Even though Kentmere Pan 400 is a fairly new film, the history of it is a bit grey (pun intended). Harman Technologies is the parent company of both Ilford and Kentmere; prior to the Harman purchase, Kentmere did not produce any photographic films (they did make photo paper), so it would seem that Kentmere 400, which was introduced in 2009, is essentially an Ilford emulsion. Sometime a few years ago “Pan” was added to the name, although it is unclear if the emulsion was modified, or if it stayed the same and the name change was only marketing.
Kentmere Pan 400 is a low-budget black-and-white negative film marketed towards photography students. Harman has stated that Kentmere Pan 400 is similar to Ilford HP5 Plus 400, and the reason that they can sell it for cheaper is that it contains less silver. For this reason some people have speculated that it is simply HP5 Plus with less silver; however, Ilford also makes a Pan 400 film, and so some others have speculated that Kentmere Pan 400 is actually Ilford Pan 400 with less silver. Oh, and then there’s AgfaPhoto APX 400 (2013 and onward, anyway), which apparently is the same emulsion as Kentmere Pan 400, and possibly even Rollei RPX 400. It’s hard to know exactly what the truth is, other than Kentmere Pan 400 is a cheap B&W film made by Ilford, who has produced many excellent B&W films for a long time.
This Film Simulation Recipe was developed by Dan Allen. He shot a few rolls of Kentmere Pan 400 film, and during that time also shot a bunch of frames side-by-side with his Fujifilm X-Pro3. Using X RAW Studio, he fiddled with the Fujifilm files until they closely matched the Kentmere scans. One film can produce many different looks—depending on a host of factors, including how shot, developed, and printed and/or scanned—and even within this experiment, Dan discovered that there were some variances; these settings aim at the middle ground of those results. For many pictures, this Recipe is strikingly similar to the film, and you can tell that he put a lot of work and care into creating it. Thank you, Dan!
This Kentmere Pan 400 Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with all X-Trans IV cameras—except the X-T3 and X-T30—and all X-Trans V cameras: the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, and X100VI (as of this writing). I’m sure you can also use it on newer GFX models, although it might render very slightly different (try it anyway). Because Kentmere Pan 400 film is intended for student photographers, I had my 14-year-old son, Jonathan, use this Recipe—half of the pictures in this article are his.
Film Simulation: Acros+G
Monochromatic Color (Toning): Off (WC 0 & MG 0)
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Off
Color Chrome FX Blue: Off
White Balance: Auto, +7 Red & +6 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR-Auto
Highlight: +1
Shadow: +1
Sharpness: +3
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: +1
ISO: up to ISO 12800
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Kentmere Pan 400 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X100V:
See also: How To Add Film Simulation Recipes To Your Fujifilm Camera
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It looks very good.💚
Thanks!
Does it say that Dan Allen used a green filter on the Kentmere film too all the time he was out collecting comparison material? Or is that something you need to do to Fuji’s Acros filmsim in order to get close to the ‘bare’ film?
And I’ve wondered for a while now if you ever got around to elaborating on your november 2018 blogpost on the use of whitebalance shifts with b&w photography? Turns out there’s not a whole lot of study material to go dig the ins and outs with. Or else I didn’t find that yet. The quickest way to learn this practice (on Fuji cams specifically) seems to be hooking the camera to X Raw Studio and experiment away, once you have a few good shots that would show the variety of outcomes.
Dan didn’t use any filters on his film camera. Acros+G is necessary to replicate the film nonetheless; however, the color red does seem to render a little darker with this Recipe than the film, but overall it’s a good match.
Interestingly, I don’t use X RAW Studio personally. But experimenting with it is I’m sure a very educational experience. I haven’t updated that article about WB Shifts and B&W, but it might be interesting to revisit. Thanks for the suggestion! 😀
Would you be willing to divulge, in some future blogpost, (part of) the method that you do currently use to judge if these whitebalance + shift combinations will work to get you the results that you’re after? I find it hard to imagine that you’d just keep pushing camera buttons to arrive to the ballpark of, and subsequent refinement of a recipe that you’re aiming to go public with. Unless I’d get pushed to believe just that. And in this B&W realm – where it’s harder to assess the effect of a shift – you did publish a fair number of recipes that use them.
This would be a good starting place:
https://fujixweekly.com/2023/12/21/how-to-create-film-simulation-recipes/
It basically began (nearly eight years ago) as just pushing buttons to see what would happen. That’s kind of how it began. Nowadays I have a pretty good idea of what will do what, mostly from experience. I can usually guess pretty quickly what it should roughly be, then adjust from there. But several years ago it was a more challenging, and a lot more trial-and-error.
now that you have delved into Harman’s film stocks, would be interested to see your take on the Harman Phoenix 200 ?
25 years ago, Ilford Delta B&W films were my go-to… probably shot more Ilford than Kodak emulsions way back then.
Phoneix 200 is a weird one. I’m not certain exactly what it is… seems like a color reversal cinema film without Remjet, which becomes cross-processed in C41. If developed in E6… I bet it looks fairly “normal” (but still with halation). In fact, I’ve seen where that’s been done, and it might actually be Tungsten-balanced, which would make a lot of sense if it was indeed a motion picture emulsion.
Anyway, it seems that the scanner makes a big difference, likely because there is not a profile. It can have a pronounced orange cast or green cast, depending on the scanner. I’d have to decide which way to go with that.
Interesting fact!
Now can you maybe do a recipe based on the Phoenix 200?
Looks like it is more like in the Portra territory
Are you more interested in the orange-cast or green-cast Phoenix 200 images?
Would love a phoenix 200 recipe! orange and green cast versions would be great
Thanks for the feedback!
yeah you can do both of them !
😀
Ritchie, coming from a film background and shooting, processing and printing my own b&w for many years starting out, I have searched for a long time to get a b&w look that appeals to the way I feel it should look. I’ve tried your favorite, Tri-X, which didn’t quite work for me even though It is one really good recipe. I’ve also tried many other recipes from other creators too hoping to find the look I wanted to no avail. I have an X-T4 and an X-T5, I tried all of them on both cameras and even though I did like some photos they still didn’t hit the mark and I keep going back to color….until now. This Kentmere Pan 400 is it… just what I wanted… Thank you Dan Allen, and you Ritchie, for posting this. Now I have to go and shoot some B&W and pretend I processed and printed it myself…Thank you.
So awesome to hear this! I’m so glad that you like it!
Recently purchased a number of rolls of this. Looking forward to shooting both the analog and digital versions of this and comparing them. Thank you to you and Dan Allen!
Awesome! I’m sure Dan would be happy to share with you his development and scanning process, if you are interested.
Am just now trying out this recipe on my X-T5 and… it may be on its way to becoming my favorite monochrome recipe ever. Or at least high up on the list. By the way, the photos taken by your son Jonathan are both cool and impressive – please let him know that his work is being seen and admired by fellow photographers!
I’m so glad that you like it!
Jon has a natural eye for photography… I’m often impressed by his pictures. I will let him know what you said. I appreciate your kindness! 😀
It is like the “vintage” of B&W … Very nice feeling.
B&W is my favorite, and this Recipe is a good one for it, for sure.