Anyone pushing Kentmere 400 with Microphen?

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi,
I'd like to know if someone on RFF uses Kentmere 400 for pushing with Ilford Microphen...
How far can it be pushed for wet printing?
Thanks!

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Or in any other developer... During 2015 & 2016 I've used HP5+ in Microphen, only... IMO the best technology out there, and before that I've used Tri-X and TMY-2 with most respected developers for around 30 years, from Rodinal, D-76 and Pyro, to Diafine and Xtol. The fact is I tried, twice, to make good use of Foma400, the only film sold in Colombia some time ago, but that is, again IMO, a very bad film... I'm sorry with all people trying to make money out of a second class product: Foma400 seems to me a film that's closer to 200, and that is not a versatile, pushable film at all... I wasted time and effort with something that should not be called a 400 black&white film... So as I just read Kentmere 400 is made by Harman, I guess it can be a film with more than decent technology inside it... Thanks for any information about its pushing capabilities.
Cheers,
Juan

 

[charjohncarter]

Juan, I know nothing of Kentmere, but I agree with you on Forma/Arista EDU ultra 400. It is a difficult film, you say 200, and that is where I shoot it (mostly for fun and wasted {hoping for a masterpiece} shooting). I'm starting to think that 125 is the real speed FOR ME with this film(Forma). Another problem with F/A film is the color spectral curve: it is way sensitive for blue. This is a reason that if I have a blue sky shot I use an Orange filter. That with the personal speed tames F/A, now you have to deal with shadows; that is why I'm going to try my next waster roll to 125.

 

[charjohncarter]

If you are in Columbia now, maybe Freestyle will ship to you. How old are the twins?

 

[mpaniagua]

This guy is pushing it to 3200 with, IMHO, good results:

http://www.marciofaustino.com/news/kentmere-400-at-iso-3200

Ive only use it at 400 and I like its texture.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi John, great to hear you!
Yes, I buy from Freestyle, they ran out of Arista Premium because of me... 😉 These next days I'll order a couple of 100ft rolls of HP5+, so I was thinking of trying one of K400 too, for tests first, and for a couple of students I have... Maybe for real shooting too, I was hoping... So I just wanted some nice confirmation about it going up to 1600 for wet printing... I couldn't even get a decent 800 with Foma! K400 might be close to 600 in Microphen, so 1600 would be a decent push...
My twins are fine, thanks: they're 7 now, getting close to 8, they're so sweet...
You remember them every time, I really appreciate it!
So, I'll comment any new finding if I try K400... Happy shooting for you!
Cheers,
Juan

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi mpaniagua,
Thank you, I had seen that link, but I prefer RFF members, as lots of things out there are meaningless: we don't know how people meter, they say I metered at 3200 but they might have metered at 1600 or 800... Besides, they scan, and that's a different game... I'm pretty sure K400 can't go to 3200 for wet printing... Even 1600 without Microphen would be a biblical miracle... Thanks again!
Cheers,
Juan

 

[charjohncarter]

Hi mpaniagua,
Thank you, I had seen that link, but I prefer RFF members, as lots of things out there are meaningless: we don't know how people meter, they say I metered at 3200 but they might have metered at 1600 or 800... Besides, they scan, and that's a different game... I'm pretty sure K400 can't go to 3200 for wet printing... Even 1600 without Microphen would be a biblical miracle... Thanks again!
Cheers,
Juan

I have a Granddaughter the same age. I wish I could see her more. I accidently did this with Arista EDU ultra 400:

Arista EDU ultra 400 HC-110h by John Carter, on Flickr

This 4 stops under but normal development. AND it was not wet printed.

 

[chikubi]

Hi mpaniagua,
Thank you, I had seen that link, but I prefer RFF members, as lots of things out there are meaningless: we don't know how people meter, they say I metered at 3200 but they might have metered at 1600 or 800... Besides, they scan, and that's a different game... I'm pretty sure K400 can't go to 3200 for wet printing... Even 1600 without Microphen would be a biblical miracle... Thanks again!
Cheers,
Juan

I've shot a pretty fair amount of K400 @ 1600 and I find the results consistently excellent. I do scan it primarily, but the negatives are good nonetheless - very nearly the same as if I shot & developed it at 400 - so I don't think you'd have any problems wet printing them in the least. It has great tonality even pushed to 1600, so I prefer it to Tri-X which is too contrasty for my taste. I've shot Foma 400 quite a bit as well, but never pushed, and from my experience I agree that I don't think it's really up to it, though I like it for normal use despite its quirks because I like the general look of it.

Anyway, here's a few samples of the Kentmere @ 1600. Shot w/ Nikon F4s, Center weighted, no exp. comp, ISO 1600 on camera. Probably 1/60-1/125 @ f/2-2.8 if I remember correctly; it's a fairly dim venue and the lighting is just basic sunken ceiling pots. Developed in D76 directly off of Massive Dev Charts entries for the film, so D76 1:1 for 22 mins @ 68F. I've also used D76 stock for 20 mins. and didn't find much difference in look to my eyes.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Eric,
Thanks a lot for your detailed answer... Great news indeed!
I'll order some rolls to test it...
Wonderful exposure & development, by the way.
Cheers,
Juan

 

[Johnmcd]

I use Foma 200 nearly exclusively and am very happy with it but Foma 400 is not what I need for my 'pushing film'. So I went to HP5+ and Microphen (in lieu of hard to get DDX). Edit: Sorry Delta 400 not HP5!

Very happy with the results at 800 iso. Plenty of examples here:

http://johnmcd.zenfolio.com/p760206391

Cheers - John

 

[Johnmcd]

I've shot a pretty fair amount of K400 @ 1600 and I find the results consistently excellent. I do scan it primarily, but the negatives are good nonetheless - very nearly the same as if I shot & developed it at 400 - so I don't think you'd have any problems wet printing them in the least. It has great tonality even pushed to 1600, so I prefer it to Tri-X which is too contrasty for my taste. I've shot Foma 400 quite a bit as well, but never pushed, and from my experience I agree that I don't think it's really up to it, though I like it for normal use despite its quirks because I like the general look of it.

Anyway, here's a few samples of the Kentmere @ 1600. Shot w/ Nikon F4s, Center weighted, no exp. comp, ISO 1600 on camera. Probably 1/60-1/125 @ f/2-2.8 if I remember correctly; it's a fairly dim venue and the lighting is just basic sunken ceiling pots. Developed in D76 directly off of Massive Dev Charts entries for the film, so D76 1:1 for 22 mins @ 68F. I've also used D76 stock for 20 mins. and didn't find much difference in look to my eyes.

Really nice results!

 

[Johnmcd]

I use Foma 200 nearly exclusively and am very happy with it but Foma 400 is not what I need for my 'pushing film'. So I went to HP5+ and Microphen (in lieu of hard to get DDX).

Very happy with the results at 800 iso. Plenty of examples here:

http://johnmcd.zenfolio.com/p760206391

Cheers - John

Sorry. It wasn't HP5 but Delta 400! Change made to original post.

Cheers - John

 

[chikubi]

Juan & Johnmcd - thank you very much! Glad I could offer some useful feedback.

 

[Noserider]

i actually like Microphen although I've not used it in many years. I used to use it with HP5+ and I did the re-use and and add 10-15% per 4 rolls and it worked well; nice tone and a punchy look to the contrast....hmmm
I also use a decent amount of K400 mostly in Xtol Replenished and I've been looking for more punch in my low light work, so thank you for suggesting/reminding me of Microphen.