New Kentmere film launched today

Scroll down for the Pan 200 tech sheet and development info

Harman Technology today revealed that it has added a third film to it's Kentmere line-up with a "brand new" 200 ISO emulsion slotting in between the company's existing 100 ISO and 400 ISO offerings.

Kentmere Pan 200 has been developed as a "high contrast" film which features a low density base for potentially deeper shadows whilst still retaining good detail in the dark tones. It will be available in 35mm, 120 roll film and 35mm bulk lengths. There are no plans for a large format version.

Harman, one of the largest manufacturers of film, darkroom paper and chemicals in the world, says its new emulsion offers "pleasing, well-controlled grain" and good sharpness making it "suitable for most shooting applications and conditions".

The company said, "This versatile film was specially formulated for those that prefer a more contrasty look. The film has a clear 'low-density base' with a lower dmin which enables higher contrast whilst retaining shadow detail and ensuring well-controlled grain in the darker areas."

Like other Kentmere films, Pan 200 is panchromatically sensitised and is said to be well-suited to darkroom printing and capable of being processed in a wide range of black and white developers.

Harman said the same "rigorous processes" used in the manufacture of all of the company's Ilford films and papers will be standard in the production of Pan 200.

I'm hoping to be in a position within a few months to have an operational darkroom once more and I might well give Pan 200 a try. One of the biggest issues I face up here in Scotland is the low pressure weather zones that hover like drones with limitless battery power over the countryside turning everything into 40 shades of grey.

As a result, I seemed to spend an inordinate part of my film photography life trying to inject some contrast into otherwise quite dull and lifeless scenes. If Pan 200 turns out to have appreciably finer grain than 400 ISO films such as HP5 Super - which it should have - but with a boost in contrast then it might be just the job for our dreich weather.

For more information about the products, including a list of retailers, visit ilfordphoto.com.