Originally Posted by
interneg
Correctly scaled to match the density/ exposure scale in the Kodak chart for 4142, HP5+ in HC/ HC-110 at G-bar 0.62 follows the toe of the 4142 CI 0.6 curve - and tracks remarkably closely along the rest of the curve (albeit with the Ilford probably giving better highlights). 400TMY-II also lands very near directly on top (and implies that FP4+ should as well - as long as you don't use HC-110). 100TMX demonstrates potential improvements across the board for use in intermediary steps, especially in the upper range (and most of the comparisons that were done to look into suitability for separation work with 100TMX seem to have been done with HC-110, not TMax developer of either sub-species).
Almost all problems people get into with HP5+ involve disrespecting (or failing to spot) its shadow speed which runs to the higher end of its rating (hence 'better underexposure latitude'), which goes higher still in many PQ developers - and then trying to pseudo-compensate via development & further errors in subsequent exposures. Ilford's more traditional materials do tend (sometimes depending on developer) to take steps to prevent badly off-kilter exposures rendering negs totally unprintable, but it also underscores an effective conclusion made by Richard Henry about exposure techniques - namely, a lot of people who think themselves cleverer than the manufacturers are usually just exhibiting dependence on the latitude built-in to the product by the engineers who made it.
Sounds like you're not using a mainstream & scientifically researched developer then. If you really want a sharp toe & ruthless straight line up to high CI's, PQ Universal. The Ilford scientists aren't stupid. And I've used enough HP5+ to have found that exposing it wrongly (i.e. over-exposing it in particular) will quite readily reproduce all the 'faults' you claim - but also that exposing it correctly allows you to make prints with a sharp toe & good straight-line character in wide-ranging lighting circumstances without needing to resort to developer conniptions. FP4+ in ID-11 likes overexposure even less.
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