Analog Therapy/Film Test: Contax 137 MA Quartz – Zeiss Glass – Kentmere Pan 200.
Before I get to the film, there is a matter of the camera.
An unqualified analog hit around these parts. How much so and why? Welp.
- Have put more film through it than not only the prior top of my analog medium format food chain, but nearly any other film camera I have ever owned regardless of format including 35mm.
- New on the list is I just realized that this camera fit in my cargo pants pocket… What? That is nuts. Never tried it until this day and it just fit. Nuts.
- Just about never misses focus or exposure. A bona fide medium format point and shoot film camera.
- I could go on but I will end it by stating that that this camera is still in my possesion and the other camera was traded to acquire this cameras new digital dance partner.
On to the test roll.
I have used Kentmere films before.
I liked them both.
Not as contrasty and pin sharp as other B&W films I typically favor, but what drew me to them was their affordable price. Add to that the promise of improved contrast with 120 films,…
…and I would count them as a success.
On my recent visit to my local camera shop, Venu…
…recommended I try this new Kentmere film. He shared that this new Kentmere Pan 200 was sharper than their previous films. Count me in.
Bought a roll of 35mm and 120. The 35mm roll went so well…
…that I immediately wanted to test out a roll of 120. This is about that 120 roll.
<Cut and paste from yesterday.> Given the current ills of the world, I was overdue for a bit of analog therapy,… <End cut and paste.>… so I struck out to the garden where I recently did my first maternity photo session…
…and booked it back to my local camera shop to buy another roll. Ran through the roll in no time. Developed at home using Cinestill df96 and scanned with my trusty Epson V600. Here are all 16 images. This GA645 is as close to foolproof as anyone could ask for. Thoughts will be added afterward.
First, the garden.
And to the camera shop to get more film… and take pics of some of the folks there.
Thoughts.
Same result as the 35mm roll…
…this film is cuss word awesome.
I had no nits to pick with Kentmere’s 100 and 400 films bu this 200 variant is better to my eyes. As sharp as 100 and more consistent than the 400. I have already bought more and I definitely will be buying it again in the future.
Well done, Kentmere.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 