Kentmere Pan 200 120 Film

Kentmere Pan 200 in 120 is one of the best-value rolls of black and white film you can run through a medium format camera. It's made by Ilford — at the same Mobberley facility in Cheshire that produces HP5 Plus, Delta 100, and the rest of the Ilford professional range — and it brings that manufacturing pedigree to a price point that makes shooting medium format B&W genuinely accessible.

In 120, the Kentmere 200 emulsion delivers meaningfully more than it can in 35mm. The larger negative captures more detail, produces finer apparent grain, and gives the high contrast tonal rendering a depth and richness that 35mm simply can't match. For medium format photographers who want quality black and white results without the cost of Delta 400 or HP5 Plus in 120, Kentmere 200 is a compelling option that often surprises people with what it can produce.

Why photographers love Kentmere 200 in 120

The combination of high contrast rendering and a larger negative is where Kentmere 200 in 120 really earns its place. Deep, clean blacks sit alongside bright, textured highlights with a tonal separation that suits landscape, architectural, and still life work beautifully. In a medium format negative this contrast character has room to breathe — the shadows don't block up the way they might in a smaller frame, and the highlights hold more texture.

At ISO 200 it's designed for good light, which happens to be where medium format photographers often do their best work. With a tripod and careful metering, Kentmere 200 in 120 produces negatives that scan with real quality. The fine grain structure — already good in 35mm — becomes exceptional in 120, where the larger frame area means the grain is so much less apparent that the results can feel closer to a slower, finer-grained film.

It's also an excellent choice for photographers learning medium format black and white. The forgiving exposure latitude gives room for metering errors, the contrast character is immediately rewarding, and the accessible price point means you can afford to shoot more rolls and learn faster without the stress of expensive emulsions. Cameras like the Mamiya C330, Holga 120, Yashica-Mat, and Bronica ETRS are natural partners — good optics, medium format quality, and a film that works hard without demanding perfection.

A bit of film history

Kentmere is an Ilford brand, manufactured at Ilford's Mobberley facility and named after a village in the English Lake District near Ilford's historic roots. The Kentmere range was created as an accessible entry point into the Ilford B&W ecosystem — manufactured to Ilford's standards but priced for photographers who want quality without professional film costs. Kentmere 200 in 120 is a relatively recent addition to the range, reflecting growing demand for affordable medium format B&W options as more photographers discover the format.

Processing

Kentmere Pan 200 120 requires standard black and white negative processing. We process B&W in-house at Ikigai Film Lab in Melbourne, with scanning available on our Fujifilm Frontier and Noritsu HS-1800 scanners. Standard developers like D-76, ID-11, and HC-110 all suit it well. The 120 negative scans particularly cleanly — the grain is well-controlled and the high contrast tonal rendering benefits from the larger frame area.

Common questions

Is Kentmere really made by Ilford?

Yes. Kentmere is an Ilford brand, manufactured at Ilford's Mobberley facility in Cheshire, England — the same facility that produces HP5 Plus, Delta 100, Delta 400, and the rest of the Ilford range. The difference between Kentmere and premium Ilford films is the emulsion formulation and market positioning, not the manufacturing standards or origin.

How does Kentmere 200 120 compare to Ilford HP5 Plus 120?

HP5 Plus is a faster ISO 400 film with a more neutral, versatile tonal curve and considerably more exposure latitude. It's the more flexible and widely capable film across a greater range of lighting conditions. Kentmere 200 is slower and more contrasty, with a character that particularly suits controlled outdoor shooting in good light. HP5 is the better all-rounder; Kentmere 200 is the better choice when you're shooting in good light, want a more contrasty look, and want to spend less.

How does the 120 version compare to Kentmere 200 35mm?

Same emulsion, significantly different results. The larger 120 negative produces noticeably finer apparent grain, more tonal depth, and better detail — particularly at the scanning and printing stage. The high contrast character that's bold and punchy in 35mm becomes more refined and nuanced in 120 where the negative has room to capture more gradation. If you have a medium format camera, the 120 version is meaningfully better.

Can I push Kentmere 200 120?

You can push it one stop to ISO 400 with acceptable results — grain increases and contrast pushes further, which can be used creatively. It's not a film built for pushing though; the high base contrast can become quite intense when pushed. If you regularly need ISO 400 in 120 format, HP5 Plus 120 or TMAX 400 120 are better starting points. Kentmere 200 performs at its best shot at box speed in good to strong light.