It's always hard to tell from a scan, but I think the highlights in the lower right look pretty good. Maybe a little more exposure is needed?
Yea, thanks! We actually shot this in my dining room, haha. There are big, open windows on the right. But, there is only a little bit shaded lighting coming from the left. So, one of my mistakes was that I overestimated the evenness of lighting.
Here's one from the 1+50 rolls:
I stumbled onto a combination with HP5+ that surprised me a little or enough to continue to use it. This is with 120 film format so other film sizes might have different outcomes. I had not used HP5+ in a very long time since I like less grain. So the films I used most were DELTA 100 FP4+ and several other 100 speed films. When I ordered my last batch of film I also order 10 rolls of HP5+ with some more FP4+ . I took a shot of a steam locomotive with a 6x9 camera using both FP4+ and HP5+ developed both in Xtol replenished with the HP5+ at 10% less than the recommended time. I made 16x20 prints from both and was pleasantly surprised by the results. The HP5+ prints were fantastic. Grain still wasn't there even at that size and the best part was that the HP5+ print showed what looked like better overall sharpness. Nothing wrong with the FP4+ print, but the lack of edge just didn't get it with that shot. It was just too smooth. Might be better for a portrait, but for a big, black steam locomotive it doesn't cut it. I rate my FP4+ at ISO 80 and guessed at the HP5+ at ISO 250, but I believe ISO 320 might be better. I will be doing my own testing after these results. My next order for film is going to include HP5+ in 4X5 that's for certain. It's a lot nicer being able to shoot a faster film and get results like this. Maybe Xtol replenished and HP5+ was a one time fluke for me, but I sure will be trying to fine out.
Yea, it seems like we have the similar taste in films. At first, I wasn't too thrilled about the shots I've done with Delta 100 and XTOL. But, now that I look back at my old negatives, I really think it's a gorgeous combination. I'd love to try XTOL with HP5+ someday.
Here's Delta 100 + XTOL 1:1 (underdeveloped) from 2008:
This time around, I was actually dead set on using FP4+ as my primary film. But, Fomapan 100 recently won me over. I still love the look of FP4+, and I'll definitely consider using it if Foma 100 ever bites the dust.
The one thing I didn't like about XTOL was the maintenance of having to mix it, bottle it up, and store it. I don't have any room for a standalone darkroom yet because I have a lot of roommates. So, I'm trying to keep my setup to a minimum. The great thing about Rodinal is that I can just pour it out of the bottle, and I'm ready to go!
PS - The other turn off for XTOL was that I was obsessed with Peter Lindbergh back in 2008. And, XTOL couldn't give me that gritty look I was looking for, haha. But, now, I'm sort of over that and I recognize the beauty you can get from XTOL.