HARMAN Phoenix II Announced: The Rebirth of Bold Color Film

HARMAN has officially unveiled Phoenix II, the second-generation version of its experimental color film. And while the name may suggest a small update, the film itself is truly new and improved compared to the original version. Phoenix II isn’t just a tiny tweak. HARMAN notes that it’s a complete rebuild from the emulsion up.

The new film promises a more controlled, yet still expressive, analog look. HARMAN has completely overhauled the dyes, couplers, and even the layer structure in the film. The result is cleaner contrast, tighter grain, improved sharpness, and better highlight and shadow retention. It still embraces that unpredictable analog charm, but with a lot more technical finesse.

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A More Polished (But Still Unique) Phoenix

HARMAN’s Phoenix II is made for photographers who love to experiment. It doesn’t abandon the spirit of the original Phoenix, which was bold, rough-edged, and unpredictable, But this one dials things in for better results. You’ll still want to expose carefully, as the film performs best between ISO 100 and 200, but there’s more exposure latitude and a friendlier scan profile.

HARMAN also mentions that scanning is now easier with default settings, though, as always, your final look will depend on the scanner and workflow you use. That variability is part of the fun. Phoenix II encourages experimentation, whether you’re trying C41, E6, or even ECN-2 processing.

Harman Phoenix II Specs

Feature	Detail
Film Type	Color Negative
ISO Rating	DX-coded ISO 200 (recommended between 100–200)
Processing	C41 (also suitable for E6 or ECN-2 experimentation)
Format	35mm (135) 36 exposure and 120 medium format

This Isn’t the End – It’s a Beginning

HARMAN is clear about one thing: Phoenix II is just the next chapter. Feedback from the film community helped shape this second-gen release, and ongoing sales will support future color film R&D. So if you’ve been craving a new kind of color film, this might be the one. Personally, seeing sample images makes me want to buy a few rolls so bad! I hope us in Serbia will have a chance to get our little hands on it, too.

Pricing and Availability

HARMAN Phoenix II is available now in both 35mm and 120 formats. You can see in what stores it’s available on HARMAN’s website, or order via B&H, priced at $13.99.

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