Pushing Ilford Pan 400 and Rollei RPX 400

[Agulliver]

Looking to save money, I've come across supplies of Ilford Pan 400 and Rollei RPX 400 on 100' bulk rolls which are considerably cheaper than the Ilford HP5+ I've been using for gig photography.

What are these films like pushed to 1600 and beyond? MDC certainly has development times so I am assuming it's been done.

Is Rollei RPX400 Kentmere 400 in disguise? I tried that and went back to HP5+ for pushing, though the Kentmere was perfectly fine at box speed and 800.

 

[miha]

Ilford Pan 400 pushes fine in either Microphen or Ilfotec HC, IME.

 

[Agulliver]

Ilford Pan 400 pushes fine in either Microphen or Ilfotec HC, IME.

Thanks, yes to be more clear I'd use either Microphen or ID-11....I'm currently using Microphen and have sufficient for the next 12 months but will run out of HP5+ in a month or so as I just finished my last bulk roll.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Looking to save money, I've come across supplies of Ilford Pan 400 and Rollei RPX 400 on 100' bulk rolls which are considerably cheaper than the Ilford HP5+ I've been using for gig photography.

What are these films like pushed to 1600 and beyond? MDC certainly has development times so I am assuming it's been done.

Is Rollei RPX400 Kentmere 400 in disguise? I tried that and went back to HP5+ for pushing, though the Kentmere was perfectly fine at box speed and 800.

Pan 400 and HP5+ are the same from what I recall. I just did a push video with HP5+ a month or so ago.

HP5 is probably the best out there for that. It looks quite nice at 1600. 3200 is really pushing it though, if you want any shadow detail.

 

[Jon Buffington]

I have always had good luck with Kentmere 400 (pan 400) @ 800 processed in diafine. Hp5+ though is fantastic at 1600.

 

[miha]

... Kentmere 400 (pan 400)....

NOT the same film.

 

[Jon Buffington]

NOT the same film.

Weird as when I ordered a bulk roll of kentmere recently, it also had the words "Pan" clearly marked on it which was a vast change from previous orders of kentmere. But, I can certainly be wrong. My apologies if I am.

 

[miha]

Come on, no apologies needed!

 

[MattKing]

Weird as when I ordered a bulk roll of kentmere recently, it also had the words "Pan" clearly marked on it which was a vast change from previous orders of kentmere. But, I can certainly be wrong. My apologies if I am.

Out of curiosity, was "Pan" in the edge printing or was it in the packaging?

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi Agulliver,
Ilford's Pan400 is a film made for the third world and its ways: heat, shelf time, etc., so it is wonderfully made.
It's close to HP5 (not +) so it has a little more grain than HP5+, but it has all its pushability... I've used tons of it, and if you have Microphen, they're a joy together.
It's very easy to use Microphen stock, in case you have not.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I talk -as Matt asked- about the one with Pan in the edge printing. You can buy 100 ft or single rolls.
I tested it (wet printing), and it has exactly the same tone as HP5+, even at 1600 in Microphen.
It's one of the best films IMO.
Ilford wouldn't leave us poor people unattended.

 

[Jon Buffington]

Out of curiosity, was "Pan" in the edge printing or was it in the packaging?

Hi Matt,

Next roll I develop I will check closely. Just loaded one up to speak (k100...says kentmere pan 100 on box it came in which is NOT what it used to say as I have ordered and shot many bulk rolls) and by end of weekend, I will have it completed, developed and scanned.

 

[MattKing]

The name and branding was changed in 2018.
From the photomemorabilia site:

2018	... Ilford's Kentmere film range was given new look packaging and new names, though the film iteslf remained unchanged. Kentmere 100 and 400 became officially known as Kentmere PAN 100 and PAN 400 and both remained available as 24 and 36 exposure 135 cassettes as well as bulk length rolls.

 

[Arcadia4]

From an old photo.net thread.

‘The Pan 100 and Pan 400 films are distributed in areas of the world where ILFORD does not have a corporate presence. They are based on FP4+ and HP5+ technology, but are produced to lower specifications and tolorances. While the quality is acceptable, these films are lower in quality than other ILFORD films.’

