Fujifilm Recipe: Kodak Ultramax 400

Ultramax 400 is Kodak's budget consumer film -- the one you'd find at the drugstore. It's warmer and more saturated than Gold 200, with a punchy, slightly oversaturated quality that gives everything a summer-vacation feel.

About Kodak Ultramax 400

Kodak Ultramax 400 (originally sold as Kodak Max) has been around since the late 1990s. It was designed as the everyday 400-speed option for consumers who wanted more versatility than Gold 200 without paying for professional film. The extra stop of speed meant it could handle indoor shooting and overcast days while still performing in bright sun.

The Ultramax look is warmer and more saturated than Gold. Colors lean toward amber and yellow, reds are boosted, and the overall image has an energetic, slightly oversaturated quality. Grain is more noticeable at 400 ISO than Gold's finer 200-speed structure, but it adds texture rather than distraction. Highlights can blow warm, which is part of the charm.

Ultramax became a cult favorite during the film revival because it is cheap, widely available, and produces results that look immediately "filmy." It does not try to be accurate. It tries to be fun. And that is exactly what a generation of new film shooters wanted.

When to Use It

Beach days, pool parties, summer road trips, bright daylight. Ultramax loves sun and saturated scenes. It's the recipe for when you want your photos to feel like a good time.

Tips

Don't fight the warmth. Let reds go red, let yellows go yellow. Ultramax is not a subtle film and this recipe shouldn't be used subtly. Embrace the saturation.

Camera Compatibility

This recipe uses Classic Negative as its base film simulation, which was introduced with the X-Trans IV sensor. The X100VI, X-T5, X-T50, X-S20, X-T4, and X100V all support it. Older X-Trans III cameras like the X-T3 or X-T30 do not have Classic Negative. For those bodies, try Classic Chrome with the same white balance shift and bump Color to +4 for a similar vibe.

Related Recipes

Ultramax is the louder sibling of Kodak Gold 200. If Ultramax feels too punchy, Gold 200 delivers the same warm Kodak character at a lower intensity. Going the other direction, the Agfa Vista 400 recipe pushes warmth and saturation even further. For tips on getting the most out of film-look recipes on digital, our guide on how to make digital look like film covers the full approach.

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