ILFORD's Color Film | Not what you might expect

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Күн бұрын

When black and white giant ILFORD released a color film stock I was excited. Excited for what it could mean for analog photography's future and for the photographers feeling a gap in the color film market.
That was until I saw the photos and some strange things behind the scenes....
While editing the video, Harman Photo (the company most of us probably associate with ILFORD) has released what seems to be a truly new color film stock. In some ways that announcement makes this video a little less impactful but I think the point about deceptive practices still stands. These manufactures are not perfect, but it is encouraging to see more transparency and more film stocks!
Its best to do your own research, while I do my best to validate information KZfaq videos are always a delicate balance of timeliness and research, two things that are often opposed to eachother. These videos are also built off of my thoughts and opinions, and I try to find the story that serves my argument. I'm still learning the best way to approach this so I do appreciate your understanding, thank you.
00:00 the end of an era
00:42 Ilford Rapid Retro single use camera
01:13 Ilfocolor
01:34 Testing and sample images
02:42 Film conspiracy?
03:50 Polaroid and Ilford
04:15 Ilfords history
04:54 Ilford and Harman Technology
05:26 Repackaging film products

Пікірлер: 33

@tompleysier1268 6 ай бұрын

Ilfocolor has been around for ages, its nothing new for the people who don't know, or are confused from this video. Ilford has not released a new color film, this video covers an older film which is basically orwo film, the title of this video is rather misleading. Instead, Harmon (which trades with Ilford as name) released Pheonix 200, and is realistically is not an ilford named film even though it is made within the same factory. reason? simply because ilford is more known for their inhouse black and white developed film, ilfocolor simply exists to branch outwards to a wider audience of film users by using orwo master rolls instead of developing the emulsion themselves.

@TheWholePicture 5 ай бұрын

Hello and thank you for the comment. Thank you for the clarifications. I filmed this video before the announcement of Harmans Phoenix new color stock but with work and life being very busy did not have a chance to edit and release it in a timely manor. As I say at the end, the ilfocolor film was dissapointing because it was not a truly new film stock from the makers of excelent film like HP5. The release of Phoenix makes does complicate things for the video but I feel the main message I wanted to get across was the opaque or sometimes shady tactics we can see in the photography world. For most of my videos I try to have a main idea presented through a more accessible product or message. Unfortunately this video had many issues so I do apologize if you did not find it satisfactory but I did pick up a roll of Harmans Phoenix 200 and plan to make a video where I may be able to address some of these issues.

@zeadon 6 ай бұрын

Nicely made video!!

@TheWholePicture 6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!! I'll have more videos like this next year!

@the_smart_cookies_pod 5 ай бұрын

Nice vid! Loving the shirt :)

@TheWholePicture 5 ай бұрын

Thanks! The shirt served its purpose and needs a new home now haha

@devroombagchus7460 5 ай бұрын

I don’t understand the fuss about companies and rights, etc. As an amateur film photographer, I want to know what results I can expect, not the background of the producer.

@TheWholePicture 5 ай бұрын

Hello and thank you for the comment. For professionals and amateurs alike the top photo companies like Ilford, Kodak and Polaroid have made reliable and trustworthy products for years. The reason for the fuss around the rights is when different companies start to leverage the trust of those big names. Even now that the manufacturers of HP5 and other great Ilford film are making a truly new color stock under their current name Harman, those who are just casually shopping might choose ilfocolor over phoenix 200 because of the box. Of course as you say the results are more important as one person may prefer the look of ilfocolor over phoenix 200 but sample photos may not be provided at a store and not everyone is going to look up example photos or watch a video before buying film.

@gabgallant 6 ай бұрын

Love your vids

@TheWholePicture 6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate the kind words of support!

@monochromebluess 6 ай бұрын

Have you been in a cave for a month or so ! To put in your video the Phoenix update and release the video now is crazy. Harman can’t brand any colour film as Ilford given that the German company have the rights so they brought out Phoenix colour film as a Harman film. This Ilford colour film you highlight by the German licensee is a just a rebadged Orwo film.

@TheWholePicture 5 ай бұрын

Hello and thank you for the comment. I understand your concerns with the timing of the videos release. I started shot this video well before the announcement of Harmans phoenix film but as life goes had a lot of things come up delaying the editing. In my videos I try to express a core message through the use of something more accessible but it is not always easy to get that across with the right timing. The use of well known brands to sell something that might be deceptive to consumers is a practice that has been in photography for a long time now and I thought this was the right oportunity to talk about it. I'm sorry if the video wasn't to your liking, I did pick up some Harman Phoenix and will be making a video on that soon.

@richardsimms251 6 ай бұрын

Good video

@TheWholePicture 5 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for the kind words!