David Carper ILFORD Technical Service

As matt notes Kentmere 100/400 name was changed to Kentmere PAN 100/400 but is otherwise unchanged, and they are different films to the Ilford PAN films which are sold in selected markets. The Kentmere films were originally introduced for the student market Esp. In the US.

Comparisons here may help with selection;

Kentmere Pan 400

Kentmere Pan 400 When I bought a few rolls of Ilford Pan 400 earlier this year to test the film, following up my use of Pan 100 , I'd b...

photo-analogue.blogspot.com

Ilford Pan 400

Ilford Pan 400 Having used Ilford Pan 100 last year, and from the research online for my post on the film, I wrote then that "Pan 400 a...

photo-analogue.blogspot.com

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I'd say exactly the same if I were David Carper.
Otherwise, HP5+ would sell less, because Pan400 is outstanding too.
I'd gladly use Ilford's Pan400 exclusively for the rest of my life.
I like it A LOT more than Kentmere's (now Pan) 400.

 

[foc]

They are based on FP4+ and HP5+ technology, but are produced to lower specifications and tolorances. While the quality is acceptable, these films are lower in quality than other ILFORD films.’

Has anyone seen documentation to show the differences?

The reason I ask was that Fuji when they sold Neopan 400cn they said it was similar to XP2 super but had their own tweaks.

I shot a lot of both and could never see any difference, to my eye both looked the same.

I wonder is it just sales talk.

 

[grain elevator]

The OP mentions bulk rolls, so I think he's thinking of Kentmere Pan 400, NOT Ilford Pan 400, which is not available in bulk rolls to my knowledge (or is it? If anyone has a source, pleas come forward!).

 

[miha]

From a random google search: https://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/pr...35mm-30-5m-bulk-roll-of-black-white-neg-film/

 

[Agulliver]

Yep I'm specifically thinking of Ilford Pan 400. I've tried Kentmere 400 and it is nice at box speed and 800, I find it becomes too contrasty at 1600. I do a lot of photography in a dim jazz and blues club. If I were looking for a well priced film in 135 to use at 400ISO, I would likely find Kentmere a thoroughly acceptable choice.

 

[grain elevator]

From a random google search: https://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/pr...35mm-30-5m-bulk-roll-of-black-white-neg-film/

Ah thanks. I'll have to investigate for a continental source.

 

[Arcadia4]

Ah thanks. I'll have to investigate for a continental source.

ILFORD Pan 400/metráž 30,5m | FotoŠkoda

ILFORD PAN 400 je velmi citlivý panchromaticky senzibilizovaný černobílý film vhodný pro fotografování s krátkými expozičními časy (sport) nebo pro fotografování za zhoršených světelných...

www.fotoskoda.cz

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I'm curious if anyone knows where to get Ilford Pan 400 in the US. I've never seen it.

 

[Agulliver]

I'm curious if anyone knows where to get Ilford Pan 400 in the US. I've never seen it.

It may not be officially distributed in the USA. I don't think it is offered in Europe or the UK through the same channels as Harman's other films. It's aimed at countries with lower disposable income, and also hot countries where the film may sit in a warehouse for months. I've used it before, but only at box speed.

 

[Arcadia4]

Official distribution is price sensitive markets, e.g eastern europe, some counties in asia and south america. Used to be hard to get in UK for this reason with no more than a couple of suppliers but seems stocked in few more places now.

 

[Paul Verizzo]

It may not be officially distributed in the USA. I don't think it is offered in Europe or the UK through the same channels as Harman's other films. It's aimed at countries with lower disposable income, and also hot countries where the film may sit in a warehouse for months. I've used it before, but only at box speed.

"Funny" this pops up a few days ago.

I was just inventorying my films, having not been doing darkroom work for at least six years. And what do I find, but one roll of Harman Pan 400! I've no idea where I got it, but it is at least six years old. And the expiration is still a year out in 2023! I was floored.

Then as noted here, probably made for hot climates.