take in black/white or do in post processing?

[terrtwins]

Which is better? Here is an example of one i took on the monochrome setting with the 30D. Not real sure if its better to take in MC or change in photoshop or digital photo professional.

[mike_sax]

Dave, this has always been a controversy. I guess it really depends on whether or not you would ever want the picture in color in the future. You can turn it monochrome several ways but you can never put the color back in later. A lot of the monochrome renderings I have seen on here look better than what can be done inside the camera.

[terrtwins]

many thanks!

[Steelsun]

Taking it in BW with the camera limits the way it is processed. You can process it from color to BW much better through a variety of methods (layer masking, etc) via computer. After all your computer processor is much more powerful than your camera's.

This months issue of Digital Pro Photo has an article devoted to this very question and techniques and analysis of the types of conversion. Worth taking a look.

Also, if you shoot RAW it's a moot point, since you are shooting in BW anyway, and the camera/converter makes it color (actually saves 3 BW files which are combined in channels to make a color file).

[terrtwins]

very helpful info, thanks again.

[LoungeLizard]

Originally Posted by Steelsun

Also, if you shoot RAW it's a moot point, since you are shooting in BW anyway, and the camera/converter makes it color (actually saves 3 BW files which are combined in channels to make a color file).

..but if you shoot in RAW (at least with Canon - don't know about "the other guys") with combined JPEG, you can have your Kate and Edith too. Set the camera to shoot in B&W mode. The RAW file will be color but the corresponding JPEG will be the camera's B&W version!

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Shoot RAW full color- get as much DATA as possible in the capture-then convert out of the camera.
I really don't know why anyone would not want to take advantage of what is available unless they are shooting on a short deadline and needed to produce B+W output.
I think the B+W option was added to some model lines just as a selling/marketing point and most pro's may mess with it one or two times and then never use it again.

Now a few years back when Kodak was making pro equipment they made a handful of black and white only digital cameras that are supposed to have great tonality since the sensors were specifically adjusted to deal with B+W only along with the software-have never seen any output from them other than some web postings which probably do not really do them justice.

[Roger Wong]

By shooting in color, you preserve the option of digitally emulating color filters when converting to black and white. You get to delay your filter decision until post processing time. For example, you can increase the prominence of the red channel to emulate a #25 Red filter and lighten the skin tones (and blemishes). Stuff like that.

[Daniel Bates]

...not to mention, if you ever wish the photo was in color instead of greyscale, you're kinda stuck unless you shot in color to begin with.