Phoenix II - released 2025-07-16 - speculation and hints during the lead up

[Hunter_Compton]

Filmstore Prague teased this on their Instagram:

Figured I'd share given how members here like to speculate. So what do you think? A new (improved?) version of Phoenix with an orange mask and better color reproduction? or maybe another film like Harman Red but with a blue mask?

It wouldn't be the first time the release of a new Harman product was leaked early, as with Kentmere 200 most recently.

 

[abruzzi]

well, I don't think they'd use the name Phoenix for a film that does not attempt to correctly reproduce color. Maybe orange mask, maybe not, I'd just assume its the second iteration of their work on Phoenix.

 

[dcy]

Phoenix II

 

[Agulliver]

Nothing yet on Harman's Instagram page but the company who has "leaked" this is reputable.

Assuming it's true, and it seems better than 50% that it is true....it's going to be an improved C41 colour neg film. Hopefully at least with the orange mask. I wonder about the significance of the blue box, is that simply to distinguish Phoenix and Phoenix II or is it hinting at cooler colours (or perhaps time travel properties).

Time will tell. I'm certainly curious.

 

[Agulliver]

It's not on their Insta now, but if that was a "story" it would disappear after a few hours. Could well be a cheeky tease that is genuine but not approved by Harman. Best guess is that Harman will tease the film in the coming days?

 

[koraks]

Could well be a cheeky tease that is genuine but not approved by Harman.

Or just an update that was supposed to be scheduled, but they forgot to schedule it and instead insta-published. Happens all the time.

Anyway...I like the box. The claw marks making the 'II' are neat. Nice job. Let's see what's inside.

 

[Agulliver]

Yes it could be a scheduling mistake. The imagery looks genuine and the retailer appears to be respectable so I can't see them posting dishonestly in some attempt to gain interest in their business. I wonder if Harman will tease something this weekend? though it's not long since they launched Red in 120, with the summer upon us now would be a great time to launch an updated Phoenix.

 

[pentaxuser]

I wonder about the significance of the blue box, is that simply to distinguish Phoenix and Phoenix II or is it hinting at cooler colours (or perhaps time travel properties).

Or simply hinting at it being a "cool" film in the very modern sense of the word "cool"e.g. you might be a "cool" guy even in the mini heatwave we have coming this weekend

I was never "cool", not even in the notorious winter of 1962/3

pentaxuser

 

[Meinrad]

@pentaxuser : yes maybe its Phoenix as Slides to be developed in E6, when i think of my very blueish results with it ;-)

 

[4season]

Maybe they're incorporating an anti-halation layer now.

 

[George Mann]

View attachment 401605

Phoenix II

Yes. I have been eagerly waiting for the improved version.

 

[abruzzi]

I was thinking it might actually be Phoenix Eleven where it would take pictures of the upside-down, then I realized that would only be available in sheet film for view cameras.

 

[pentaxuser]

I was thinking it might actually be Phoenix Eleven where it would take pictures of the upside-down, then I realized that would only be available in sheet film for view cameras.

pentaxuser

 

[dcy]

I was thinking it might actually be Phoenix Eleven where it would take pictures of the upside-down, then I realized that would only be available in sheet film for view cameras.

I've been thinking about this. I don't get it. Btw, I never watched Stranger Things and my understanding of it is limited to the content of the 1st paragraph of the Wikipedia page.

 

[abruzzi]

I've been thinking about this. I don't get it. Btw, I never watched Stranger Things and my understanding of it is limited to the context of the 1st paragraph of the Wikipedia page.

OT, but "11" is the name of the protagonist, the evil dimension is called "the upside-down" and is a dark reflection of our world, and lenses project their image upside-down, but only on view cameras do you use that upside-down image to compose your shot. Sorry, I realized it was a pretty obtuse joke.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Great! Looking forward to seeing what it is!

 

[calebarchie]

 

[Hunter_Compton]

That appears to be a normal box of Phoenix where the image has been inverted, and does not correspond to the package design shown in the first post.

 

[calebarchie]

Whoooosh!

 

[Daniël Oosterhuis]

If it's real, Harman should probably drop an announcement quickly, because now someone on Reddit is showing off that they've got a roll of Phoenix II:

 

[mshchem]

If it's real, Harman should probably drop an announcement quickly, because now someone on Reddit is showing off that they've got a roll of Phoenix II:



View attachment 402134

This will set off a internet storm!

 

[warden]

If it's real, Harman should probably drop an announcement quickly, because now someone on Reddit is showing off that they've got a roll of Phoenix II:



View attachment 402134

It’s fine, a few days here or there will have no effect whatsoever on sales.

 

[AnselMortensen]

An "influencer" just had to have the scoop!
Probably won't be getting any more free swag from Harman.

 

[dcy]

An "influencer" just had to have the scoop!
Probably won't be getting any more free swag from Harman.

So it seems. This person took their post down. I wonder if perhaps they got an angry call from Harman.

 

[Daniël Oosterhuis]

So it seems. This person took their post down. I wonder if perhaps they got an angry call from Harman.

I'm guessing their boss did.
They mentioned their manager not knowing what it was, so I got curious, and through information easily available on the Redditor's profile, I found which camera store they worked for in less than a minute.

If I can do that, I imagine Harman could, too.
The screencap was added specifically because I figured this would eventually happen.

It’s fine, a few days here or there will have no effect whatsoever on sales.

It's not the effect on sales directly, they'd probably be positive if anything due to the hype, it's that Harman should control the narrative.
In my view, they should have already done it after Filmstore Prague posted that on Instagram Stories.

The thing is, there's now speculation as to what is changed or improved with Phoenix II over Phoenix I.
People's expectations might grow beyond what the product will deliver, which is never a good thing as that could lead to disappointment when it is revealed.

That, and this happened with Kentmere 200 as well, so I wouldn't be particularly happy about it happening again if I were Harman.

EDIT: Comments from the Redditor state the store already put the product on store shelves, I imagine that if the post wasn't enough to get Harman's attention, that one probably did if true.
This person really wasn't wise to go and post about it, especially given they clearly knew they shouldn't.