- Travel photography where vivid, saturated colors are desired
- Long exposure photography — excellent reciprocity characteristics
- Any application requiring the absolute finest grain from color film
Available Formats & Pricing
| Format | Approx. Price |
|---|---|
| 35mm (36 exp) | ~$12-17 USD |
| 120 (5-pack) | ~$55-65 USD |
Prices are approximate and vary by retailer. Also available in 4x5 and 8x10 sheet film. Current as of early 2026.
Development Notes
Standard C-41 processing at any lab. Designed for scanning — produces excellent results on both flatbed and dedicated film scanners. Exposure is critical: meter for shadows and let highlights take care of themselves. Spot metering is recommended. The high saturation means post-processing color correction should be minimal. Push processing is not recommended — the film's advantage is its fine grain and saturation at box speed. The blue shadow cast on underexposure is a common complaint — overcome by metering carefully for shadows. 35mm Ektar scans with virtually no visible grain even at 40MP without sharpening.
Sources & Further Reading
Manufacturer Data
Sample Photos
Reviews & Resources
Shoot Kodak Ektar 100 with TLR Companion
TLR Companion is a free light meter app with built-in reciprocity correction for Kodak Ektar 100 and 21 other film stocks. Meter your exposures accurately with camera-specific settings for 48 TLR cameras.