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 (October 2024).
These types of lists are usually pretty predictable. There are often a few surprises—there is always some movement—but from one month to the next, it’s mostly the same. This time, I was shocked. Just shocked. Yes, some were not all that surprising, but some were highly unexpected. For just the second time this year, Kodachrome 64 has dropped out of first place, and for the first time ever a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early Access Recipe has reached #1. Also, this is the first time that a Monochrome-based Recipe has even made the list… in October, two of them cracked the Top 10, becoming the first B&W Recipes to rank higher than Kodak Tri-X 400 in a very long time.
Those Recipes with Kodak brand names in the title—Kodachrome, Portra, Gold, Tri-X, T-Max, etc., etc.—are usually 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; however, the Number One Recipe this month is based on Classic Negative—only the second time that has happened this year.
Without any further delay, below are the most popular Recipes of last month!
Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes of October 2024
#1:
This is an App Patron Early Access Recipe, which means that right now it is only available in the Fuji X Weekly App to Patron subscribers. Eventually it will be available free to everyone, but that might take awhile. This Recipe uses the Classic Negative film simulation, and was published only two weeks ago. It’s highly, highly surprising that it not only cracked the Top 10, but made it all the way to the top spot. Interestingly, it beat out #2 by a very large margin.
#2:
A Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras that is the long-time most popular Film Simulation Recipe for Fujifilm cameras. It’s rare that this one isn’t Number One, and I’d be surprised if it isn’t back on top next month.
#3:
Reggie’s Portra, a popular Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras, usually ranks high. Last time it was #2, and now it is #3. This is the most versatile of the Portra Recipes, and the most popular for portrait photography.
#4:
A Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras that is often ranked Number Two in these types of lists. It fell one spot since last month.
#5:
A Wes Anderson inspired Recipe based on Classic Chrome for X-Trans IV and X-Trans V cameras. It was ranked #4 in September.
#6:
This is the X-Trans V version of Kodak Portra 400 v2. Like #2-5 above, it fell one spot.
#7:
This is a new B&W Recipe for X-Trans IV & V cameras that was published about a month ago. Acros-based Recipes are the king of black-and-white, and Kodak Tri-X 400 is usually the only one to crack the Top 25. This one uses Monochrome+G, so it is quite surprising to find it ranked so high.
#8:
This is also a new B&W Recipe for X-Trans IV & V cameras that was published about a month ago. This one, too, uses the Monochrome+G film simulation. I was shocked to find both this one and the Hard Tone version above in the Top 10.
#9:
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 usually cracks the Top 15, and sometimes the Top 10. Last month it was #11.
#10:
It is probably unfair to include the Film Dial Recipes in this list because it is not one but 14 Recipes. Last month was the first time seeing it in the Top 25, and I was faced with the choice of included it (as unfair as that might be) or not. The Vibrant Arizona article is technically four Recipes, so there is a precedence for its inclusion. I think the sudden rise in interest in the Film Dial Recipes is due to three things: 1) people buying the X-T50, 2) the announcement of the X-M5 (which also has a Film Dial), and 3) people realizing that these Recipes can be used for a lot of other cameras, and not just those with the knob. In September it was ranked #7.
#11:
This is the X-Trans V version of Kodak Gold 200. It’s been slowly rising, and this is the highest that I’ve seen it rank (one spot above last month).
#12:
This is oftentimes the highest ranked Classic Negative based Recipe, but this month it is Number Two (if you don’t include Superia Negative from the Film Dial Recipe set). This particular version of Pacific Blues is compatible with X-Trans IV models, but there is also an X-Trans V version. It also rose one spot since last month.
#13:
A Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV and X-Trans V cameras, published earlier this year. It ranked #10 in September.
#14:
This version of Kodak Portra 400 was commonly the third most popular Film Simulation Recipe on Fuji X Weekly for a long time; however, it has been slowly falling. Last month it ranked #9.
#15:
This is the long-time most popular B&W Recipe on Fuji X Weekly, although it places third this time (not including Neopan Negative in the Film Dial set). It’s based on the Acros film simulation, and has compatibility with X-Trans III, X-Trans IV, and X-Trans V models. It remains in the same position.
#16:
This is an Eterna-based Recipe for X-Trans V cameras; however, it’s simply an adaptation of the X-Trans IV version that has been around awhile. It also remains in the same position.
#17:
This is the X-Trans V version of Kodachrome 64. It rose two positions.
#18:
This Recipe is reminiscent of scanned Kodachrome 64 slides, and is compatible with X-Trans IV cameras. It rose three positions.
#19:
Easy Reala Ace was published in June, so it’s a fairly new Recipe. It fell five spots compared to September.
#20:
Another Classic Chrome based Recipe, for use on X-Trans III models, plus the X-T3/X-T30. It fell two positions.
#21:
Reala Ace used to be the most popular Classic Negative Recipe, typically found in the Top 10, and sometimes even the Top 5 (and even once at #1!), but it has fallen quite far in the rankings, including four spots since last month. This Recipe is for X-Trans V cameras.
#22:
I published this Recipe, which uses Classic Chrome and has compatibility with both X-Trans IV and X-Trans V cameras, in April. It fell two spots since September.
#23:
This is a new Reala Ace based Recipe published less than two months ago. Last month it was #8.
#24:
This was the first Recipe I published that uses the new Reala Ace film simulation. It remains in the same position.
#25:
Published in June, this is the highest-ranked Recipe that uses the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation (aside from Nostalgic Film in the Film Dial set). It also remains in the same position compared to 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
Which Film Simulation Recipe, When?
Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App!
