Kentmere 400 at 3200 in TMAX-Dev

[sjgslack]

Hi All,

I thought I would try pushing Kentmere 400 to 3200.

The internet doesn't really have any recipes, so I followed the massive dev chart HP5 recipe for TMAX-Dev 1+4. (11:30mins). For 400 ISO Kentmere requires slightly less time than HP5, but I though I'd play it safe. It was agitated for about 5-10 seconds each minute.

Anyway - I thought people might be interested in the result. It was a test roll, so no amazing shots.

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. I really like the grain and the blacks here. I will be doing it again 🙂

 

[stompyq]

Hmm. Interesting. Not my cup of tea but thanks for posting.

 

[BLKRCAT]

I dont mind it. Great results!

 

[Pioneer]

That is very interesting. I have a bulk roll of Kentmere 400 waiting in the freezer. It looks as if it may be more versatile than I thought.

 

[BlackXList]

I think these look great! Thank you for sharing them.

 

[sjgslack]

That is very interesting. I have a bulk roll of Kentmere 400 waiting in the freezer. It looks as if it may be more versatile than I thought.

Me too. I'd always used rodinal before and never liked the grain much. I think i prefer this combination to box speed with rodinal.

I'm going to try the same speed but use HC110 next -- tmax is a bit pricey (just had a baby and my wife is no longer working!)

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

very nice. i routinely push kentmere to 1600,
however in my last 100 feet bulk roll, i found that my usual
times did not give me a consistent negative like
the previous bulk roll. I tested other film emulsion to make sure
my developer was still potent, so I concluded that
the the last bulk roll need more time because it was either
near expiry (?) or had lost speed due to x-ray scans (?).

thanks

 

[zuiko85]

Thanks for posting. Always good to have options for low light when needed.

 

[f16sunshine]

What do you scan with? Looks like epson type grain smoothing (not a bad thing).
I like these results well enough.
The cat is impressive.

 

[sjgslack]

What do you scan with? Looks like epson type grain smoothing (not a bad thing).
I like these results well enough.
The cat is impressive.

It is indeed. A V700.

I can get better results from DSLR scanning with a macro lens, but I find the Epson to be good enough. I have reached the point where the settings i use are mostly sorted.

But any tips on better scanning with a V700 are always happily received 🙂

 

[BLKRCAT]

It is indeed. A V700.
t any tips on better scanning with a V700 are always happily received 🙂

I found my sharpness increased dramatically when I started scanning emulsion side down. Contrary to what Epson tells you. I also make sure to pinch down the holder in the middle for 35mm to make sure the neg stays as flat as possible.

I usually get decently sharp scans right out of the scanner. Adding sharpening in post almost is too much for some shots.

 

[sjgslack]

Were the third and fifth photographs cropped?

No, none of them are, though i can see why you ask - the grain sort of looks bigger I reckon.

 

[sjgslack]

I found my sharpness increased dramatically when I started scanning emulsion side down. Contrary to what Epson tells you. I also make sure to pinch down the holder in the middle for 35mm to make sure the neg stays as flat as possible.

I usually get decently sharp scans right out of the scanner. Adding sharpening in post almost is too much for some shots.

That's an interesting idea, I will try it. I guess epson wouldn't recommend it as it would require flipping the image after scanning... I'll see what result i get.

I recently added some height with the little legs on the film holder which improved things too (though i guess units vary in this regard)

I agree about software sharpening

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Thank for posting these scans. I did it upto 1600 only. Will try 3200. "Dark times are upon us".

 

[sjgslack]

Thank for posting these scans. I did it upto 1600 only. Will try 3200. "Dark times are upon us".

I'm even thinking about trying 6400. By the look of these it can be pushed another stop 🙂

 

[rwintle]

FWIW I think these look really good. Kentmere is not perhaps the most well-respected film out there 😉 but it seems to respond very nicely to this push+dev combination.

I thought the third photo was cropped too... interesting how the grain seems bigger or more prominent in that one, maybe just the predominantly mid-gray tones of the background showing it up more?

 

[sjgslack]

FWIW I think these look really good. Kentmere is not perhaps the most well-respected film out there 😉 but it seems to respond very nicely to this push+dev combination.

I thought the third photo was cropped too... interesting how the grain seems bigger or more prominent in that one, maybe just the predominantly mid-gray tones of the background showing it up more?

It could well be so. They were quite different lighting conditions.

It would be interesting to see how well it worked with a different developer, maybe even stand development.

I might try HC110 1+100 for 2 hours and see how it comes out (though I have a feeling the results may not be so appealing)

 

[Noll]

With results that nice, it sure doesn't hurt to have two extra stops! I keep meaning to try this with tri-x and caffenol... Your results are encouraging.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm even thinking about trying 6400. By the look of these it can be pushed another stop 🙂

Please, dare to do! I'm interesting to see how it will come out, for winter time street photography.