From the Ashes | Harman Phoenix 200 Review

If there is one thing I did not have on my 2023 bingo card, it is a new colour film, especially one from Harman Technologies. Phoenix 200 is a brand-new mid-speed C-41 process film made right in the UK at the same factory that produces Ilford B&W films. While it's not perfect, it's an amazing start to what I hope will be something even better in the future.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Excellent video Alex. Your results are so much better than mine with Phoenix -- and I think that a lot of that is your scanning. I sent mine to The Darkroom -- who are a 'certified' place to develop/handle Phoenix -- and I even added a note to my order for them to please adjust their scanner for this specific film -- but with the scans the colors were very oversaturated and out of control and the contrast was a lot more than I think that it should have been (even for this film). I did shoot it in bright sunlight with shadows, so that accentuated the contrast. And then some shots in the shade under trees -- and even with properly metering it at 200, those shots were a muddy mess. So I was not in any rush to shoot my second roll -- but you have given me hope!!! If I can find a place to scan it properly (or get my butt in gear and finish setting up to scan with my M43 mirrorless camera!). Thank you! You have an excellent looking recording set up behind you!

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Oof! That sucks and the folks at the Darkroom are normally good at the scanning side! Maybe something was off! Wishing you best of luck getting your scanning rig up and thanks for watching 🍻

[@SteveKleinheider]

I'm most of the way through my first roll of Harman Phoenix 200 and am looking forward to seeing the results.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Nice! Getting it scanned properly is key! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@theoldcameraguy]

I had a pretty good experience with Phoenix 200 shooting it at 125 and scanning it with my Epson V550 - Definitely looking forward to seeing what Harman cooks up next.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

I’ll have to try it at 125 next! Thanks for the suggestion and for watching 🍻

[@danieljimenez1989]

Try iso 60 with a 1 stop pull.

[@ghosttownsentinel5288]

I agree with your opinion of this film. I liked the Kodachrome like punchy colors, even if very contrasty, in this negative film. If the grain could be minimized, it would be a lovely film in its own right. This film has artistic merits and make images look very stylized without the need for filters in post. I bought more rolls to test, in case they stop producing it. Hope they don't.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

I hope that they keep on making/improving the film and especially knocking back the grain! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@chrisbone7149]

I was also not particularly impressed with the initial results I saw on SM so I bought one roll to check it out myself. I will use it later this week in my Nikon FE when I walk around downtown Nanaimo, BC. I plan to have it developed by a lab and then take your lead and scan it at home on my D850/SilverFast 9. We will see!

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Yup! I was in the same boat but was pleasantly surprised! Thanks for watching and best of luck 🍻

[@SinaFarhat]

To me Harman Phoenix 200 is a good first step to see how market reacts to a new colour film.
While the first version it not a film I am interested in shooting, enough of my friends invested in the film so that I can try out version 2 in the future with its hopefully improved dynamic range, look and grain!
On a side note mentioning Fuji as a colour film developer makes no sense as the only thing I hear nowadays from them is discontinued stocks and telling kodak to make their c41 film and Fuji slapping their logo on it!

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Yup! I’m looking forward to the 2nd version. As for Fuji they do still make film but sadly they are limiting their production to the Japanese market, so they still count! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@KimeeZM]

I feel like i didn't do my first roll of phoenix justice. I shot it on a snowwy day, and that was probably the worst situation for it. I'm going to try a rainy day for my next roll, and hopefully that's less contrasty, and turns out nicer.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Yeah I’m glad I waited! Best of luck with roll number 2! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@highlander200107]

Mine are still waiting to be shot, I have six rolls of it in my fridge at home.

[@highlander200107]

I am excited to try this one, and excited for the second generation of this film

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

I want to get another roll and try it in e6 processing just for fun! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@highlander200107]

@@AlexLuyckxPhoto Ooooh, that might be fun to see what colours you get from that.