ANALOGUE: Lucky C200

MONDAY JANUARY 19, 2026

It’s always a good day when a new film stock lands even more so when it’s “budget friendly”. Yes that word now comes with air quotes because in 2026 even consumer film is not exactly budget anymore. Still Lucky 200 feels like the kind of roll you can load up shoot freely and not overthink. A proper consumer film meant to be used and not hoarded in a freezer.

I loaded the first roll into a Minolta point and shoot and went about the day with close to zero care. A few out of focus frames happened. The usual handshake moments too. That’s the point. Cheaper film or at least less painful film takes the pressure off. You end up shooting more and honestly that is half the reason we’re still here.

At box speed it leans warm and reds are the first thing you’ll notice. When the light is right Lucky C200 can look surprisingly good. If you’re looking for a sensible alternative to Kodak ColorPlus 200 this might be one of the few options that still makes sense.

Shot on Minolta Riva Zoom 70

CHARACTERISTICS

Reds are prominent

Warm leaning tones

Consumer film look

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On 120, Lucky 200 behaves much like its 35mm sibling. Still that reddish lean and at times it reminded me of Kodak Gold 200. Under cloudy skies, things calm down and colours render more neutrally which is where the film starts to look more “normal” in the best way. Paired with the Mamiya N 80mm f/4, the negatives came back sharp and pleasing.

One complaint, after the last frame, my roll was not fully wound onto the take-up spool which can invite overexposure. I thought it was user error so I asked Jing to shoot a roll on his Hasselblad 500CM. Same thing, hopefully this will only be a first-batch quirk.

Shot on Mamiya 7ii paired to a Mamiya N 80mm f/4