The Kodak Colorplus 200 is a popular color negative film that has been around for many years. It is considered an excellent choice for general purpose shooting, providing good color reproduction, nice tones, and sharp images. Many photographers enjoy using Colorplus 200 for a variety of subjects and lighting conditions. One of the most common questions asked about this film is “How many shots can I get out of a roll?” Let’s take a closer look at the specifications of Kodak Colorplus 200 to determine the answer.
Film Format and Length
Kodak Colorplus 200 comes in several different formats, the most common being 35mm and 120.
35mm
For 35mm film, the standard roll length is 36 exposures. This means a 24 or 36 exposure roll of 35mm Kodak Colorplus 200 will give you 24 or 36 photographs. The 35mm film is wound tightly into a cassette cartridge which easily loads into 35mm film camera bodies.
120 Format
For medium format 120 film, the standard roll length is 12, 16, or 24 exposures depending on the spool size.
- 120 roll with 12 exposures
- 120 roll with 16 exposures
- 120 roll with 24 exposures
The 120 film is loose and needs to be loaded manually onto spools or a take-up reel in your 120 camera. The table below summarizes the standard 120 format roll lengths and exposure numbers for Colorplus 200:
120 Roll Length | Number of Exposures |
---|---|
12 exposure | 12 shots |
16 exposure | 16 shots |
24 exposure | 24 shots |
Image Area and Aspect Ratios
The number of exposures you get per roll will also relate to the image area and aspect ratio of your camera.
35mm Camera Image Area
For 35mm cameras, common image areas include:
- Full frame (36x24mm)
- Crop sensor or APS-C (approx. 24x16mm)
A full frame 35mm camera will max out at 36 shots on a 36 exposure roll. However, a crop sensor DSLR will get slightly more than 36 shots since the image area is smaller.
Medium Format Image Area
For medium format 120 cameras, common image areas include:
- 6×4.5cm (645)
- 6x6cm (square)
- 6x7cm
- 6x9cm
As you go up in the image area size, you will get fewer shots per roll. For example, a 6×4.5cm camera will yield more images from a 120 roll than a larger 6x9cm camera.
Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio, or the ratio of width to height of the image, also plays a factor. For 35mm cameras, common aspect ratios are:
- 3:2
- 16:9
- 1:1 (square)
For medium format, most cameras shoot 6:4.5, 6:6, or 6:7 aspect ratios. The wider aspect ratios mean you will fit more pictures onto one roll.
Shooting Considerations
A couple other factors related to how you shoot can influence the number of shots per roll:
Landscape vs Portrait Orientation
Shooting in landscape orientation fits more into the width of the film, while portrait orientation takes up more of the length. So landscape shooting will yield more exposures.
Extra Frames at Beginning
When first loading a film, many photographers use up the first 1-2 frames just getting the film engaged and winding to the first frame. So this can bring your total exposures down by a couple.
Bracketing
If you bracket your shots – taking multiple exposures at different settings for one image – this will lower the total number of unique photographs per roll.
Summary of Shots per Roll
So in summary, the number of shots you can expect from Kodak Colorplus 200 in 35mm or 120 format depends on:
- Roll length (24, 36 exposure 35mm or 12, 16, 24 exposure 120)
- Camera image area size (35mm full frame vs crop, 6×4.5, 6×6, etc for 120)
- Aspect ratio
- Shooting orientation and technique
Understanding these factors will help estimate the number of shots. Here are some ballpark ranges for standard setups:
Film Format | Camera Type | Number of Exposures |
---|---|---|
35mm | Full frame | 24-36 shots |
35mm | APS-C | 28-42 shots |
120 (12 exp) | 6×6 cm | 10-12 shots |
120 (16 exp) | 6×7 cm | 12-16 shots |
120 (24 exp) | 6×9 cm | 18-24 shots |
Test Before a Big Shoot
If you need to know the exact number of shots for an important shoot, it’s always smart to run a test roll first. Shoot a full roll in the same camera you’ll use for the actual shoot, using the same shooting style. Get the roll processed and see how many came out on the roll to get an exact number for that camera setup.
Manage Expectations
While it may seem like film should offer unlimited shooting, there are physical constraints. Manage your expectations and be mindful as you shoot. Plan ahead for important events or subjects and bring enough film to cover the shots you need. With some planning, you can still get great results from the 10-40 shots per roll of Kodak Colorplus 200.
Conclusion
Kodak Colorplus 200’s exposure yields range from 24-42 shots on 35mm film depending on camera type, and 10-24 shots on 120 film depending on format size. The exact number will be determined by your camera image area, aspect ratio, shooting technique, and how carefully you frame your shots. Test a roll in your camera system first if you need an accurate count. Overall, Colorplus 200 provides excellent quality within the limitations of film, producing vibrant colors and classic tones to treasure for years to come. With some mindfulness and planning, you can capture all the memories you hope for, even on a limited number of exposures.