Kentmere 400 dev time with XTOL-R

Fatih Ayoglu · Apr 28, 2025

Hi all,

I have few Kentmere 400 rolls I need to develop and currently I have XTOL-R in hand. However I cannot find dev times for this film in this specific developer.

Has anybody tried this combination?

Also for future reference, what should be the starting point for films in XTOL-R if the dev times are not published? It looks 1:1 time is very close for films like HP5 but want to make sure.

Best wishes,
Fatih

Sanug · Apr 28, 2025

I have no experience with Xtol-R, but with Adox XT-3 stock and 1+1. Because Kentmere 400 has very low contrast, I always underexpose 1 stop. I have good results at ISO 800 with XT-3 1+1, 16 Min., or stock, 10 Min.. I make 10s agitation every minute.

loccdor · Apr 28, 2025

Can't help you with XTOL-R, but I agree with Sanug that I prefer it at 800.

Fatih Ayoglu · Apr 28, 2025

I've shot at 200 and was planning to develop for 400...

Sanug · Apr 28, 2025

I had bad experience with overexposing Kentmere 400 and XT-3. If you shot at ISO 200, I would try Perceptol instead.

Fatih Ayoglu · Apr 28, 2025

Sanug said:
I had bad experience with overexposing Kentmere 400.

hmm, probably I can save a bit by underdeveloping it then, say 15% less time. Of course first I need to find out the time

Sanug · Apr 28, 2025

If you reduce the time in Xtol you may end up with very low contrast. This can be okay if the scene was contrasty. With cloudy sky and low contrast scenes light you may run into a problem.

Fatih Ayoglu · Apr 28, 2025

you are right, so best would be developing it for 400, and then trying to save anything in printing session. TBH most of the shots were in a bar with a flash

npl · Apr 28, 2025

According to some old notes, I got good results with :

Agfaphoto APX 400 (same film) EI 400
XTOL replenished
10min @ 20°c
Ilford agitation

I found the film quite flat and grainy in 35mm and at box speed. It's worth experimenting at EI 800 and it should be a fine cheap film in 120.

Sanug · Apr 28, 2025

Kentmere 400 in XT-3 is not too grainy. Here is a sample.

Gallery of the Opera House in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Praktica MTL 5, Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 4/20 mm.
Kentmere 400, ISO 800, Adox XT-3, 1+1, 16 Min.
Silver Gelatine Print.

albireo · Apr 28, 2025

Fatih Ayoglu said:
Hi all,

I have few Kentmere 400 rolls I need to develop and currently I have XTOL-R in hand. However I cannot find dev times for this film in this specific developer.

Has anybody tried this combination?

I can't help with replenished Xtol, but I like this film in Xtol or D76 or D23 stock.

This film shines at 250-400EI and in high contrast settings, and looks great with a light yellow filter on (1 stop penalty). Close to grainless, beautiful tonality.

I really hate how it looks pushed and used for street photography-style gritty stuff. But then I really don't like how any film looks pushed.

I've done a roll in D23 stock recently. Noon light. EI 250 7 minutes and 30''. Came out great.

You mention you used your roll in a bar with flash lighting. If the bar was dim with little ambient lighting, and your main light source was the flash, you'll probably fall in a 'high contrast' situation. If so, you did well by exposing at 200EI, as you might get a little more detail in the shadows or ambient-lit areas of the frame where the flash didn't reach. Make sure not to overdevelop so as not to clip the flash-lit highlights (presumably the musicians' faces and instruments, so possibly crucial stuff).

Kentmere 400 dev time with XTOL-R

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