Kentmere Film

5 Frames with a Houghton Ensign Box 2¼B

It’s funny what catches your eye when you’re casually roaming around the ‘Bay. The words “rapid rectilinear” caught my eye, a lens type well respected in it’s day. After a little negotiation with the seller, for a good price it was on its way to its new home. Although, as far as I could tell, not entirely un-interfered with at some point in it’s history, the box is in surprisingly good condition for a camera that’s about a century old with a working shutter and a clean lens.

5 frames of cheap cheap cheap in the Far East. An Argus C3, caffenol and Kentmere Pan 100.

“Wow.” the merchant let out a subtle gasp as I pulled out an Argus C3 to test another camera’s shutter in Namdaemun camera market, Seoul. I am not sure an Argus is used to hearing that in a shop. Ironically, I make a similar sound when I abuse the C3’s intended purpose and then develop 36 double exposures.

It’s boom or bust for this method, which fits my typical subjects: things lost in time. Korea, like much of the developed world, is experiencing a population decline of sorts. All over, once thriving businesses are now shuttered and smaller cities struggle.

Leica IIIa

5 Frames with a Leica IIIa, Canon LTM 50mm f2.8 lens and Kentmere 400 – By Richard de Bulat

I have used this little Leica for a couple of years having bought it 2nd hand during the Lock-downs. The original lens was the Elmar 5cm f3.5, the type that sits inside the camera body and you pull out when taking photographs. This lens was not terrible, but lacked the contrast I expect from a Leica camera and, having read about photographers from back in the day who substituted it for a Canon lens, I decided to do the same. This is now the lens that I use, with better results, in my opinion. I decided to use Kentmere film simply to try it out and was surprised at the result in a number of ways.

Eiffel Tower in the fog at sunrise on black and white film

Ilford Kentmere 120 – A Review in Paris – By Molly Kate

You might have seen the news already, but if not, today is the launch of Ilford’s Kentmere range in medium format. Kentmere 35mm 100 and 400 ISO films have been available under the Ilford umbrella since 2007 as a quality budget option for photographers. Now, the film is being stepped up in size!

Earlier this year, I tested the 35mm format (both 100 ISO and 400 ISO options) for the first time and was duly impressed. A few weeks ago, I also had the opportunity to test out the new Kentmere 100 and 400 films in medium format and can happily say I arrived at a similar conclusion.

A picture of a roll of Kentmere 400 black and white film

5 frames with Nikon F3P and Kentmere 400 – By Hans Gustafsson

Arrived in a hotel room shortly after 11pm on a monday  after a 5 hour drive. I’m fortunate to drive a very comfortable car so despite being a bit tired from a long drive after a working day, I wasn’t ready for bed just yet. Also there was a heatwave at the time so an hour or two of ventilating the room seemed like plan. I decided to load my F3P with a new aquaintance, Kentmere Pan 400, and start writing this post.

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