Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We knew it was coming didn't we?? Well here it is!
A NEW colour film for medium format! Could there be anything more exciting???
Firstly, here's the link for Ivy's modelling page (she's awesome, hire her!)
purpleport.com/portfolio/ivyhuxley
Ok, let's get on to Phoenix... I really dug my heels in and refused to buy a roll of Harman Phoenix in 35mm. Maybe because I'm a stubborn git, or maybe because I knew that they would eventually bring it out in 120!
Now, it is, of course, the same emulsion as the 35mm version. So I'm not likely to find any great difference in things like colour and contrast, but the grain will be different.
And that's pretty much what I found - less grain, almost a pleasant grain on the film when exposed right, definitely not imposing.
The colours are interesting. I developed in Fuji Hunt C41 chemicals and I found I got some slightly unusual colours. It might be that the emulsion is more sensitive to slight variations in development, or it could be that there is a bit of a colour shift with varying under or over exposures. But they did seem a little errant at times.
It's a good film. I like it. It isn't about to overtake my love of the defunct Pro 400H, and I still like Portra for portraits.
If anything I'm more excited about the next film. Phoenix has always been labelled as a limited edition film, and Harman's plan is to keep working on it, keep refining it and come out with new films based on their experience with this one. And that's what I'm excited about!
Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Have you used Phoenix in 35mm? What did you find?
We knew it was coming didn't we?? Well here it is!
A NEW colour film for medium format! Could there be anything more exciting???
Firstly, here's the link for Ivy's modelling page (she's awesome, hire her!)
purpleport.com/portfolio/ivyhuxley
Ok, let's get on to Phoenix... I really dug my heels in and refused to buy a roll of Harman Phoenix in 35mm. Maybe because I'm a stubborn git, or maybe because I knew that they would eventually bring it out in 120!
Now, it is, of course, the same emulsion as the 35mm version. So I'm not likely to find any great difference in things like colour and contrast, but the grain will be different.
And that's pretty much what I found - less grain, almost a pleasant grain on the film when exposed right, definitely not imposing.
The colours are interesting. I developed in Fuji Hunt C41 chemicals and I found I got some slightly unusual colours. It might be that the emulsion is more sensitive to slight variations in development, or it could be that there is a bit of a colour shift with varying under or over exposures. But they did seem a little errant at times.
It's a good film. I like it. It isn't about to overtake my love of the defunct Pro 400H, and I still like Portra for portraits.
If anything I'm more excited about the next film. Phoenix has always been labelled as a limited edition film, and Harman's plan is to keep working on it, keep refining it and come out with new films based on their experience with this one. And that's what I'm excited about!
Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Have you used Phoenix in 35mm? What did you find?
