Harman Technology Ltd has just unveiled Phoenix 200, a brand new color film. Made entirely from emulsion to cassette at Harman’s factory in Mobberley, England, this film is the first totally new color film to come from the maker most known for its Ilford-branded black-and-white film.
I was able to shoot Phoenix 200 prior to the film’s unveiling. For those who’d like to read my full review of the newest color film on the market, along with sample photos and details on multiple scanning methods, see my review here.
There’s a lot to unpack in this seemingly simple product launch, so let’s dive in.
To start, the importance of Harman producing its first color film should not be under-estimated.
For years now, film photographers have relied almost entirely on a single manufacturer (Kodak) to produce all of the world’s color film. This has resulted in scarcity of many favorite color films, and continually rising prices. By entering the color film market, and by producing the film entirely in-house, Harman is signaling a desire to sustainably and affordably create color film now and into the future, to create an actual competitive market for color film. This is great news.
It’s also worth mentioning that producing color film, even compared with producing black-and-white film, is immensely difficult, as I learned when I toured the Kodak factory some years ago. The process from start to finish is incredibly complicated. It requires highly specialized facilities and smart, talented people to run them. If you’ve ever wondered why the film renaissance of the last decade has seen so many new black-and-white films released compared with an almost infinitesimally few number of new color films, this is why. It’s just really hard to make color film.
But Phoenix 200 exists. They did it, and it’s here. And what’s also worth noting is that it’s not just a vanity project, or a boutique film, a repackaged or rebranded film that already exists. It’s new, and it’s being made by one of the oldest and most respected names in film.
For legal purposes, Harman is not allowed to sell color film under their Ilford name. But the film is being made by the same people, at the same place. The folk at Harman have as long a history in the film production industry as anyone, and they want the medium to continue long into the foreseeable future.
What Exactly is Phoenix 200, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix 200 is a true 200 ISO color film that can be processed in normal C41 color processing chemicals (it can be developed anywhere that color film is developed). It is Harman’s first ever attempt at a color film, so it’s experimental in nature with some quirky characteristics, including strong, visible grain, high contrast, and unique colors. Halation occurs in backlit scenes (the Cinestill look), and coating anomalies are not uncommon.
It can be shot at 100 or 400 ISO, though Harman advises that getting exposure just right will yield the most consistent results.
The film is only currently available in 35mm, though Harman says that they’re evaluating the potential of color film in other formats, such as 120.
The film will be sold at “all good photo retailers around the world,” and Harman is targeting a retail price of $13.99 USD excluding tax, £12.99 GBP including VAT, and €15:49 Euro including tax, though these prices are guidelines and exact price may vary by retailer and country.
My Brief Thoughts on Phoenix 200
Along with my advance shipment of Phoenix 200, Harman’s Managing Director sent a letter. In it, he explains the way that Phoenix 200 was conceived, a bit about its development, and their hopes for this and other color films in the future. Notable in this letter is the idea that Phoenix 200 was a labor of love.
It was developed by a small team in a secret “skunk works” project which simply sought to learn whether or not Harman could, in fact, design, coat, and manufacture a brand new color film at their UK facility. They did it, and the resulting new film is described as “the beginning of an exciting new chapter[…]” and “a beacon of hope for the film community that is so heavily reliant on a single manufacturer for its color film.”
The letter goes on to state that the film is far from perfect, that Phoenix 200 is truly an experiment, even going so far as to acknowledge that the image characteristics of the film are wild and unexpected. Excitingly, the letter references Phoenix 200 as a starting point. “Sales from this film will allow us to further invest, refine, and improve our formulations, coating capabilities, and color technology. Our aim is that each new color film we produce will be an improvement on the previous.”
That Phoenix 200 exists at all is unexpected and exciting news for film shooters who wish for more variety in their choice of color film. What’s even more exciting than that is what might come next. ∎
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