Harman Technology has launched an improved version of its Phoenix 200 colour film called Phoenix II.
The new version of the film was announced on Wednesday (16 July), and is being released in both 35mm and 120 formats at the same time.
Phoenix II is the third colour film to be launched by the British photographic brand since the company – best known for its Ilford and Kentmere ranges of black-and-white film – launched Phoenix 200 in December 2023.
Harman Technology has said the new version of the film is a dramatic improvement on the first version of Phoenix, which was the first colour film to be designed and produced in-house at the company’s factory in Mobberley, Cheshire.
The film was launched with the company stressing the film was very much awork in progress, and would not compare to legacy colour films like the Kodak Portra range.
“With the amazing support and feedback from the film community, plus a lot of hard work, we are thrilled to announce the launch of Harman Phoenix II,'” Harman Technology said in a statement.
“Harman Phoenix II is our entirely new second-generation colour film, and very different from the original. Each layer and component has been redesigned and reengineered into a completely new formulation. New dyes, couplers, and even an experimental layer construct!”
Sample images shared by Harman Technology showed a more normal appearance compared to the original Phoenix emulsion, with improved colour rendition, as you can see in the images below.
“Compared to the original Phoenix film, Phoenix II has a more normal contrast, colour balance and finer grain. It also has a wider exposure latitude and is more flexible and less radical than original Phoenix, yet still offers a different look and feel to mainstream colour films and should still be considered a creative, experimental film,” Harman Technology said in a fact file on the new film.
“The film can exhibit halation in high contrast lighting and lack of an orange mask means the colour rendition can be unusual compared with an established colour film. Negatives have a purplish appearance when processed in standard C41 chemicals, this is normal.”
Kosmo Foto was sent samples of the new film ahead of release and you can see our experiences with the film in the posts below.
First rolls: Harman Phoenix II (35mm)
First rolls: Harman Phoenix II (120)
(The pics above were all taken by Stephen Dowling on a mix of Harman Phoenix II 35mm and 120 films – click on the images to see them full size.)
The revised version of Phoenix is the second colour film that Harman Technology has released this year. It launched Red, a redscale film based off the original Phoenix emulsion, first in 35mm in February and then in 120 in May.
Ahead of the launch, Harman Technology’s managing director Greg Summers released as letter which hinted that further development of the Phoenix emulsion is set to continue.
He said: “Phoenix II represents a step-change versus the original – better colour reproduction, controlled contrast, less grain and increased sharpness. It is therefore easier to use and easier to scan.
“It is difficult to make any film, but colour film in particular adds another level of complexity and I’m extremely proud of the teams that we have made this happen. The original Phoenix provide a benchmark for Phoenix II and this new, limited-edition film will do the same.”
I'm a New Zealander who has been living in London since the mid-1990s, shooting film seriously since the year 2000. Kosmo Foto was launched in 2012 and has since become a film brand, with the release of my first films Kosmo Foto Mono 35mm (2017) and Kosmo Foto Mono 120 (2019).
I’m doing everything I can to promote film photography in the 21st Century, and help it survive and thrive. If you want to write something for Kosmo Foto, please drop me a line at foto.dowling@gmail.com.
