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 (September 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 by some of the rankings. I’ll discuss most of the specifics within the list itself, but one Recipe in particular that I want to bring up here is Bright Summer. Prior to March, I had never noticed it in the Top 25, but suddenly it was, and even ranked as high as #6! In August it was #10. But in September it dropped out of the Top 25 altogether (it is #26, for those wondering). That’s a pretty sudden and significant drop, and I wonder if it is simply because the seasons are changing.
Those Recipes with Kodak brand names in the title—Kodachrome, Portra, Gold, Tri-X, 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—in fact, the Top 5 are all Classic Chrome Recipes. Reala Ace, Classic Negative and Eterna based Recipes are pretty far behind, but I’m glad to see them represented multiple times each in this list.
Without any further delay, below are the most popular Recipes of last month!
Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes of September 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. There is a pretty big gap between this and second place.
#2:
Reggie’s Portra, a popular Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras, usually ranks high, but this is the first time I’ve seen it at #2. This is the most versatile of the Portra Recipes, and was ranked #4 in August.
#3:
A Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras that is almost always ranked number two in these types of lists. In fact, this is only the second time this year that I’ve seen it drop out of the second-place position.
#4:
A Wes Anderson inspired Recipe based on Classic Chrome for X-Trans IV and X-Trans V cameras. It was ranked #3 in August.
#5:
This is the X-Trans V version of Kodak Portra 400 v2. It’s ranking remains the same since last month.
#6:
Cinematic Film is one of the 14 Film Dial Recipes for the Fujifilm X-T50 (and, really, all X-Trans V cameras). Initially I didn’t include it in the Fuji X Weekly App because adding all 14 would have been ridiculous, but by popular demand I did include it retroactively. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, but I’m very shocked to not only see it in the Top 25, but all the way at #6! This isn’t just the highest rated Recipe based on the Eterna film simulation, but the highest that isn’t Classic Chrome.
#7:
It is probably unfair to include the Film Dial Recipes in this list because it is not one but 14 Recipes (including Cinematic Film above). This was the first time seeing it in the Top 25, so 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 two things: 1) people buying the X-T50, and 2) people realizing that these Recipes can be used for a lot of other cameras, and not just the X-T50.
#8:
This is a brand-new Recipe published less than three weeks ago, and already it is in the Top 10. Currently it is the highest-ranked Reala Ace based Recipe (if you don’t include Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm from the Film Dial Recipe set).
#9:
This version of Kodak Portra 400 was commonly the third most popular Film Simulation Recipe on Fuji X Weekly for a long time—it’s still in the Top 10, but hasn’t cracked the Top 5 in awhile. It fell three spots compared to last month.
#10:
A Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV and X-Trans V cameras, published earlier this year. It ranked #7 in August.
#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 usually cracks the Top 15, and sometimes the Top 10. Its ranking remains unchanged from last month.
#12:
This is the X-Trans V version of Kodak Gold 200. This is the highest that I’ve seen it rank (one spot higher than last month), and the second month in a row that it is above the old version.
#13:
Pacific Blues is currently the highest ranked Classic Negative based Recipe (if you don’t include Superia Negative from the Film Dial Recipe set). This particular one is compatible with X-Trans IV models, but there is also an X-Trans V version. It’s often in the Top 10; last month it was #8.
#14:
Easy Reala Ace was published in June, so it’s a fairly new Recipe. It fell five spots compared to August, but still remains in the Top 15.
#15:
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 #12 in August.
#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 rose one spot compared to last month.
#17:
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; however, it is one spot higher than last month. This Recipe is for X-Trans V cameras.
#18:
Another Classic Chrome based Recipe, for use on X-Trans III models, plus the X-T3/X-T30. It was ranked #14 in August.
#19:
This is the X-Trans V version of Kodachrome 64. It was ranked #15 last month.
#20:
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 four spots since August.
#21:
This Recipe is reminiscent of scanned Kodachrome 64 slides, and is compatible with X-Trans IV cameras. It was ranked #19 in August.
#22:
The very first Film Simulation Recipe on Fuji X Weekly, this Recipe is compatible with X-Trans III cameras. It fell two spots since last month.
#23:
A Classic Negative based Recipe that’s compatible with X-Trans V cameras (there’s also an X-Trans IV version). This one typically either just makes the Top 25 or just misses it, and is one spot higher than in August.
#24:
This was the first Recipe I published that uses the new Reala Ace film simulation. It fell two positions since last month.
#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 was ranked #21 in August.
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!