Harman Photo cryptic announcement/teaser

[MattKing]

Maybe they are bringing back Simon Galley.
Although it would be enough for me just to hear how well he is doing - I hope well.

 

[mshchem]

These guys know how to manage capital. Expect something very nice.

Harman |

www.pemberstone.com

 

[armadsen]

Nico has just posted about it on Instagram, including “and no, it’s not a reusable camera”. I take that to mean it’s not a cheap plastic “reusable disposable” camera, not necessarily that it’s not a “real” camera, but who knows.

 

[0x001688936CA08]

Nico has just posted about it on Instagram, including “and no, it’s not a reusable camera”. I take that to mean it’s not a cheap plastic “reusable disposable” camera, not necessarily that it’s not a “real” camera, but who knows.

A camera would probably be the least exciting outcome.

 

[Mark J]

Yep !

 

[Ballinderry-Michael]

Just had a thought: printing-out paper. I do miss that.

 

[mshchem]

Nico has just posted about it on Instagram, including “and no, it’s not a reusable camera”. I take that to mean it’s not a cheap plastic “reusable disposable” camera, not necessarily that it’s not a “real” camera, but who knows.

Nico seems to know. Or he's a very convincing devil .

 

[logan2z]

It's conceivable that I've missed this somewhere in this now 22 page thread, but has anyone else wondered why Harman would have bothered to tell these 'influencers' what was coming in advance of the official announcement? Is that possibly a clue to what this is/isn't? These folks often get a camera or lens in advance of release so that they can use it during the embargo period and be ready to post a review on the day of the product announcement. But if the secret is a new film stock or other such product that isn't yet ready for primetime, then why send pre-announcements to anyone? What could they tell the public about the product that Harman themselves couldn't on release day?

 

[armadsen]

But if the secret is a new film stock or other such product that isn't yet ready for primetime, then why send pre-announcements to anyone?

What makes you think it won’t yet be ready for prime time? Somewhere in this thread is a response from Harman to an inquiry from the poster where among other things they say that part of the delay between the initial tease and the announcement is to get product to distributors. Sounds like they’re planning to have it on sale immediately.

In any case, these influencers likely have a wider media reach than Harman itself does. There was also one influencer that posted a photo indicating that they were at Harman HQ “shooting” something, presumably a YouTube video.

 

[logan2z]

What makes you think it won’t yet be ready for prime time? Somewhere in this thread is a response from Harman to an inquiry from the poster where among other things they say that part of the delay between the initial tease and the announcement is to get product to distributors. Sounds like they’re planning to have it on sale immediately.

That was based on this statement in the Harman response:

This is so they have time to test the product and create content but also so we have time to finish making the product

I only seemed to remember the last part, but after re-reading it I see that they also said that content creators were given time to test the product before the announce. So my selective memory left me with the wrong impression.

 

[Agulliver]

There are many nuances for a Fuji collaboration.

Harman have stated it is not a collaboration with Fuji or any other company.

 

[koraks]

who knows, Harman could be just picking the part that Fuji no longer has Capacity/Focus.

Well, I don't know, but given how a film or paper manufacturing plant works, I do know that these things aren't like a supermarket where you pick something off the shelf you fancy and then cook it up at home. These are highly integrated production lines that are virtually inseparably linked to the building they're part of.

 

[Agulliver]

From what Harman and a couple of the influencers say, the photographic dealers and influencers have been given a product to try. The intention is that around 1 December when the product is launched to the general public, the influencers and dealers with significant reach on social media will start posting about their experience with the new product to their followers. Therefore the fact that Harman Photo still have fewer than 4000 followers isn't really important because it will be the people who were given the product to try who are subsequently publicising it for Harman.

Worth noting that Harman have outright denied that this is a collaboration with any other company, but have not denied that it's colour film.

 

[pentaxuser]

Worth noting that Harman have outright denied that this is a collaboration with any other company, but have not denied that it's colour film.

True but they have not in fact denied anything really, have they? Not even bringing back Simon Galley, otherwise we'd have homed in on a more limited range of possibiities, would we not?

pentaxuser

 

[Don_ih]

There are really only a limited range of possibilities, based on it needing to be something people would buy and use - specifically, film-shooters on instagram with a lot of followers. That indicates pretty much one thing: colour film.

Also, note one of the hashtags in this post from 2 days ago:

 

[koraks]

There are really only a limited range of possibilities, based on it needing to be something people would buy and use - specifically, film-shooters on instagram with a lot of followers. That indicates pretty much one thing: colour film.

Could still be a B&W film. Specifically, I'm thinking of a high-speed film in the 800-1600 range. Perhaps something that will replace long-defunct Neopan 1600. The emulsion technology could be very similar to Delta 3200 and by offering it under a Harman brand, competition with Delta 3200 could be managed in a similar way to how the Kentmere films function market-wise. Speaking of which, I wouldn't be surprised if the Kentmere films would be rebadged into Harman ones as well, soon.

