Anyone use Kentmere Papers?

John McCallum · Jun 23, 2004

Hi - carrying on with another paper question. Our local supplier has started stocking Kentmere Fineprint VC, Art Collection, VC Select. Anyone had any experience using these papers? Would be interested to know if you liked it...

livemoa · Jun 24, 2004

John

Have used one, which I can't rember, and it was nice. Lovely blacks for an enlarging paper. I know people who use it and really like it.

Out of interest, who's stocking it up there?

Les McLean · Jun 24, 2004

The Art Range is particularly nice although I believe they have discontinued Art Classic the one that I really liked. Can you let us know the manes of the art range available to you. I also tested the Fineprint paper for them when they first launched it and thought that it was good but not quite up to the standard of the Forte, Agfa MCC, Oriental Seagull and Ilford range of papers. It represents great value for money for it is less expensive that the other papers mentioned.

FrankB · Jun 24, 2004

Les McLean said:
The Art Range is particularly nice although I believe they have discontinued Art Classic the one that I really liked. Can you let us know the manes of the art range available to you. I also tested the Fineprint paper for them when they first launched it and thought that it was good but not quite up to the standard of the Forte, Agfa MCC, Oriental Seagull and Ilford range of papers. It represents great value for money for it is less expensive that the other papers mentioned.

Art Classic is still listed on their website http://www.kentmere.co.uk/main/kentmere.htm although this may just mean that their site is out of date. If you're right then I'm gutted as I've just started to play around with this paper and really like it...

Les McLean · Jun 24, 2004

FrankB said:
Art Classic is still listed on their website http://www.kentmere.co.uk/main/kentmere.htm although this may just mean that their site is out of date. If you're right then I'm gutted as I've just started to play around with this paper and really like it

I base my comment on that fact that Fotospeed Charcoal was discontinued some time ago and Charcoal was Kentmere Art Classic but with the emulsion coated on to the other side of the paper base. Fotospeed told me that the paper base supplier could not make it any more and Kentmere had problems in finding an alternative. I do know that Kentmere did change the formula for Art Classic a few years ago because they had to stop using cadmium.

Adrian Twiss · Jun 24, 2004

I believe Kentona was also radically changed when Kentmere were obliged to remove the Cadmium. It altered the colour characteristics considerably especially when used to make lith prints.

Annemarieke · Jun 24, 2004

I used to like Art Classic a lot too, especially for lith printing. Since they have removed the cadmium, I don't really like the colours anymore.

I've recently bought a pack of Kentona, for lith printing, but I haven't got round to trying it.

mobtown_4x5 · Jun 24, 2004

I wish I had started BW printing earlier so I could have had the oppurtunity to try some of the wonderful products that have already been discontinued...

It's nice to know however, that there is still a range of choices available.

Sometimes i have the irrational urge to go out and buy a good supply of everything that's still out there, so I don't miss a chance to try these products as well. Unfortunatly, not financially practical.

John McCallum · Jun 24, 2004

Les McLean said:
Can you let us know the manes of the art range available to you

Sure Les, I'll find out about Art Classic. They had some samples out of the art range and it did look very nice. Good to know you like it. I'm thinking about trying it for a small exhibition coming up soon. The pricing seemed quite different to what I pay for AGFA MCC 111 - approx 50% more on avg. But I'll check that.

livemoa said:
John

Out of interest, who's stocking it up there?

It's actually stocked at 'The Photo Warehouse' on Gt North Rd. They say they've always stocked it, but I've never seen it. Think they are just trying to suck me in again after an incident where they ripped me off a few weeks ago (and I let them know I knew it). If you are going to buy from there, I would recommend checking their pricing if you can.
By the way; love the name (I think there are a few people in the Royal Forest and Bird Soc looking for you).

John McCallum · Jun 24, 2004

Les McLean said:
... Can you let us know ....

Hi again. Good news. Just spoke with Photo Warehouse and they currently have in stock:
Art Classic - 16x20
Art Document 3 - 12x16,16x20
Document Art - 16x20
RC Art - 8x10, 16x20
Fineprint VC - 12x16, 16x20
VC Elite - 12x16
VC Select - 8x10

The sales person says they would have other sizes available from their other stores, and they have a regular supply.
John

livemoa · Jun 24, 2004

I've had an issue or two with Photo Who*%House (rhymes with bore..) down here in Wellington. Some of the locals call it "the darkside." The last time I was in there they said they didnt stock batteries for film cameras... Well they did actually, I could see them from where I was standing. Another time I heard them telling someone looking at cameras that they didn't want film, they wanted digi as film would be unavailabile in a year or two....

As to livemoa well yea, kind of a joke that grew.....

The Kentmere stuff is good though.

It's actually stocked at 'The Photo Warehouse' on Gt North Rd. They say they've always stocked it, but I've never seen it. Think they are just trying to suck me in again after an incident where they ripped me off a few weeks ago (and I let them know I knew it). If you are going to buy from there, I would recommend checking their pricing if you can.
By the way; love the name (I think there are a few people in the Royal Forest and Bird Soc looking for you).[/QUOTE]

John McCallum · Jun 24, 2004

LOL - That sounds like the PWH up here too. They must be related.

livemoa · Jun 25, 2004

John McCallum said:
LOL - That sounds like the PWH up here too. They must be related.

In Wellington we have, thankfully, Wellington Photographic Supplies. Good people if you know who to ask for. A mixture of young enthusiastic photogs and older, very experianced people.

Which reminds me, they have my latest order of 5x7 fp4 waiting

John McCallum · Jun 25, 2004

livemoa said:
.... 5x7 fp4 waiting

Ahhh the joy of a new order arriving!
My recent order of FP4+, HP5+ and (yet to be tried) TXP arrived from Badger yesterday, WITH my new Fresnel lens WooHoo. Couldn't wait until the weekend so was out doing night shots around the Viaduct 11:00pm last night. About to go home and develop them signing off - have a good weekend.....

Anyone use Kentmere Papers?

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