There is talk that Ilford (Harman Technology) manufacture film for others. Possibly the “new” Fuji Across, I have no knowledge of this, but I do believe it is common knowledge that it is packaged by them here in the UK. Then there is the “new” Agfa APX, I’ve used a few rolls of this, and indeed posted about the first (100 asa) here. In the Agfa APX range there is both 100 and 400. I like the 100, not so keen on the 400 that I tried here, although it’s far from poor. I just prefer the 100!
Whilst there maybe doubt about the pedigree of those films, that is not the case with Kentmere, their name is on the box! I’m old enough to remember when Kentmere was a separate company, and indeed I used their paper. I used some of their 400 here, and as with the APX, wasn’t overstruck, again it’s not that it was poor, just not to my taste either! In fairness the whole idea of this range is that it’s a budget offering for those who are learning film photography, or indeed those of us who wish to save a little, when maybe we’re trying out a new camera or the like.
It’s taken me all this time to “buy and try” a roll of the Kentmere 100, and I like it! By strange coincidence, I took it on a little trip to Symondsbury, where, full circle, I tried my first roll of APX 100! Not only that when I thought about it later, also with the same camera and lens! Here are some of the results..
Having looked at the negs, the edge printing, the packing, processing times and more, my personal opinion is that the Kentmere 100 and 400 is indeed the same as the Agfa APX “new” films, I can’t detect any difference at all. Unlike some other comments I’ve read I think this is a good thing! It seems that not all outlets are able to stock both, so it means that if it is the same film, it’s better spread, and more widely available. If it means that Harman are making a bit more profit, and it keeps film production profitable, that’s good too! I’d be happy to use both Agfa APX 100 or Kentmere 100 again at anytime, in fact when my “stash” runs out, I might even move over from good old FP4 to Kentmere 100! A further happy situation is that it seems to lie perfectly flat in the scanner and need little correction, to my taste, when developed in Ilfosol!
As a footnote – look what else I found! Don’t see many these days, although judging by the spiders webs inside I don’t this it gets too much use! Usually they contain a community library, rather than a phone!
Chatter: Canon EOS 30, with 40mm STM, yellow filter and Kentmere 100, developed in Ilfosol 3 1+9 20° for 7.5 mins.
S.H.O.U.T. 
I’ve been using Kentmere 400 at 800 asa developed in DDX lately, been pleased with the results. Will have to try Kentmere 100, your images are really good.
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Hello, Many thanks! I’ve recently tried HP5 at 800 in DDX and found that to be a pretty good combination. I think I’ve come to the conclusion that DDX is a better developer for push processing than Ilfosol, my usual dev. I’ve used both the Agfa APX 400 and a little Kentmere 400, I think they are very very similar! I tend not to use too much higher speed film, so good old HP5 or Delta 400 will probably do me fine. I do think that that APX/Kentmere 100 is pretty good though, and I can see for economy that I may use more of that in the coming years!
All best wishes – Andy
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I’ve tried K100 and haven’t gotten on with it as well as I would like. But then I see results like yours and think I should try again.
For a couple weeks there was a proper British phone box at the curb by someone’s home here in Zionsville. I kept meaning to stop to photograph it, but then it was gone. How did it get here?
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Hi Jim,
Thank you for the shout-out about my 110 post, very much appreciated!
I wonder if the mixed results people seem to get from Kentmere 100 are down to a choice of developer as much as anything? I processed mine in Ilfosol, and got what looked to me, like a good set of negs. Personally I like a decent amount of contrast, and shot those images with a yellow filter on. For a couple of the shots, for the purpose of scanning, I think that was almost too much, so next roll I use, I’ll do so without the filter.
The good old red phone boxes, known as the “K6”, as far as I know where mostly sold off, so anyone could buy one. There are lots used a mini greenhouses, wifi hotspots, and often mini community library/bookshares. Defibrillator sites are becoming another popular use for them. I dread to think how much the shipping cost would be to Indiana! Interestingly there is one inside Liverpool Cathedral, it’s a nod to the fact that Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, was the designer/architect of both!!
Cheers
Andy
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