Ilford Kentmere 200 (35mm, 120) coming soon...

[Andrew O'Neill]

This is excellent news! I'd be curious to see what its spectral response will be like...

 

[Prest_400]

Very interesting, I saw the leak elsewhere and was wondering when it would be commented here and so.

Harman Technology’s notes said: “Kentmere PAN 200 is an ISO 200 black-and-white film, with enhanced contrast (vs 100 and 400), pleasing, well controlled grain and good sharpness making it suitable for most shooting applications and conditions.”

Many users, bar exposure and processing factors, tend to tag Kentmere as low contrast. It appears as matching Foma's line up directly 1 to 1 and perhaps the specific of this film will be contrast. It's hard to gauge much with the small size samples in the Kosmofoto post anyways.
If it is released next week I might have time to grab some rolls for a trip.

 

[koraks]

Many users, bar exposure and processing factors, tend to tag Kentmere as low contrast. It appears as matching Foma's line up directly 1 to 1 and perhaps the specific of this film will be contrast.

Such comparisons I always find a little (or a lot) problematic, because of the 'bar exposure and processing' bit, which makes such a profound difference especially in B&W. So this makes me wonder what is meant with 'enhanced contrast' in the context of this particular new film. This is one of the reasons I'd like to see the datasheet, as it will undoubtedly clarify some of this.

 

[runswithsizzers]

[...]
Hey, actually, I would rather welcome a new(!!!) 200 speed film. Sure you can bend 100 or 400, but 200 is kind of a sweet spot for hand-holdability and (potentially) fine(ish) grain without the internet scaries of resorting to a T-grain 400 speed.
[...]

Totally agree. For my typical shooting conditions, metering at EI 160-200 most often gives me an aperture and shutter speed which I prefer. So the more choices I have for buying ISO 200 films, the better.

However, two questions remain to be answered:
1. Will I actually be able to use Kentmere 200 at box speed (or EI160) with my preferred developers, or am I going to need to rate it at 100 to get the shadow detail I want?
2. Will Kentmere 200 actually have noticeably less prominent grain than Kentmere 400 metered at EI200, in my preferred developers?

 

[Lachlan Young]

Such comparisons I always find a little (or a lot) problematic, because of the 'bar exposure and processing' bit, which makes such a profound difference especially in B&W. So this makes me wonder what is meant with 'enhanced contrast' in the context of this particular new film. This is one of the reasons I'd like to see the datasheet, as it will undoubtedly clarify some of this.

If it was engineered to deliver much more tightly controlled range/ ranges of monodispersity within its emulsion components (for other purposes - eg an emulsion component/ layer in C-41) it could potentially deliver apparently higher contrast (sharper toe/ shoulder for example) for a given average gradient, if that was an engineering aim. I have a strong suspicion that K200 is a fortuitous byproduct of other product research work.

 

[bernard_L]

A store in France has them on their site for preorder, here: https://www.digit-photo.com/KENTMERE-Pan-200ASA-135-36-poses-rKENTMERE6015055.html

Don't get carried over too fast. Here is what I see on that merchant site. The red banner reads : "Sorry, we don't sell this product anymore".

 

[Disconnekt]

Most likely they were told to take the page(s) down till its announced

 

[mshchem]

I will buy some for the pretty carton.

 

[Disconnekt]

Looks like Nik & Trick Photo in the UK has their order in for it

 

[Prest_400]

Such comparisons I always find a little (or a lot) problematic, because of the 'bar exposure and processing' bit, which makes such a profound difference especially in B&W. So this makes me wonder what is meant with 'enhanced contrast' in the context of this particular new film. This is one of the reasons I'd like to see the datasheet, as it will undoubtedly clarify some of this.

Of course. I am in contact with many newcomers through my local photo club and do see sometimes that there are some Social media derived trends and biases. Personally always tell people to check the datasheets as a starting point.
I consider myself relatively conservative, following the standard datasheet tips and traditional practice of getting a "good negative". Yes, film is cool and it is fun to experiment but eg. the "push in Rodinal get nice contrast and grain" will not be eventually be optimal.

Totally agree. For my typical shooting conditions, metering at EI 160-200 most often gives me an aperture and shutter speed which I prefer. So the more choices I have for buying ISO 200 films, the better.

Wholly agree about your questions. I am a medium format shooter and tend to think that speed is good and needed when I specially do handheld under the day. As a simplification, put on a Yellow filter and then it'll be EI100.

 

[loccdor]

What if it ends up being Kentmere 100 packaged with developing times for a 1 stop push?

 

[grain elevator]

What if it ends up being Kentmere 100 packaged with developing times for a 1 stop push?

I doubt Harman want to do this to their reputation, but if there has been a change in the marketing department, I suppose it's possible.
I don't see the need for a 200 speed film along with 100 and 400 unless it has characteristics other than speed that differ from the other offerings. Maybe it's designed to be a XX and FOmapan 200 replacement with an especially long straight line?

 

[koraks]

What if it ends up being Kentmere 100 packaged with developing times for a 1 stop push?

I really doubt it. To me, what @Lachlan Young suggested is the likely scenario - they were working on their C41 product and in the process, they made an emulsion they realized they could package as a B&W product in its own right. The high contrast is indeed a clue; this might for instance be the medium-speed emulsion for a C41 product.

Maybe it's designed to be a XX and FOmapan 200 replacement with an especially long straight line?

I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually very much non-linear by itself - much like what Phoenix presently is, too.

 

[pentaxuser]

What if it ends up being Kentmere 100 packaged with developing times for a 1 stop push?

That's close to being commercial fraud, isn't it?

pentaxuser

 

[loccdor]

Sorry to stir the pot. Just a thought I had, hopefully wrong.

 

[qqphot]

That's close to being commercial fraud, isn't it?

pentaxuser

I suppose, but given that seemingly half the B&W films on the market now are Aviphot with different advertised speeds, it's certainly not ucommon. I doubt that Ilford/Kentmere would do this, though.

When I need to use a slower speed because of old cameras with slow shutters, I usually just shoot HP5+ at 200, but other options would be nice too.

 

[koraks]

I doubt that Ilford/Kentmere would do this, though.

Well, they've marketed plain Phoenix 200 wound back-to-front into a cassette as "Harman Red 125". In that sense, I wouldn't put it past them. But I doubt they're going to push the envelope quite this far.

 

[mshchem]

Harman wouldn't do anything to harm it's standing as the preeminent supplier of black and white materials.

MHOFWIW