Harman Phoenix - 35mm Film

Variety is the spice of life, and these photos came out varied as can be from one roll of film shot in one day. I am new to film photography and no other film, so far, has sparked as much excitement upon viewing the freshly processed photos as this. I could easily devour a whole crate of Harman Phoenix in no time flat if money and time were no object. I am in love with this film.
I would highly recommend to spark a little fun and creativity from beginner to pro, mixing it up is always fun.

As many have said, this isn't the most reliable film stock out there. Benefits from over-exposing, lots of greens but somehow still quite a warm look to the scans. Shadows tend to cave in on themselves, so I don't use this unless it's nice and sunny out, and it's not particularly sharp for a 200 speed, BUT, if you want a super vibey look, probably the kind of look most people you get as standard from shooting film, then this can be a real fun one to experiment with. It's definitely not for every situation, but I like to keep a roll or two in the fridge in case I fancy getting super creative.

The sample shots are from my third roll. One and two were dreadful, mostly because I shot them in strong summer light in Cyprus which meant there was just too much contrast for the pictures to work. I saved the last roll for the duller weather in London and find that while the strong contrast and heavy grain still feature, it can work well as a creative choice if used with care. In shade with no hard shadows you get a very interesting result which is less harsh, If you encounter strong primary colours in full light these will also buzz, though don't expect them to be correct. Purples and blues in particular seem to be tricky for this film. The indigo purple of a viola flower came out more like a lilac, and the navy blue of some painted bear barrels was a lighter sky blue. Id love to try this in mid-winter when the low sun makes interesting shadows, or the dark cloud makes for an even toned scene. One more roll in the basket I think!

Phoenix 36mm film offers impressive versatility for various lighting conditions. It performs well on cloudy days or in low-light indoor settings, though it does tend to produce a grainier texture in such environments. The film truly shines when used in natural light, as demonstrated in the photo linked to this review.

One of the standout features is the warm tone it imparts to images, enhancing yellow, red, and orange hues to create a nostalgic, analog feel. This characteristic minimizes the need for extensive post-production adjustments, though I’m eager to experiment further with this film.

I was fortunate to purchase it on sale, as it falls into a mid-range price bracket for color film, making it slightly more expensive than some options. Despite this, its unique tonal qualities and flexibility make it a worthwhile choice for those seeking a classic, evocative look in their photography.

Works best in daylight but it can be used inside in the right lighting conditions. Has some pretty nice grain.