Kentmere 100 Film Review
Looking for a classic grain structure low cost black and white film? Keep reading!
35mm Kentmere 100 Film
In my last blog post I discussed Kodak black and white film, specifically Kodak Double-X. Another B&W film that to my eyes gives a classic look is Kentmere 100 film. Kentmere film is only able in 35mm format and comes in two speeds, 100 and 400. I have only shot with Kentmere 100 but I liked the results enough that I didn’t look to try Kentmere 400.
Buying Kentmere 100 Film
I bought my first rolls of Kentmere 100 film in the US at either Adorama or B&H I think during a photography workshop I was running in New York. What I didn’t realise at the time is Kentmere film is actually made by Ilford film. It was first available in the US as a budget alternative to Ilford films but is now available in the UK also. With all the great black and white films available on the market I have not bought another batch of Kentmere film yet as I am still experiementing with new films. The latest film I tried was Ilford Pan 100 so I will share some samples and thoughts once I have shot a few more rolls of it.
Kentmere 100 Film – Available on Amazon – Check for latest prices! (UK) / (US)
(As mentioned above Kentmere 100 seems much more readily available in the US. I bought my 10pk to get the lowest price per roll but I struggle to find that same deal for sale in the UK).
Kentmere Pan 100 Film?
There are rumours that Kentmere 100 film is also reboxed and sold under the name Ilford Pan 100? I have no evidence of this personally but I do shoot Ilford Pan 100 film. From my own experience I would say Kentmere 100 is different to Ilford Pan 100. Pan 100 has less apparent grain and Kentmere has a more obvious classic grain structure. Both are great films but from the films I have shot I think they were different formula. I noticed that certain film photography labs in the UK that did stock Kentmere 100 now stock Pan 100 instead.  As such perhaps Kentmere Pan 100 now exists but I would need to buy a few boxes of this new Pan 100 labelled film to try to see if it is more similar to the old Kentmere 100 or the old Pan 100.
Kentmere 100 – Flickr Photos
(Click any image to see the camera used)
Kentmere 100 Film Summary
Originally I bought this film because of the low price plus I like to experiment with different film stocks. I was pleasantly surprised by the sharpness and fine grain of Kentmere 100 when compared to other classic film emulsions such as Ilford FP4 plus and Ilford HP5 plus. I find 35mm FP4 a little to grainy for my portraits and similar to 35mm Kodak Tri-X 400 in that regard. That said I happily shoot 120 format HP5, FP4 and Tri-X in my medium format film cameras such as the Hasselblad and Mamiya 6 / 7 / RZ67 as the grain in the larger negatives is less pronounced.
More Film Stock/ Related Posts
- How to Process Film through to Digital (Develop, Scan, Edit)
- Fomapan 100 Film Review
- Kodak T-Max 100 Film Review
- Ilford Pan F 50 Film Review
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A couple of years later but eventually I came across your post.
Kentmere 100, now Pan100(?) is the beginning and end of the manufactured film rolls. Before they are cut onto 36 frames and sold to the public, they select and remove the ends and they’re sold has Kentmere Pan 100.
The middle of the rolls have a better quality and they sold has Ilford Pan 100.
Hi Frank, ah that’s facinating! Thanks for sharing that. They do look slightly different from my experience with Pan 100 looking more premium so I guess that holds true. Many thanks for stopping by!
The Kentmere films are entirely new emulsions.
https://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/kentmere-pan-400-black-and-white-film-iso-400-135-24/p4221
Thanks! This article is from some years ago before there was much info available (and before the re-birth of film!)