Let us talk about Kentmere 400 again?

[haempe]

First, I liked and shot TX, but never got the curl under control.

So I'm lurking around for other 400s for a while.
Starting to like Neopan 400, which production was canceled instantly.
Then having a unpleasant intermezzo with Fomapan 400.
Then tested K400.
Shot some rolls at box speed, souped in different developers and had a good feeling.
Slight pulling gives the film a lower contrast, sometimes useful in harsh light.

Then I want to drive the film to the limits.
Test-roll in the SLR, Iso 3200 and AE. Looking for difficult, high-contrast motives at home.

Black and white tiles against the window; 1/250; f:1.8; K400@3200 in TMax 1+4

Indoor shot ; K400@3200 in TMax 1+4

A similar shot ; K400@400 in Xtol 1+1

Now really bad light, 60W bulb in the middle of a chalked cellar:

Near the bulb; K400@3200 in TMax 1+4

Against the light; K400@3200 in TMax 1+4

Switch; K400@3200 in TMax 1+4

All completly non PP'd beside scanner AE and .jpg conversion.

Well, all this is a bit theoretical and needs real live confirmation.
But this is the best looking 3-stop-pushed film I have ever done, in terms of grain and tones.
In my eyes better than Neopan400 or TX.

What do you think?
Other experiences?

 

[zerobuttons]

Thank you so much for posting this. This looks promising to me, since I have considered trying the Kentmere film because of prices.

 

[stratcat]

It certainly looks very nice pushed 3 stops, congratulations!

I wonder if I can get some of that over here and how it would behave with HC-100...

 

[Monz]

The pushed shots look great.

 

[Monz]

Cheerful Fiddler by *monz*, on Flickr

Kentmere 400 at ISO 400 in Rodinal 1+50

 

[robbeiflex]

So is Kentmere 400 the same as Rollei RPX 400? If so then I concur, if not then I'll have to get my hands on some and give it a try. See my Flickr for samples of RPX 400, I have them tagged.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[haempe]

AFAIK; Kentmere 400 is Rollei RPX 400.
And thats the best, in MF this should be a great film...

Interestingly in Xtol the K400 lose a bit shadow detail.
TMaxDev works more compensating with this film.
Monz, I don't have tried the K400 in Rodinal at the moment, but the pics I have seen have pronounced grain (as your's a bit), looks very interesting for special purposes...
HC-110? Sorry, zero experience with this developer here.

 

[f16sunshine]

It looks great. Is there 120 and 4x5 available?

 

[Tim Gray]

AFAIK; Kentmere 400 is Rollei RPX 400.

I've never heard that. Simon Galley (of Ilford) claims that it's a new formulation and isn't another film. Check the last post on the first page:

http://www.apug.org/forums/forum37/58301-kentmere-film-maybe-mr-galley-will-know.html

 

[Monz]

My local film pusher says Kentmere is made by Ilford/ Harman. I doubt that it is same as RPX 400. Looks more Delta-esque to me.

For people in UK, you can get Kentmere from here:

http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/kentmere-film-365-c.asp

 

[haempe]

I've never heard that. Simon Galley (of Ilford) claims that it's a new formulation and isn't another film.

Ok, contrary: Rollei RPX 400 is Kentmere 400.
Maco get this stuff from Ilford, from what I have read.

And yes, RPX400 is avalaible in 120. Sadly not in 4x5".

 

[randomm]

My local film pusher says Kentmere is made by Ilford/ Harman. I doubt that it is same as RPX 400. Looks more Delta-esque to me.

For people in UK, you can get Kentmere from here:

http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/kentmere-film-365-c.asp

Its the same stuff.

The reason RPX is disappearing from the market is, to my understanding, because Maco went against some terms they had agreed with Ilford, so Ilford pulled the plug on supplying them film that they could relabel. That's all Maco does, relabels existing films - mainly Agfa's (Netherland) aerial photography stuff as far as I know.

This is second hand information though, but comes from a pretty reliable source.

I shot about 10-15 rolls of RPX400 and really did not get on with it. Does not develop well in Caffenol, and as I try not to use other developers I sold the rest of the film I had in the fridge to a fellow RFF member from here in Helsinki.

 

[haempe]

...I shot about 10-15 rolls of RPX400 and really did not get on with it. Does not develop well in Caffenol, ...

I can imagine that...
It seems, K400 works best with "modern" developers.

 

[Mablo]

/me being the person to whom my friend Randomm sold his remaining Kentmere 400 stash. I do like the film but I must note it's to some degree an acquired taste. If you like grain like in Tri-X in Rodinal 1:50 or Delta 3200 you might also like Kentmere 400. I normally use EI 250 and develop it in HC-110H for 11 minutes.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

okay...what i learnt from this thread:

a. Rollei RPX is Kentmere 400
b. Kentmere pushes well to 3200
c. Kentmere works best with T-Max Developer

raytoei

 

[semilog]

Starting to like Neopan 400, which production was canceled instantly.

Neopan 400 was discontinued in 120, but it's still available in 35mm.

 

[Tim Gray]

This is second hand information though, but comes from a pretty reliable source.

I'm not saying you are lying, but I do know that Simon Galley (of Ilford) has repeatedly stated they no longer sell their films for relabeling. I do think they will coat products for other people, but they won't repackage an existing film. This all grew out of them reorganizing a couple years ago.

 

[Freakscene]

I'm not saying you are lying, but I do know that Simon Galley (of Ilford) has repeatedly stated they no longer sell their films for relabeling. I do think they will coat products for other people, but they won't repackage an existing film. This all grew out of them reorganizing a couple years ago.

When I asked about this Ilford staff were very careful to say that they no longer supply Ilford film for repackaging. I took this to mean Ilford labelled films, not necessarily Kentmere film made by Ilford, but I've spent too much time in courts lately and might be hyper-sensitive to these kinds of semantics.

Marty

 

[Mablo]

I'm not saying you are lying, but I do know that Simon Galley (of Ilford) has repeatedly stated they no longer sell their films for relabeling. I do think they will coat products for other people, but they won't repackage an existing film. This all grew out of them reorganizing a couple years ago.

It's pretty easy to buy a brick of both brands and shoot them side by side as I've done. Maybe I've had one too many shots of Rodinal and can't think straight anymore but it's exactly the same film.

 

[btgc]

RPX 400, when released, were announced as film which pushes well. I think I'll reach for a 30m/100ft roll of Kentmere 400.