B&W photos

[haowong]

Question:

Is it better to take picture in black and white with the camera or
use post processing to make images black and white?

Is there any real difference?

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by haowong

Is it better to take picture in black and white with the camera or use post processing to make images black and white?

It depends what you mean by "better".

If you mean better image quality, then shoot Raw and convert to monochrome in post-processing.

If you mean a better shooting experience, some people prefer the in-camera B&W because it takes away a bunch of variables and makes them think in B&W. Others don't like it.

[OsmosisStudios]

For digital, it's usually better to shoot in colour and convert to black and white (a proper black and white!) in post.

For film, Black and White film has a considerably better look and feel than converting from colour.

[kencaleno]

Just to help here's a page from an old notebook of mine, showing how colours come out in black and white:

[LeeR]

If you are shooting digital you are definitely going to want to shoot in color and convert it later. There are some wonderful tools in PS that will help you do this, including one that lets you adjust the colors to influence their lightness and darkness in the black and white image. It's like having an infinite number of filters to use with your image, plus you get to see the effect as you are making the adjustment. We would have killed for this kind of control back when I was shooting film.

[haowong]

I guess the only reason to shoot in B&W is from personal preference, as noted by Doug P.
Thanks for the replies!

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by haowong

I guess the only reason to shoot in B&W is from personal preference, as noted by Doug P.
Thanks for the replies!

There are technical limitations with this method though. Assuming youre shooting JPG and directly to the camera's monochrome setting, you're losing out on A LOT of data that *could* make or break the image.

I still advocate shooting in RAW, colour, and converting with your favourite RAW converter.

[idb]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Assuming youre shooting JPG and directly to the camera's monochrome setting, you're losing out on A LOT of data that *could* make or break the image.

OK, but do you lose more or less data by converting a colour image to B&W in the camera?

Thanks.

[andrecb]

Hi

read this

from the post Everything you ever wanted to know about photography! On DPS!

Should I use the in camera B&W?

The short answer: No.
If you want to read what others have said -
"Best way to do B&W?
B/W Question

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by idb

OK, but do you lose more or less data by converting a colour image to B&W in the camera?

Thanks.

I dont quite understand the question. I would recommend converting in post, on a computer. Never do anything IN CAMERA.