@r2d2rxr 6 ай бұрын

Ilford made a color film!!!

@TheWholePicture 6 ай бұрын

Harman aka ilford also made a new color film stock that I just happened to find here in Japan so that video will also be in the near future!

@fenixlolnope361 5 ай бұрын

i'm upset. This isn't ilford made film. But Harmann Phoenix *IS* Ilford color film!

@TheWholePicture 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for the comment! The results from ilfocolor werent what I expected but I did pick up a roll of Harman Phoenix and will make a video on that when I get a chance!

@edshotsdotcodotuk 5 ай бұрын

Most single use cameras are filled with Kodak film, including the Ilford ones. Fuji now have Kodak make film for them too. The easiest way to see what kind of film is inside is to look at where it is made. Made in USA is always Kodak. Lomography stock is often Kodak. It's partly why Kodak put up their prices so much, they're making so much film for others their costs are a lot higher.

@MattDollin 5 ай бұрын

Or if it's made in German it's Inoviscoat and Filmotec.

@jomy10-games 5 ай бұрын

That doesn’t make sense. If Kodak is making more film, their costs per film should go down

@edshotsdotcodotuk 5 ай бұрын

@@jomy10-games sadly not. They had to employ more staff and possibly buy more machinery. There was a incident about 10-15 years ago where they shutdown a packing plant in Mexico. It had these specific machines and let's say there were 15 of them, they only kept 3 to move to America as they assumed film would be dead soon. Within 5 years there was a resurgence and they've been on the back foot ever since. Compound that with other mistakes made and their operation hasn't been as slick as it used to be. More environmental standards have to be met now too. They're thinning the physical thickness of the stock too. So many elements would indeed point to it becoming cheaper but it's not. Either their expenses have gone through the roof or someone is seriously profiting from all this.

@jomy10-games 5 ай бұрын

@@edshotsdotcodotuk I think it’s the latter. There’s more demand for film stock, so Kodak puts their prices up. People are willing to pay for it

@Focal_Paradox 5 ай бұрын

When the "Ilford" company went out of business, it's name got divided. I believe a German company owns the "Ilford" company name now. Harman Technology are the British company that continues to produce Ilford FP4/HP5/Etc, with the Ilford product brand name, but owned by "Harman Technology." The German Ilford company which bought the company name, just seem to just be trying to use the Ilford company name to sell whatever they can repackage. Realistically, Harman Technology are the Ilford of old, bought by the old Ilford management team and even retaining the same staff. Quite honestly, Harman Technology are truly deserving of the "Ilford" company name.

@TVRomulo 4 ай бұрын

This guy's voice is impressive, but I couldn't find a roll of film for sale here.

@TheWholePicture 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the compliment! Even if you get black and white ilford stocks locally the distribution deals between ilfocolors manufacture and harman might be differnet. I saw ilfocolor in New Zealand recently and I believe saw it was avaialble in Australia but at the moment not on B&H etc...

@fretlessfender 5 ай бұрын

Beware! Ilford was split up in a couple of different companies. They all share the same name, but are independent! Harman Technologies is the producer of Ilford black and white films like HP5plus etc. And now also the Phoenix color film. Ilfocolor is marketed by the Japanese strand of Ilford, and has nothing to do with Harman Mobberley, England.

@TheWholePicture 5 ай бұрын

Hello and thank you for the comment. It is not just Japan, I believe Australia and New Zealand have a similar structure with the companies. In Japan at least it can be very misleading with HP5 right next to Ilfocolor. Some shops here have started to sell Harman Phoenix so i managed to pick up a roll and will be doing a video on that when I get a chance!

@fretlessfender 5 ай бұрын

@TheWholePicture it is confusing! But there are little tell tales that the different companies are getting back together again... Don't get your hopes to high up, let's just wait and see what happens...

@jeremyrichards8327 5 ай бұрын

Founded in 1987 did I hear😂

@TheWholePicture 5 ай бұрын

An unfortunate mistake, I did write the correct date on screen but when you are doing everything yourself its easy to have something fall through the cracks. Sorry about that.

@jeremyrichards8327 5 ай бұрын

@@TheWholePicture No need to apologise as it proves I was paying attention.I have used Ilford on and off since the 60's including one of their very slow colour slide films.

@TheWholePicture 5 ай бұрын

Haha that is a great way to frame it! Photography's history certainly stretches back quite some time but with most of the topics I've covered lately being in the later half of the 1900s I think my brain defaults to that. Oh nice! That era of slide film produced some of the most striking images. Last year I was fortunate enough to see some original slides from Saul Leiter and the colors remain true and vibrant. I did manage to pick up some of Harmans new color stock so when I find the right angle I will make a video on that as well!