Phoenix Film

Not a great experience

When Harmanphoto first announced the release of their first colour film, Phoenix in 35mm, I looked at what results people were getting with it and decided that it wasn't a film for me in 35mm.

Fast forward to September of this year and Harman announced that phoenix was now available in 120.

With Holga week coming up I thought it might be a good chance to try the 120 in the Holga.

I had a Holga walk arranged in Richmond which meant the chance to shoot some street photography in the town and landscape along the River Thames.

The first shot was portrait of a dog and then some shots along the river, one of which was a red Alfa Romeo, I had seen that red really popped shooting with this film, so was interested to see how this car would look.

The weather was a typical October day in the UK slightly overcast but with sunny patches.

I only shot about 10 frames on the first roll, so the following day I decided to go finish that roll and possibly shoot the 2nd roll.

First stop was Canary Wharf to shoot some of the Eden project statues, think Anthony Gormley but with flowers. After that it was in to Central London and the Photographer Galley, where I contemplated buying a couple more roll of Phoenix (I didn’t).

It was then in to Chinatown to finish up the second roll. With the 2 rolls finished I thought I might have a couple of images worth entering for Holga week.

I don't develop my colour films but have been using the same lab for years, that lab is AGphotolab, Phoenix is a normal C41 development so there should be no problems developing it. During the trail period with the film, labs were giving recommended setting for scanning this film but I wasn't getting scans done by the lab.

I sent the 2 rolls along with a roll of Kodak Gold and waited with anticipation of what great images I would have.

Getting the films back, I have to say what a great disappointment they turned out to be, most of the images are underexposed and the few that are exposed OK are very muddy and look, terrible.

This car was down an alleyway but there was plenty of Sun and the front half is exposed OK for the Holga but I have no idea what is happening to the left and the background.

When you look at the bell curve everything is crammed into the middle of it, instead of it being spread across it.

It's the same thing with the landscape, although a bit better but the shadows are muddy and have no details in them.

Although the bell curve is more open it is still missing a lot of details, especially when you compare it with Kodak Gold when shot in pretty similar conditions.

I know some will say comparing a well established film like Gold against it, is slightly unfair but when you are selling at more that the price of Gold being held to account is fair in my book.

People may also use the “user error” to defend it but I have been shooting my Holga for years and know what it can and can't do.

This film seems to need loads and loads of light to shoot with it and typical British days do not seem to suit this film at all, either that or I had a couple of dodgy rolls.

I have contacted Harman asking if they can explain the lack of consistency through the rolls.

As yet, I've not heard back but if I do I will update.

As for now I won't be spending anymore money on Phoenix film.