Last Updated on 02/21/2025 by Chris Gampat
This year, HARMAN is releasing something very special: a redscale film. Films like these deliver effects that you really need to embrace as it’s often completely different from anything that you’d otherwise see. In fact, I don’t even think that I’ve seen photographers embrace these when shooting digitally. Rated at ISO 125, the new Harman Red 125 35mm film will make your images quite red. And though we haven’t shot with it yet, we have a feeling that it’s very similar to other redscale films that we’ve worked with before.
Yet Another New Film Emulsion!
Redscale films like Harman Red 125 are fascinating beasts. Typically they all are shot between different ISO ranges. We noted this both in our previous Lomography Redscale Review and a report we did on a KONO! release. “The more light you give the film, the less the red effect seems to come through,” we noted in our previous Lomography review. “If you put corrective filters on your lens, you probably would be able to neutralize the red effect if you wish. But in that case, you may as well just shoot something like Kodak Portra 400 or Kodak Portra 160 because your images are going to be really warm anyway.” We further noted that certain films can negate the filter if you just use a UV filter on your lens.
The new film is specifically DX coded to 125 — so if you put it into a camera that automatically reads the code and meters accordingly, you might want to trick the meter to overexpose or underexpose depending on the look you’re going for.
This is the newest color film from Harman with the previous one being their Phoenix film emulsion — which we’ve got and just not developed yet for review.
More information about the new Harman Red 125 is below from the official press release. At the moment, this film is only available in 35mm. And I’m pretty sure that because of how unique the look is, it might not come out in 120 format.
HARMAN RED 125 Press Release
Here’s the text from the HARMAN RED 125 press release.
HARMAN technology Ltd, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of analogue photographic films, darkroom papers, and photo chemicals, has today announced the launch of HARMAN RED, a brand-new, DX-Coded ISO 125, 35mm redscale film.
“Redscale is the effect you get when shooting through the back of a colour film” explains Giles Branthwaite, Sales & Marketing Director. “By doing this you are exposing your image through the film’s base and the red sensitive layer first, creating amazing results primarily consisting of reds, oranges and yellows.”
“The high red sensitivity and lack of anti-halation layer make our Phoenix emulsion the perfect candidate for converting into a redscale film.” Adds Branthwaite.
Following on from the launch of HARMAN Phoenix 200 in both 35mm and 120, HARMAN RED 125 is part of the company’s long-term colour journey. Backed by the recent announcement of significant capital investment in both operational and research & development functions, sales from this film will continue to be reinvested to support a roadmap of future colour films.
HARMAN RED is a medium speed ISO 125 film finished in DX Coded 36exp cassettes and uses standard C41 processing. It can transform mundane scenes into dystopian masterpieces with hues of red, orange, yellow and green whilst retaining characterful high contrast, vibrancy, and grain.
HARMAN invite photographers to follow their journey @harmanphoto and share images shot on HARMAN RED by tagging #harmanred #harmanphoto. The packaging also contains a QR code which allows the film community to give their feedback on the product and what they would like to see from the company in the future.
HARMAN RED 125 is available from today (February 14th). For a list of retailers and more information about the product, visit harmanphoto.co.uk or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Bluesky @harmanphoto.
HARMAN RED 125 Sample Images
All images were provided to the Phoblographer by Harman.
