Kentmere film "?" Maybe Mr. Galley will know.

[jim appleyard]

Simon, thank you for all the answers, your patience and for helping to keep b/w alive.

 

[dr5chrome]

..i would agree. As a specialty processing lab we are seeing less 35mm and more 120 & large format, about 15% last year.

dw

Dear Simon,

How disappointing. Why not 120/220 and sheet film.

Digital is killing 35mm, but MF and LF still have clear IQ advantage over digital.

One would think that the marketing folks would take that into consideration?

Sandy King

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear All,

As an FYI I am on holiday from today to the start of the FOCUS on Imaging Exhibition in Birmingham ( UK ) on Sunday 22nd, if any APUGGERS are visiting the show please pop on the HARMAN stand and say hi, back in the office on Thursday 26th, so if I do not reply to any ( direct ) questions you know why.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology limited :

 

[Chazzy]

I'll be very interested to see user reports about the Kentmere film, whenever people are ready to give them. I think it will be difficult to compete on price against the rebranded Kodak films which Freestyle is selling.

 

[Aurum]

Dear All,

As an FYI I am on holiday from today to the start of the FOCUS on Imaging Exhibition in Birmingham ( UK ) on Sunday 22nd, if any APUGGERS are visiting the show please pop on the HARMAN stand and say hi, back in the office on Thursday 26th, so if I do not reply to any ( direct ) questions you know why.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology limited :

Cool, I'd forgotten about that. (And as its practically on my doorstep......)

BTW can you hear that noise? Its the sound of a credit card screaming in agony

 

[drpsilver]

13 Feb 2009

This is a very long, nut quite interesting, tread. Thanks to all who have contributed, and Simon for his prompt and honest answers to questions.

I will have to look for this film and give it a try. First I will look at the spec sheets to see how they differ from the films I am currently using.

As usual APUG is a wonderful place to get good, honest, and clear information about B&W photography.

Thanks to Simon and Harman Technology for their continued support of B&W photography.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[2F/2F]

So, from Simon Galley so far:

- They are new emulsions (quote: "2 new emulsions", not "2 new films")
- They are not T-Max/Delta type films, but are similar to FP4 and HP5

Would anyone care to comment on specifically how the emulsions are different to HP5 and FP4; on paper and in use (i.e. quality)? I am very curious. The Kentmere data sheets do not have the technical data that Ilford graphs have, such as characteristic curve and spectral sensitivity. This leads me to believe that they are the same emulsion, but they just don't want to make it so obvious, as Kodak has done with Arista Premium.

FWIW, the Kentmere 400 is $0.70 per roll cheaper than HP5. That's between 15 and 20 percent. Not great like Kodak Tri-X as Arista Premium for $2 a roll, but not terrible either.

Basically, I want to know if these films are "as good as" FP4 and HP5. If not, the 15 to 20 percent savings would not be worth it to me.

However, if they are near identical, so much so that one "couldn't tell the difference", it's a no brainer for me (and all of us, I would think).

If they are indeed notably different, I would also be interested in knowing what qualities of FP4 and HP5 have been sacrificed/compromised to make the film able to be sold for 15 to 20 percent less.

 

[nworth]

Kentmere seems to have become the economy label for Harman. I've tried a couple of its papers that have become available in this area recently, and I have been very impressed by the quality - regardless of the price. I think I may like Kentmere VC Select better than Ilford Multigrade. I'm anxious to see how these films work out.

Earlier someone mentioned Ilford Pan 100 and Pan 400 films in speculation. I haven't seen those films in the US, but a replacement for Verichrome Pan is really needed. These might do it. Unfortunately, the data sheet doesn't give any sensitomatic or image quality information.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

The ILFORD PAN films are available in the UK:

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/shop/search/pan+100/0/ilford/ilford-pan-100-135-36-iso-100/

However, FP4 / HP5 are not really significantly more expensive:

http://www.mathersoflancashire.co.uk/page17.html

Tom.

 

[2F/2F]

Unfortunately, the data sheet doesn't give any sensitomatic or image quality information.

Exactly my point.

