Kentmere Pan 100 Black and White Negative Film (35mm Roll Film 24 Exposures)

I started with the Massive Development Chart's recommendation for this film processed in HC-110 (Dilution B (1:31), 5:45 at 22 degrees C) and adjusted for my ambient temperature (24 degrees C) to arrive at 6 minutes, HC-110, Dilution D (1:39) with moderate agitation. The results were acceptable, but certainly lacking the tonal latitude of the more expensive film stocks. That being said, this would be a good film for students learning how to work with film.

Needed inexpensive film for my hungry panoramic cameras and this fits that need perfectly. Easy to process and scan. Most importantly, it doesn't break the bank!

If your photographic experience goes back as far as the 60s or 70s, you're going to remember Kodak's Verichrome Pan. It was a medium speed black and white film made to fit anything from Instamatics to Hasselblads (aka Plus-X, in 35mm). It had a medium toe and a medium shoulder, giving consistent, dependable and pleasing gradation. Its moderately fine grain looked smooth and natural and complemented (rather than competing with) any image. All these "mediums" may sound boring, but it was much more than that. It was--- comfortable. A film you could shoot for years and never be dissatisfied. Then came T-Max. Noticeably finer and sharper. A short toe raises the shadows, giving more definition in the darks. And there is no shoulder, just a long, straight curve well above Zone XII. Meaning? Highlights may need burning-in but never block up, and always look brilliant and sparkly. (Some sat the highlights DO block up, but they actually don't lose separation. They just became quite dense. That is a very different thing.) Printing T-Max calls for careful exposure for the shadows and often burning the highlights, sometimes at a different contrast. It can be a lot of work but the results are simply beautiful. So now we have two distinct types of film, two approaches to shooting, two kinds of experience. One retro and easy, the other ideal for the careful craftsman. I may use either, depending on my mood and purpose. The go-to T-Max wannabe would be Delta, or maybe Acros. All beautiful films. But what about Kentmere? We finally come to the reason a review of K100 hasn't yet mentioned the film itself... because I have been talking about it from the start! Kentmere looks just like it might be Verichrome's twin brother or sister. Comfortable, consistent, easy and predictable black and white. Buy it for the price, if you must. But keep shooting simply because it is lovely. I suggest X-Tol 1:1, 11.5 minutes (My first choice) or D-76/ID-11 1:1, 13 min.