Kentmere film

[37th Exposure]

Never mind the screen name which is just a coincidence, but has anyone noticed that Kentmere rolls are couple inches shorter than any other brand (Foma being the longest)? Unless you use the bare minimum of leader to load up, you just might end up with 34 or 35 shots on a 36. I use just enough leader to engage the first few sprockets after the tail and I nearly have to tear the film right out of the cartridge to get all 36 promised exposures. I have to crank very carefully on my Voigtlander R3M as soon as I get to frame 35. Anyway it is a wonderful film (the 400, I've yet to try the 100) with a creamy gray scale and I can't believe this first class film costs as little as it does. I just hope Ilford doesn't price itself out of business. I suppose they can't afford to put an extra inch or two in at Kentmere prices. Just count your exposures so you don't crank too far.

 

[railwayman3]

Interesting...I've never measured the length of manufacturers film, I presume that there is some sort of ISO or similar standard?
OTOH, I wouldn't have thought that "short-changing" a couple of inches of film would have produced any significant extra profit, given that the film is only a small part of the manufacturing costs, compared with the cassette, packing, marketing, overheads, etc. Presumably that is why 20 or 24 exp cassettes have become less popular, as they offer little saving in price.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Its absolutely the same length as all our films = ISO standard : 0.056875 m2

90% of cameras / customers will get 37 exposures : If you do not get 36 send it back to us...but check your wind on first.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN tecnology