I get asked fairly regularly which Film Simulation Recipes are the most popular. For me, this is a fascinating topic, but it’s definitely hard to know definitively. While I get a glimpse on social media, my best gauge is the Fuji X Weekly website statistics; specifically, which Recipe articles are viewed the most. I don’t collect any data on the Fuji X Weekly App, so that’s no help—although, if I did, it would likely offer the most accurate picture; however, it would still be impossible to know which Recipes people programmed into their Fujifilm cameras, or how often they used each. Perhaps a survey would be particularly useful, yet even it has its limitations. While certainly a flawed method, page-view website statics offer the best glimpse at which Film Simulation Recipes are the most popular, so that’s what I’m using for this article. These are simply the Top 25 most-viewed Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly website last month (April 2024).
I was quite surprised by the rankings for April. Most of the time these lists are pretty predictable. Those with Kodak brand names in the title—Kodachrome, Portra, Gold, Tri-X, etc., etc.—are the most popular. Classic Chrome is the king of film simulations, as the majority of the most-viewed Recipes are based on that film simulation. This time there was a lot of movement, and even some surprises (at least to me, anyway).
Vibrant Arizona jumped up to number two, surpassing Kodak Portra 400 v2, which almost always occupies that spot. There are five newcomers to the list. A lot of upward and downward movements. Several Recipes left the Top 25. Some of these Film Simulation Recipes have only been published for a few months or less. Two of these are only currently compatible with one camera: the Fujifilm X100VI.
Without any further delay, below are the most popular Recipes of last month!
Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes of April 2024
#1:
A Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras that is the long-time most popular Film Simulation Recipe for Fujifilm cameras. This is the king of Recipes!
#2:
A Wes Anderson inspired Recipe based on Classic Chrome for X-Trans IV and X-Trans V cameras. It was ranked #5 for March.
#3:
A Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras that is almost always number two in these types of lists, but fell to #3 for April.
#4:
Another popular Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras. Its ranking stayed the same.
#5:
Reala Ace is the most popular Classic Negative based Recipe. It was ranked number three in March.
#6:
Typically, Classic Chrome dominates these lists, Classic Negative makes a few appearances, and Acros will occupy one spot, as well as some other film sim sometimes, such as PRO Neg. Std. The new Reala Ace film sim makes two appearances this time, and Fujicolor 100 Industrial takes the lead among them. Right now, this Recipe is only compatible with the X100VI, so #6 is incredibly (and surprisingly) high, all things considered.
#7:
This version of Kodak Portra 400 was commonly the third most popular Film Simulation Recipe on Fuji X Weekly for a long time. It moved up one spot from March.
#8:
This is a newly-published Recipe that uses Classic Chrome, and has similarities to Kodak Portra. It’s compatible with both X-Trans IV and X-Trans V.
#9:
A somewhat recently published Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV and X-Trans V cameras. It fell three spots compared to last month.
#10:
This is a newly published Eterna-based X-Trans V CineStill 800T Recipe; however, it’s simply an adaptation of the X-Trans IV version that has been around awhile. Eterna makes two surprise appearances this month, and this one ranks the highest, just reaching the Top 10.
#11:
Vintage Kodachrome, which is based on Classic Chrome, is one of the older Film Simulation Recipes on Fuji X Weekly, and is compatible with X-Trans III cameras. It was ranked #15 last month; oftentimes it’s in the Top 10.
#12:
This is a fairly recently published Recipe, and the very first to use the new Reala Ace film simulation. At the moment, it is only compatible with the Fujifilm X100VI. In March it ranked #22.
#13:
A newly-published Recipe that uses Eterna. It’s compatible with X-Trans IV and X-Trans V cameras.
#14:
This is the X-Trans V version of Kodak Portra 400 v2. It was ranked #10 in March.
#15:
This is a somewhat new Recipe, published in January of 2024. It is based on Classic Chrome, and is compatible with X-Trans IV cameras. Last month it was ranked one spot lower.
#16:
Pacific Blues used to be the highest-ranked Classic Negative based Recipe, but Reala Ace has left it in the dust. This particular one is compatible with X-Trans IV models, but there is an X-Trans V version. In March it was ranked #12.
#17:
By far the most popular B&W Recipe, Kodak Tri-X 400 is based on the Acros film simulation, and has compatibility X-Trans III, X-Trans IV, and X-Trans V models. It was ranked #11 last month.
#18:
This is the X-Trans V version of Kodachrome 64. It fell five spots compared to last month.
#19:
Another Classic Chrome based Recipe, for use on X-Trans III models, plus the X-T3/X-T30. There has been no change in ranking since February.
#20:
This is the X-Trans V version of Kodak Gold 200. It is also in the same spot compared to last month.
#21:
The very first Film Simulation Recipe on Fuji X Weekly, it is compatible with X-Trans III cameras. This is another one that didn’t move positions.
#22:
Provia Slide is a newly published Recipe, and the first in awhile to reach the Top 25 that uses the Provia film sim. It’s compatible with X-Trans III cameras, plus the X-T3 & X-T30.
#23:
Bright Summer—another Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV—is sometimes called Preetra 400, because it is modeled after Preet’s aesthetic (Preet himself is the one who gave it that nickname, btw). It doesn’t usually crack the Top 25, but in March it suddenly jumped to #9, and for April fell to #23.
#24:
Kodachrome II is an older Recipe made for X-Trans III cameras. It used to often be in the Top 10, but has been falling for awhile. Last month it didn’t even crack the Top 25, so I’m happy to see it return.
#25:
A Classic Negative based Recipe that’s compatible with X-Trans V cameras (there’s also an X-Trans IV version). It ranked #18 last month.
See also:
How To Add Film Simulation Recipes To Your Fujifilm Camera
The Essential 7 Film Simulation Recipes to Program Into Your Fujifilm Camera First
Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App!