 

[PBrooks]

I moved from the US to Taiwan about 6 months ago with my wife. I knew enough about the condition of film in this country to know that I needed to bring that with me. But, was assured that finding developers, film and paper were not really going to be that hard to find here. HA! If the store in Taipei has a developer they only have one. One store can't remember the name but it actually had paper 8x10 and 11x14 both at 3 times what it is in the states. I asked about 16x20 and 20x24 paper and still no answer but I'm assuming a huge figure. I will find a way, but not at those stores. They do have Ilford though, not all in 120 and only one store had 25 sheet box of HP5plus. No Fuji!!! some Kodak.
Now I'm really glad I left the 14x17 in the states!!! No not really. I do know that the next time I'm in the states, I will not have luggage going in but full suitcases leaving. For paper I guess I'll just order for now even though shipping charges are high, they are still not as high as buying in country. I saw Pan 100 in the store but it was only 35mm, I still wondered about it.
Thanks Simon for all Ilford does!
PBrooks

 

[paul_c5x4]

Now I'm really glad I left the 14x17 in the states!!! No not really. I do know that the next time I'm in the states, I will not have luggage going in but full suitcases leaving.

Just remember to pack film & paper in your carry-on luggage. There has been quite a few stories of x-ray fogging from stuff left in check-in suitcases.

 

[PBrooks]

Yep, and we we came over they made me weigh my carry on and it could only be 7 kg ouch!

 

[erikg]

I've been doing some testing with the Kentmere films and although I have more to do I can offer a few observations. The 400 is not HP-5 and it really isn't much like it. It is noticeably grainier and fairly low in contrast. In printing it is much closer to Foma 400, although it will give box speed with normal developers. The base is very flat (not curly) so that puts it ahead of other things in the price range. The tonality is good, but it is an older look. The 100 is likewise not FP-4, although it seems a very nice film. Somewhat more grain than FP-4, certainly more than Delta 100, but it has a traditional look. It builds contrast quickly but responds to development control nicely when shot in contrasty light. Same base as the 400. These films may be closer to the Pan 100/400 but it has been many years since I have shot those (they showed up in the US for awhile about 12 years ago) so I have nothing to go on for comparison but my recollection. I will post images sometime soon, probably on flickr.

 

[pentaxuser]

Anybody know it's release date in the U.K? If it has been released maybe someone can say who is stocking it. I haven't found any on the usual range of retailers' websites.

As it was released to the N American market nearly four and a half months ago I thought it would have been available here by now.

pentaxuser

 

[Tom Kershaw]

As it was released to the N American market nearly four and a half months ago I thought it would have been available here by now.

pentaxuser

Perhaps Harman have identified a particular demand in the North American market that they feel isn't as pronounced in the UK and EU. HP5 Plus and FP4 Plus are very reasonably priced here.

Tom.

 

[pentaxuser]

Thanks Tom. My inference from what you say is that neither film has been released in the U.K. and the EU. You may be right about the N American market demand but a number of others from N America seem to be stating that in fact Kentmere 100 and 400 aren't in fact the same or that similar to FP4 and HP5 so if they are different then I wonder why they wouldn't sell here or in the EU?

At no point have I seen anything from Simon Galley to the effect that there is no intention to release the films here but this might of course be the case. If it is maybe Ilford can put us in the U.K. out of our misery by stating that there are no plans in the foreseeable future to release the films here.

pentaxuser

 

[Tom Kershaw]

The Kentmere films do seem to be a lower cost product (going on Freestyle Photo prices):

Kentmere 100 135 format - 36 exp. 3.59 USD
ILFORD FP4 135 format - 36 exp. 5.29 USD

I don't know how significant a motivator 1.70 USD price difference is, if FP4 Plus is preferred by an individual.

Tom.

 

[Matt5791]

Ilford have told me the Kentmere films are not for general release in the UK.

With HP5 and FP4 at such reasonable prices, I agree, I don't know where the Kentmere film would slot in.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

If ordering from 7dayshop, the Kodak T-grain films are cheaper than the ILFORD Delta films.

Tom.

 

[tef312]

In Austria and Germany Kentmere Films are available.

 

[Chazzy]

I thought that by now we would be seeing more user reports on the Kentmere films. How do they compare with the more familiar offerings, those of you who have tried them?

 

[Ian Grant]

Charles, these budget films are like the Ilford 100 & 400 Pan only available in 35mm, many people will never use them, let alone see them.

Most people won't change films, they stick to one or two, and if they are happy certainly wouldn't change to a budget film. Ilford don't make rubbish so they will be good films but they may just lack the finesse of the flagship films like Pan F, FP4 & HP5 or the Delta range.

Ian

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Ian,

I'm almost surprised there is a real market for these Kentmere films.

Tom.

 

[Ian Grant]

There is for budget conscious people outside the UK. My UK supplier sells Ilford films at great prices so I have no need for the budget Ilford film (and I've almost given up 35mm photography completely anyway), and he's an APUG sponsor

Ian