Kentmere 400 film is a black and white 35mm film that is known for being an affordable alternative to more expensive films on the market. The film is made by Harman Technology, which also produces the well-regarded Ilford films. In this post a short review of the film.

Grain

One of the most notable features of Kentmere 400 is its grain structure. The grain is quite fine for a 400 ISO film, making it a great option for those looking to capture sharp and detailed images without sacrificing the classic film aesthetic. Below a comparison with Ilford Delta 400 ISO film. Both images were shot with a Leica M4-P. You’ll notice that the grain is slightly more present than in the Delta film, which is a fine grain film.

Contrast

In terms of contrast, Kentmere 400 ISO film shows medium contrast, with well-defined shadows and highlights. The film produces slightly flatter images compared to some other black and white films, but this is largely a matter of personal preference.

The Ilford Delta 400 image above was shot in great light conditions, resulting in a high contrast image, while the Kentmere image was shot on a cloudy day, which results in a lower contrast. Given the circumstances, I would qualify it as a medium contrast film.

Example images

Below a number of example images, all taken with a Leica M4-P and a Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 lens.

Conclusion

Overall, Kentmere 400 ISO film is a solid option for those looking for an affordable black and white film with fine grain and good contrast. It may not be the most dramatic or striking film out there, but it consistently produces clean and reliable results that are sure to please film enthusiasts of all levels.

In this post we reviewed the 35mm version of Kentmere 400 film. However, both Kentmere 400 as well as Kentmere 100 ISO film is avalable as a 120 film as well, which makes it available for all those medium format shooters as well.