The Complete Phoenix Film Review: Harman's Revolutionary New Color Film for 35mm and Medium Format

Introduction: A New Player in the Color Film Game

The film photography world just got a massive shake-up, and I'm here for it. After months of keeping this secret like the Order of the Phoenix kept their headquarters hidden, I can finally talk about Harman's Phoenix film - the first truly new color film we've seen in years.

This isn't just another rebranded emulsion. This is genuine innovation in the color film photography space, and as someone who's been shooting 35mm film for years, I had to put this new color film stock through its paces.

What Makes The New Phoenix Film Special?

The Science Behind This New Color Film

Harmon Technology (also known as Ilford) didn't just rebrand existing stock - they created Phoenix film from scratch. While I don't know the exact science behind their color film chemistry, what I do know is that there aren't many players left in the color film game.

Kodak still dominates the market, ORWO remains mysterious, and Fuji... well, they're not exactly helping the film photography community thrive. So when a new color film enters the market, especially one from a respected name like Harman, it's cause for celebration.

Phoenix Film Characteristics

According to Harman's documentation, Phoenix color film comes with some unique traits:

• Strong grain structure

• High contrast rendering

• Beautiful halation effects

• Quirky characteristics that make it stand out

I'm absolutely here for quirky in my film photography.

Testing Phoenix Film: 35mm Format Results

Camera Setup for Color Film Testing

For this Phoenix film review, I needed consistent testing conditions. I grabbed my trusty Nikon FA and Nikon F3, along with identical 35mm lenses borrowed from my mate. Consistency is key when testing any new color film stock.

I also brought my Ricoh R1s to see how this color film would perform in a point-and-shoot that reads DX codes automatically.

Box Speed vs. Pulled Development

The first major discovery with Phoenix film is how dramatically the shadows behave. They go dark faster than you'd expect from most color film stocks. This became immediately apparent in my shots of an abandoned homestead.

Pulling Phoenix film one stop in development really helps recover shadow detail. However, like most color film photography techniques, there are trade-offs. While pulling helps the shadows, it can affect your highlights, leaving them in the developer longer than usual.

The Color Cast Challenge

Unlike most color negative film, Phoenix film has a distinct pinkish-purple tone to the negative. When you pull the film a stop or two (yes, I went crazy and pulled color film two stops), the negative becomes less saturated with less color cast.

This translates to the uncorrected pulled image having an overall pinkish hue when inverted. But don't worry - with proper color correction during scanning, you can make this new color film look exactly how you want.

Halation: Phoenix Film's Signature Look

Let's talk about that halation. Phoenix color film delivers halation stronger than most films on the market. It's not subtle, and it's definitely not for everyone, but it gives this new color film a distinctive character that you can't get from more "perfect" emulsions.

Overexposing Phoenix Film: The Sweet Spot

Rating Phoenix at ISO 100

After testing at box speed (ISO 200), I decided to overexpose Phoenix film by rating it at ISO 100. This turned out to be the sweet spot for this color film stock.

The overexposed shots had a much nicer light texture, and honestly, some of these became my favorite images from the entire test. There's something about how Phoenix film handles overexposure that could almost be mistaken for Portra - if Portra had significantly more grain.

Magic Hour Performance

Phoenix color film really shines during golden hour. The combination of overexposure and that beautiful warm light created some stunning results. Even the lab scans, which tend to be a bit crunchy with this new color film, looked fantastic.

Phoenix Film in Medium Format: The 120 Advantage

The Growth of Phoenix Color Film

Less than a year after the 35mm release, Harman delivered on their promise and released Phoenix film in 120 format. This is exactly the kind of follow-through we need more of in the film photography industry.

Medium Format Testing Setup

For the 120 Phoenix film testing, I used my Mamiya 645 with two medium format backs to do direct A/B comparisons. I tested three approaches:

1. Box speed at ISO 200

2. Overexposure by rating at ISO 100

3. Pushing Phoenix film one stop in development

Pushing Phoenix Film: Unexpected Results

Here's where things got interesting. While I typically prefer pulled or overexposed color film, some of the pushed Phoenix film shots actually looked better than the ISO 100 versions. The greens became much more vibrant and lush in the pushed images.

However, pushing Phoenix color film two stops is definitely not recommended. The negatives become extremely thin, and while there's a certain look to heavily pushed color film, it's not particularly usable for most applications.

Phoenix Film Performance Analysis

Strengths of This New Color Film

Phoenix color film excels in several areas:

• Distinctive character that sets it apart from clinical modern films

• Strong halation for creative effects

• Good latitude in the highlights when properly exposed

• Unique grain structure that adds texture without being overwhelming

• Excellent sharpness especially in medium format

Areas for Improvement

Like any new color film, Phoenix has room for growth:

• High contrast can be challenging in harsh lighting

• Color cast requires careful scanning/color correction

• Limited dynamic range compared to professional stocks

• Grain can be overwhelming when underexposed

Scanning and Post-Processing Phoenix Film

Getting the Best from Phoenix Color Film

To really make Phoenix film shine, you need control over your scanning process. This new color film benefits dramatically from:

• Flat scanning profiles to preserve dynamic range

• Manual color correction to handle the color cast

• Careful highlight management during post-processing

If you're sending your color film to a lab, communicate with them about delivering flatter files than usual. This will give you more room to work with Phoenix's unique characteristics.

Home Scanning vs. Lab Scans

I found that scanning Phoenix film at home gave me significantly better results than standard lab scans. The ability to customize the scanning profile for this new color film stock made a huge difference in the final image quality.

The Future of Phoenix Color Film

Supporting New Color Film Innovation

Supporting Phoenix film means supporting the future of film photography. Having a new player in the color film space is incredible, and it's up to us film photographers to show there's demand for innovation.

Harman has hinted at bigger plans for their color film line. We're talking possible improvements to contrast levels, professional-grade versions, and who knows what other new color film stocks they might develop.

Recommendations for Phoenix Film

Based on extensive testing of both 35mm and 120 Phoenix film, here are my recommendations:

For best results:

• Rate Phoenix film at ISO 100 (one stop overexposed)

• Or pull it one stop in development

• Avoid harsh lighting conditions when possible

• Take control of your scanning process

• Embrace the grain and halation as creative elements

Avoid:

• Pushing more than one stop

• Relying solely on lab scans without communication

• Expecting it to behave like traditional color film stocks

Final Thoughts on Phoenix Color Film

Phoenix film isn't trying to be the next Portra or Ektar. It's a modern color film for modern film photographers who want character in their images. In a world where digital perfection is the norm, having a new color film that embraces imperfection and character is refreshing.

Yes, the contrast is intense. Yes, the grain is prominent. Yes, it has quirks that require learning. But that's exactly what makes Phoenix color film special.

This new color film stock represents hope for the future of film photography. If we support innovative products like Phoenix film, we encourage more development in the color film space.

So grab some Phoenix film, load up your favorite 35mm camera or medium format system, and go create something unique. This new color film is waiting to show you what it can do.

Ready to try Phoenix film for yourself? Check out my complete video review on the Bad Flashes YouTube channel for even more sample images and detailed analysis of this exciting new color film stock.