Best Film For Landscape Photography in 2026
We’ve been shooting landscapes for quite some time (living out in the countryside means landscapes are plentiful) and we thought we’d share our top films for those looking at starting landscape photography in 2026.
Most landscape photographers shoot in colour, but we will go through some black and white films we love.
What makes a good film for landscape photography?
If you’re looking for a film for landscape photography typically you want to look for a film which is fine grained and low ISO, these two are usually linked quite closely. Then you want to look at colour rendition, how accurate and how saturated the film is. The exposure latitude of the film is important too, you want to capture details in the shadows while not having blown out highlights which most of the time with landscapes will be the sky.
Best Colour Film For Landscape Photography
Kodak Ektar 100
Kodak Ektar 100
Kodak Ektar has to be our number one choice for landscape photography. It offers the finest grain of any colour negative film you can buy today. It offers ultra vivid colours, with a rich saturation. Colour rendition is pretty good generally. It leans slightly red which can be an issue for skin tones but is perfect for landscape photography.
Why photographers love it
Extremely fine grain
Rich saturation
Excellent sharpness
Deep blues and vivid greens
High-resolution scans ideal for large prints
Kodak Portra 160
Kodak Portra 160
If Kodak Ektar sounds good but you’re after more pastel tones, or looking at taking landscape photos with people in the foreground Portra 160 is a very solid choice.
If features a very fine grain, the finest grain of any 160 speed colour negative film available today, and also has an excellent dynamic range which lends itself nicely to landscape photography.
Its a great choice if loading a roll of 35mm film where you know you’ll want versatility if you don’t plan to dedicate the whole roll to landscapes.
Why photographers love it
Fine grain
Pastel Colours
Good Dynamic Range
Quick note before we move on: Portra 400 is a good choice for slightly darker scenes but at the cost of more grain. If you aren’t carrying a tripod and have concerns about shooting handheld you wont be disappointed by Portra 400. That said if you have a tripod Portra 160 would be our choice.
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Gold
A more budget friendly option than the two films previously, Gold offers a great all round film in a neat wallet friendly package. Its not as fine grained, and colours, believe it or not, tend to lean towards the Yellow/Gold end of the spectrum but it delivers bucket loads of nostagic analogue looks.
Look Gold is maybe not the most serious of landscape photography films but if you’re going on a hike with friends and want a film that is easy shooting and delivers high on the fun factor, Gold is a great choice. It behaves a bit more seriously in the 120 format which is to be expected.
Why photographers love it
Warm nostalgic tones
Balanced contrast
Affordable pricing
Excellent daylight performance
Kodak Ektachrome E100
Kodak Ektarchrome E100
Slide film has long been a favourite of landscape shooters, offering good neutral colours, and an impressive dynamic range for slide film. It offers a saturation similar to colour negatives, which may disappoint shooters looking for that typical slide feel, but behaving more like a negative film makes it a more friendly gateway into slide film photography if you’ve only shot on negatives before.
That said its still a slide film, and care needs to be taken to ensure the dynamic range isn’t exceeded.
Why photographers love it
Neutral and realistic colors
Extremely fine grain
Strong highlight and shadow detail
Crisp blues and natural greens
Outstanding sharpness for large prints and scans
Shop Kodak Ektachrome E100 here
Best Black & Film For Landscape Photography
Ilford FP4+
Ilford FP4+
Black & White film isnt typiaclly the go to for landscapes. That said if you’re out at midday where the bright sun would flattens the image then reaching for a black and white film to add back some drama isn’t a bad idea.
Ilford FP4+ is a fine grained black and white film that offers excellent tonality and print quality. Its a very reliable film with a great dynamic range.
Why photographers love it
Smooth tonal transitions
Fine grain structure
Excellent sharpness
Beautiful cloud and sky detail
Tips for Shooting Street Photography on Film
Overexpose Colour Negative Film
Many colour films produce better results when overexposed by one stop. This helps retain detail in shadows and improves colour. This should be tested first with your particular choice for film! If in doubt stick with box speed at first.
Use A Sharp F-Stop
A smaller f-stop will increase the depth of field and make more parts of the image in focus and sharper. Do some research and find out where your lens is the sharpest.
Use A Tripod
A smaller aperture means less light, this coupled with a low ISO film means handholding may not be an option, a tripod will be essential for lots of landscape photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ISO film is best for landscape photography?
ISO 100 film is generally considered the best choice for landscape photography because it delivers:
Finer grain
Higher sharpness
Better detail for large prints
Popular options include Kodak Ektar 100, Kodak E100, and Fujifilm Velvia 100. However, ISO 400 films like Portra 400 are excellent for unpredictable weather and changing light.
Is slide film better for landscapes?
Slide film is extremely popular for landscape photography because it produces:
Vibrant colours
Incredible sharpness
High contrast
Beautiful detail projection
Films like Kodak E100 and Velvia 100 are legendary among landscape photographers, although they require very accurate exposure.
What film do professional landscape photographers use?
Many professional landscape photographers shoot:
Kodak Ektar 100 for vivid colour and detail
Kodak E100 for realistic cinematic tones
Velvia 100 for dramatic saturation
Ilford FP4 Plus for black-and-white fine art landscapes
The “best” film ultimately depends on the photographer’s style and lighting conditions.
Can beginners shoot landscape photography on film?
Absolutely. Many beginners start with Kodak Gold 200 or Portra 400 because they are forgiving, easy to expose, and widely available.
Film photography is one of the best ways to learn:
Exposure
Composition
Patience
Light reading
Because every frame matters, shooting landscapes on film often improves photography skills quickly.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Landscape Photography Film
The best film for landscape photography in 2026 depends on your creative style, lighting conditions, and how you want your final images to feel.
For most photographers:
Best overall landscape film: Kodak Ektar 100
Best slide film: Kodak E100
Best versatile film: Portra 160 or 400
Best budget landscape film: Kodak Gold 200
Best black-and-white landscape film: Ilford FP4 Plus
Experimenting with different film stocks is one of the best ways to develop your own visual style and discover how different films interpret light, colour, and atmosphere.
Professional Film Developing
If you're shooting landscape photography on film, high-quality development and scanning make a huge difference.
Our lab specialises in:
35mm film developing
medium format film processing
high-resolution film scanning
We help photographers get the best possible results from every roll of film.
Send your film to our lab and see your street photography come to life.
Team Dodo