While we are talking about similar films to Kentmere 400 I should mention AGFA APX 400 vs Kentmere 400. My local lab as stopped selling the current APX 400 film as stated that is it just re-badged Kentmere 400. I have no evidence of this but it is a reputable source so I have no reason to doubt. What this means is if you also shoot with AGFA APX 400 film you probably don’t need to buy Kentmere 400 film too. ILFOSTOP is a low odor stop bath solution that is part of the ILFORD range and is specifically designed for this task. After exposing my first roll of each film I would say the Ilford Pan 400 is worth paying the very slightly higher price tag (vs. Kentmere). To my eyes anyway. I’m not a pixel peeper but Pan 400 just looks ‘better’ or at worst no different. Both Kentmere 400 and Ilford Pan 400 films perform great and I have no concerns but I think Pan 400 has that edge. Pan 400 looks slightly sharper or with higher resolution from my test. You can decide for yourself from the sample images I share. The same camera (shutter tested just before, all exposure times were close to perfect) was used for all shots — a Pentax Program A. But if you’re a beginner to film processing, I’d absolutely recommend starting with any of the films I’ve mentioned previously and not this one, as you’ll have an easier time of it. With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s talk about this film.

So I’ve given a lot of disclaimers so far, and I want to add yet one more, but this is probably the most important disclaimer. Except in the case of one film (which we’ll get to later), I used the same developer: Kodak HC 110.

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The similarity is less clear for the ISO 400 film because of the bad fog (worse grain and shadow detail in the N74 plus), but “color” rendering (the way various colors are translated into BW tones) look really similar. There seems to be a small difference in UN54 vs Kentmere 100 blue vs. red rendering, and absolutely no difference for the ISO 400 films. ILFOTEC DDX is a fine grain developer that provides excellent speed use and sharpness with modern films. It’s generally used at a 1+4 dilution for most films. ILFOSOL 3 Developer To use ILFORD Fixer with Kentmere 400 film, prepare the fixer solution as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Until 2007, Kentmere Photographic Ltd produced photographic paper in a small factory in the village of Staveley, next to the Kentmere valley in the UK’s Lake District.

Just as when I was researching for the Ilford Pan 400 review, I found speculation that Kentmere was made from the offcuts of HP5 Plus that were of lower quality than the rest of the batch.I ended up being really happy with the results. The combination of grain and muddy tones gave my images quite a timeless aesthetic. There was a wonderful rendering of the shadows, especially when directly contrasted with bright light. For example in the shot of the dancer (first image in this post) the sheer darkness of his silhouetted face against the sky, which is what I exposed for, is wonderful, and all of the other shades of grey are not invasive enough to spoil this point of interest in the frame. In our recent Global Film Users Survey, 75% of the the 8600+ respondents used 120 format so there are a lot of medium format photographers out there. While all of our ILFORD films are available in this format we wanted to ensure there is choice at different price points. Kentmere Pan 100 and 400 films are not necessarily intended as ‘professional’ films, yet we have seen you can still create exceptional results all professionals would be proud of." Available now With its fine grain and medium contrast, it is suitable for a range of photographic styles, including portraits, landscapes, and street photography. Its excellent exposure latitude and wide tonal range make it a reliable choice for both beginners and experienced photographers. Kentmere 400 ISO (ASA and DIN) Different dilutions provide flexibility in development times, grain, and contrast. Lower dilutions (e.g., 1+15) will develop faster but may lead to increased grain, while higher dilutions (e.g., 1+31) take longer but can offer finer grain and less contrast. ILFOTEC LC29 Developer In summary: compared to Kentmere Pan 100, Kentmere Pan 400 is a faster film with more noticeable grain, lower contrast and better latitude for pushing.

As with the Kentmere 400 film I bought, I plan to shoot Ilford Pan 400 at ISo 400-800 and maybe 1600. When there is sufficient light I will still use Fomapan 100 as my main 35mm B&W film for ISO 100/200 (upto 400). (Fomapan 100 Classic is cheap but it is not quite as good as Ilford Pan film (100 or 400). Where to buy Ilford Pan 400 film The choice of dilution depends on the desired final image results and grain structure. MICROPHEN Developer

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The next two films are what I would consider mid-range films preferred by documentary style photographers, where high quality and predictable results are important, but going through rolls and rolls of it necessitates keeping the price point low. Now I know you’re probably anxious to dive into the actual photos. But first I’d love to share with you a tool I built to help myself to determine which film I want to commit to, long term, for myself. If this can also help you, then I’m happy to share it. Due to its higher iso and ability to be pushed, this film is ideal for lower light. It also comes in handy for high contrast scenes because its high exposure latitude and lower contrast helps retain shadow and highlight detail in very high contrast scenes. You might have seen the news already, but if not, today is the launch of Ilford’s Kentmere range in medium format. Kentmere 35mm 100 and 400 ISO films have been available under the Ilford umbrella since 2007 as a quality budget option for photographers. Now, the film is being stepped up in size! The characteristics of the film are much the same as they are for the 35mm equivalent versions. Kentmere 100 will have finer grain and higher contrast and sharpness while the 400 edition will own the grainier end of the spectrum and lower contrast. Kentmere 100:

Kentmere Pan 400 is a great starter-film for people trying 35mm film photography for the first time. For this reason it is often known as a 'student' film! To adjust for the films’ ISO, the shutter was used. EV (at ISO 100) was around 9 if memory serves me right… So the shutter speeds used should’ve been 1/15 (for the ISO 100 films) and 1/60 (for the ISO 400 films). Like Kentmere, Ilford HP5+ is a product of the Harman technology company. It is a lower contrast film. It has good shadow detail and well-separated mid-tones with sharp grain. Although the contrast is low, there is a great deal of latitude in this film, which makes it great for pushing or flavoring the curves and contrast to taste, after scanning. Selling for about 14 cents per frame, currently, it might be less sharp than some films, but it will provide predictable and reproducible results. Like Kentmere, there is a bit more bounce to this film after drying. As a side note, I’ve found HP5+ fans to be some of the most loyal and enthusiastic in the community, more so, than perhaps, any of the other films that I’m talking about.As the day went on however, the fog cleared and the sun appeared. The forecast was rain in the afternoon so I wasn’t frugal in shooting through the 12 6×6 frames as we walked in a heavy amount of Vitamin D from the Champs-Élysées to the edge of the Louvre museum. Petit Palais – Paris Petit Palais from behind looking towards the Grand Palais – Paris L’Abysse au Pavillon Ledoyen – Paris On the Champs-Élysées, Paris Restaurant on the Champs-Élysées, Paris Place de la Concorde – Paris Fontaine des Mers, Place de la Concorde – Paris Bassin octogonal at the Jardin des Tuileries, Paris The film is also available, but can be hard to find in rolls of 120 film. This is a great option to have if you are shooting medium format. I developed the film myself with Ilford DDX. I followed the one shot development instructions. I did not push or pull the film during the developing process. There are development instructions to push Kentmere 400 two stops.