First Roll of Kentmere Pan 400 Black and White Film

Classic boat house on Llyn Ogwen shot on Kentmere Pan 400
Classic boat house on Llyn Ogwen shot on Kentmere Pan 400
Classic view of Llyn Ogwen and the Boat House, Eryri, North Wales

There’s something satisfying about shooting a new roll of film for the first time — especially black and white. I loaded up my Olympus OM10 with a roll of Kentmere Pan 400 and headed out to explore landscapes, woodland details, with a  few unexpected finds along the way.

I thought I’d share a small selection of images from this first roll, along with a few thoughts on the film itself and how it performed in the real world.

High Res images are available to view on my Picfair store

About Kentmere Pan 400

Kentmere Pan 400 is a black and white 35mm film (also available in 120mm) produced by Ilford, designed to be affordable (36 exposure roll currently £6.49 at Analogue Wonderland here in the UK )  while still delivering reliable, classic results. It’s a great option for photographers who enjoy shooting film regularly without worrying too much about cost.

With its ISO 400 speed, Kentmere Pan 400 is versatile enough for a wide range of lighting conditions — including overcast landscapes to woodland scenes and handheld shooting. The film produces pleasant contrast, good sharpness, and a very nice traditional grain structure, making it ideal I believe for both beginners and experienced film shooters alike.

Mountain landscape photographed on Kentmere Pan 400
View of the mountains surrounding Llyn Idwal

Images from the Roll

Camera Equipment Used

Olympus OM10

Olympus 50mm Prime Lens

35mm Kentmere Pan 400 Black & White Film

Waiting Room on 35mm Film FFESTINIOG railway
Waiting Room at the Station on the Ffestiniog Heritage Railway

Final Thoughts

Shooting my first roll of Kentmere Pan 400 was a genuinely enjoyable experience. It’s a film that doesn’t try to be flashy — instead, it delivers honest, classic black and white results that work beautifully across landscapes and close-up details.

If you’re looking for a dependable everyday black and white film, then Kentmere Pan 400 is well worth trying.

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve used Kentmere 400 or if you can recommend another Black and White Film.

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