[Leica] Kentmere 400

[Lluis Ripoll]

Hi Marty,

Plus X was my favorite film, unfortunately it is not more available, I’ve shoot my last Plus X films I think in 2014. Three years ago I’ve used Eastman Double XX, it works well at ISO 250, acceptable grain, the B&W is nice but in my opinion it is a film with more contrast and more grain than Plus X, I’ve developed it with X-Tol 1:1 and 1:3, but I’ve not tried D-23 or D-76. The film I’ve tested and I loved the results was Oriental Seagull, it is or was available in ISO 100 and 400 developed in D-23 1:1, it was excellent but it is a film hard to find, I don’t remember where I’ve purchased it, I remember it was in e-Bay, I think you can find it in Buyee, I’ve read somewhere that it was manufactured by Hartmann… I do not understand if Hartman made this film for selling only in China, HK… In my opinion there are only a few film manufacturers in the World and many commercial brand names have the same origin: Kodak, Ilford (Hartman), Fuji, Adox, Foma. The photographic paper is still worst, there is a while Adox don’t deliver FB paper, Oriental Seagull is available only in Japan and very expensive, Ilford is in my opinion the only good surviver, and Foma if you like it.

Lluis 

> El 15 jul 2021, a les 7:07, Marty Deveney via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> va escriure:
> 
> I haven't used Bergger Pancro 120, only 35mm.  Ilford HP5 always looked the
> same to me in all formats, but I haven't used it or any other Ilford film
> in over 10 years.
> 
> Foma, yes.  I have noticed substantial differences when I look at the
> negatives with a microscope.  But it is hard to tell if it is due to
> handling, fogging due to plastic wrap vs a cassette, a huge number of
> variations.
> 
> I will need to think about this soon; my stash of Plus-X is coming to an
> end (sad).  I may just buy 1,000 feet of Eastman XX, but I am not sure.
> 
> Marty
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jul 14, 2021 at 7:49 AM Lluis Ripoll via LUG <lug at leica-users.org>
> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Marty,
>> 
>> Lately I have found that the quality of various brands of film is not the
>> same in 35 mm format as in 120 mm, to unsuspected levels of significant
>> differences in grain, emulsion, veil. The brands that I have been able to
>> verify big differences are Bergger, Ilford HP5, Foma 400, all these have a
>> good quality in 120, however not in 35mm, moreover, I would even say that
>> they are very similar if you look at them with a good magnifying glass of
>> 10x or more and I have the suspicion that it could be that they were made
>> by the same manufacturer. What do you think about it?
>> 
>> Best!
>> Lluis
>> 
>>> El 13 jul 2021, a les 5:26, Marty Deveney via LUG <lug at leica-users.org>
>> va escriure:
>>> 
>>>> I’ve get good results with Foma 400 E.I. 250, 120 format, developed in
>>>> D-76 1:1 at 21ºC  10’ 50”, agitation the first 30” and 4 inversions
>> every
>>>> minute.
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> Yes, Foma 400 in 120 is nice but you can treat it completely differently
>> to
>>> 35mm.  This is 120 Foma 400 in Xtol:
>>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/Portraits/File0966.jpg.html
>>> 
>>> Plenty of nice 35mm examples in the thread at RFF:
>>> 
>> https://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92200&highlight=kentmere+400
>>> 
>>> Kentmere 400 + ilfotec DD-X - grain-free and a bit mushy. Looks like
>>>> Eastman XX. Since Eastman XX is half the speed of Kentmere 400 and twice
>>>> the price, there is no reason to buy Eastman XX in 35mm format.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> These films are all a bit soft - coarse grain and mushy edges.  I think
>>> HC-110 works really well because of all the strong developing agents and
>>> strong restrainers.  I like Eastman XX because it scratches less
>>> easily, but I have always found that with Kodak vs Ilford films.
>>> 
>>> Marty
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
>> 
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> 
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