Harman Phoenix 200 (first gen) – Well Underexposed

By Eagle Omomuro

10 August, 2025

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Film

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Harman Film Harman Phoenix 200
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The moment I received the scans from my first roll of Harman Phoenix 200, the older version with the orange packaging, I knew something was off. Every frame was underexposed by almost a full stop.

That caught me off guard. My Nikon F3T has never failed me when it comes to metering, and I’ve always felt confident in my manual exposure skills. A quick search online confirmed it wasn’t just me. It turns out this is more like an ISO 125 film labeled as ISO 200.

What the… Seriously?

But it’s not all bad.

That underexposure, paired with the film’s punchy contrast, created an atmosphere I wasn’t expecting. It’s something strange and moody.

For this roll, I used a few lenses, tried different times of day, and photographed a mix of subjects. In the end, I found the film really shines when pointed at vivid color: bright skies, dark seas, painted signs. When something is already bold, this film just turns it up even more.

Taken with the AI-s 20mm f/3.5. Under sunset light, rust-red tones really come alive on this film.
Shot with the AI-s 200mm f/4. It’s warm and dark, calm and intense, all at once. I don’t see that kind of contrast often.
Taken with the AI-s 50mm f/1.8. Low light photography is my thing, but not for this film. Still, the mood feels right.

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About The Author

By Eagle Omomuro
Hello 35mmc community. I'm a photographer who tries to explore the unconventional. Originally trained in professional photojournalism, I’ve shifted my focus to capturing moments that express raw emotions that I call Tanha and Dukkha. My current direction is inspired by Ero Guro Nansensu, a Japanese genre that blends eroticism, sexual corruption, and decadence. Feel free to explore my work at nansensu.com.au
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Comments

Geoff Chaplin on Harman Phoenix 200 (first gen) – Well Underexposed

Comment posted: 10/08/2025

The under-exposure is to my taste - love the images and over the top colours. But as an everyday film, no, no, no. Thanks for the stimulating article and images.
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Gary Smith on Harman Phoenix 200 (first gen) – Well Underexposed

Comment posted: 10/08/2025

Thanks for your examples of the Harman Phoenix film. Even their most current version doesn't suit my taste.
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