 

[Roger Cole]

C-41 kinda looks obvious, considering how the marketing "campaign" is (not) going...

Personally, I'm not that thrilled about that. I don't believe Harman can come up with a film that will be better or on same level as Kodak consumer C-41 films. Maybe it can play in Inoviscoat (and Ferrania) league? That would actually explain their marketing which is totally separated from "Ilford" name (@ilfordphoto doesn't even follow @harmanphoto). Ilford stands for top notch films. They probably don't want to soil that name with C-41 films that will surely be inferior to Kodak's.

Sooo... I'm still hoping it's not a C-41 film (I'll gladly take it, though!), but a peel-apart pack film (bw and/or colour). Or a colour printing material.

They won't release an inferior product, and the naming has nothing to do with "soiling" the Ilford name but with the legalities. They can't legally market and sell color (or colour) products under the Ilford name. This has already been beaten to death here.

 

[Ian Grant]

It's worth remembering that when Ilford moved all production to Mobberely they had tentative plans to re-enter the colour market. The plan began by partnering with Konica/Sakura and rebranding their E6 film, I can't remember if there was a C41 film as well. The idea was to gain a toehold in the market before constructing a second coatong line.

As I said earlier in this thread the problem was the Konica/Sakura E6 film was not as good as the Agfa, Fuji, or Kodak E6 films so the E6 Ilfochrome flopped. However Ilford's research department were actively involved in colour research, which would still be relevant today. And there are UK photo-chemists and technicians with practical experience of coating C41, E6, RA-4, and possibly Kodachrome.

Ian

 

[Agulliver]

True but they have not in fact denied anything really, have they? Not even bringing back Simon Galley, otherwise we'd have homed in on a more limited range of possibiities, would we not?

pentaxuser

On Instagram, Harman Photo have specifically denied that this is a collaboration with any other company.

You can choose not to believe me and head over to their Instagram account yourself. You can, of course, also choose not to believe them.

 

[Flighter]

As I said earlier in this thread the problem was the Konica/Sakura E6 film was not as good as the Agfa, Fuji, or Kodak E6 films so the E6 Ilfochrome flopped. However Ilford's research department were actively involved in colour research, which would still be relevant today. And there are UK photo-chemists and technicians with practical experience of coating C41, E6, RA-4, and possibly Kodachrome.

Ian

Aargh, Nooo! Don't poke the bring back Kodachrome brigade!

 

[koraks]

And there are UK photo-chemists and technicians with practical experience of coating C41, E6, RA-4, and possibly Kodachrome.

How many of these are within the working age range (let's say <70), fit to work, compos mentis and especially not yet deceased?

 

[brbo]

They won't release an inferior product, and the naming has nothing to do with "soiling" the Ilford name but with the legalities. They can't legally market and sell color (or colour) products under the Ilford name. This has already been beaten to death here.

So, can we take your statement as a semi-official confirmation that Harman is releasing a colour film better than or at least on par with Kodak/Fuji?

 

[Ian Grant]

Aargh, Nooo! Don't poke the bring back Kodachrome brigade!

It may not be a colour film, we will have to wait and see. My point though is there are ex-Kodack employees with experience of coating colour products,

How many of these are within the working age range (let's say <70), fit to work, compos mentis and especially not yet deceased?

Well probably quite a few, I'm not sure when Kodak stopped coating film and paper here in the UK, but they still were when I worked in the precious metal industry back around 2003. We were in talks with Kodak regarding silver recover, the company owner and his son (who I shared an office with) weren't prepared to make the investment to comply with Kodak's environmental requirements.

So any employees in there 20s up to around 40 in 2003 would have 5+ years of working before retirement.

Back on the 2007/8 factory tour I remember talking to Dr Phillip Harris (then MD & Chairman), I'd been reading some of his colour Patents, he was quite surprised I knew about them.

Ian

 

[koraks]

So any employees in there 20s up to around 40 in 2003 would have 5+ years of working before retirement.

Yeah, the question is how many qualified (for the purpose of helping Harman set up something color-wise) employees that would include. I asked the question because it wouldn't be the first time I ran into an industry that turns out to be propped up with the help of a couple of irreplaceable septuagenarians who'd rather be out fishing all day. Sometimes, it's slightly frightening what kind of industries those are, too.

 

[Don_ih]

an industry that turns out to be propped up with the help of a couple of irreplaceable septuagenarians

It's far more likely that they would be helped out by expert help and training from Fuji. Harman is doing work for Fuji (Acros II) so it's not out-of-the-question to get direction from Fuji employees.