monochrome capture

RalphLambrecht · Nov 24, 2013

with all the current hype about the Leica monochrome, I completely overlooked that my NikonD800has a monochrome-only capture mode too. Does your camera too, and what is your experience with it?reponse to contrast ffilters, sharpnessand comparison to post processing B&W conversion.

ann · Nov 24, 2013

I have several that will do this, however, I never use that function. I would rather shoot in color and convert later. After, gives me more control over the image.

Doyle Thomas · Nov 24, 2013

ann said:
I have several that will do this, however, I never use that function. I would rather shoot in color and convert later. After, gives me more control over the image.

^^

L Gebhardt · Nov 24, 2013

You are much better off shooting in RAW and converting to monochrome later. If you need to see the monochrome image while shooting, shoot RAW + JPEG, and you can have the best of both worlds at the expense of disk space and file management.

ann · Nov 24, 2013

Ralph,

See if you can find a copy of Versace's cd or book called "Return to Oz Oz to Kansas 2.0, He covers about every know method for converting known

jeffreyg · Nov 25, 2013

I don't shoot too much digital (Nikon D300s) but I agree with the suggestions above. You can make adjustments in individual channels and with curves. There is an abundance of editing software and plugins. The two that I like are PhotoKit (Pixel Genius) and Perfect Photo (OnOne) both have trial versions and are IMOP eiaser and more convenient than PhotoShop while being compatible with it.

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Pioneer · Nov 25, 2013

I shoot my digitals in black and white more than color any more. But I shoot RAW+jpeg so I can still go back to the RAW capture if needed to enhance the black and white processing in PP. Since I can recover the color information from RAW I would have to say that my processing has not changed that much. However I do use filters once in a while to see the possible result in jpeg.

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 28, 2013

One thing I've found curious about B&W digital capture, is the effect of a filter on the lens is actually very difficult to replicate by adjusting the channels individually from a RAW color original, and I often like the look of the filtered image better than the best image I can make by converting the raw file. I don't do it often, because I'd rather just shoot film for B&W, but I've tested it, and it struck me as interesting.

RalphLambrecht · Nov 29, 2013

David A. Goldfarb said:
One thing I've found curious about B&W digital capture, is the effect of a filter on the lens is actually very difficult to replicate by adjusting the channels individually from a RAW color original, and I often like the look of the filtered image better than the best image I can make by converting the raw file. I don't do it often, because I'd rather just shoot film for B&W, but I've tested it, and it struck me as interesting.

David, please elaborate on the results.

jeffreyg · Nov 29, 2013

As I mentioned the Photo Kit plugin you can apply filter effects with their software and adjust the effect with the slider. Each effect is automatically done in a separate layer so it only affects the original if desired. If you visit their website you can see the results by just running the cursor over the examples. They have about 140 different effects at a very reasonable amount.

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David A. Goldfarb · Dec 1, 2013

I don't know that I can describe it better than you might be able to see for yourself, say by taking two images of a landscape (where a filter is relevant), as a raw color original, and maybe with a medium yellow filter and an orange filter, and seeing if you can replicate the filtered image by whatever digital methods you have at hand and prefer. It might not be strictly a color conversion effect. Maybe it's the reduction of chromatic aberration that comes with using a strong monochromatic filter, that you may not be getting when you adjust the color channels to produce a B&W image. Maybe it's the result of UV filtration that you might not get without a filter. Anyway, it's worth trying. I don't have any tests saved that I can find easily in my files, but it's not too hard to try it out on your own.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 5, 2013

I'm very comfortable to convert inPS and like the results better than what I get from the top plug-ins. just wanted to find out if the hype about the LMMwas justified or existing cameras can do the same.

Pioneer · Dec 6, 2013

There are others with a lot more time with this camera than myself but I have rented it twice. I think that the difference when using filters is that this seems the only way to get those contrast adjustments, similar to film. Although you can also use those same filters on regular digital cameras like the D800E, it isn't the only way to get some of the advantages of the red or yellow filters.

However, your post has intrigued me and I am going to play around with my M9 using these b&w contrast filters again to see what difference I see between using a yellow filter while capturing a monochrome jpeg, versus capturing in color in the first place and then converting to monochrome in PP using the color sliders. I personally prefer capturing what I want to see in camera vs conducting a lot of post process work on the computer before I go to print. This may be an aspect I have been missing with my own black and white digital work.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 6, 2013

remember that this camera also has a shootingoption to simulate these filters while taking the picture.compare how that works compsred to 'real' filters.that may fit your needs and also avoid PP.

Pioneer · Dec 7, 2013

Hmm. For the life of me I cannot find any way to simulate different contrast filters with the M9. The only way I know to do it is to actually use the contrast filter. I know I can do that with my Pentax K-01 but I have not located that option on the M9. But, since I haven't been able to locate my manual (it is in my office/camera collection/junk room) and I am just working off what I can find in the menus. I can set it to take black and white, or vintage black and white, which appears to give a sepia tone to the image. Feel free to guide me to the right location and I'll keep digging around for my camera manual.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 15, 2013

with my Nikon D800 it is alonside the menues where you set contrast and in-camera sharpening. you can set YGO&R filters, but I haven't tried yet how this compares to a physical filter.of course ,you can set photographic filtewrs in PS too.

Pioneer · Dec 15, 2013

The M9 does not seem to allow this. My Pentax Q is pretty simple; I pull up the picture and then hit the WB button. This brings up a whole suite of filters.

Personally I still use PS to do this. I rarely think to do it in camera but that is becoming a bigger thing.

hdeyong · Dec 19, 2013

I use and like SilverEffex Pro. It offers all the regular coloured filters, and the effects seem very accurate. The additional grain is realistic, too.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 19, 2013

I'd be interested to see your results. It fits asubjectI'm currently writing about.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 30, 2013

I finished my digital monochrome filter test,and the winner is:Nikon D800with PS PP;runner up was the NikonD800 in plain MC mode.amazingcamera; worth every one of the 300,000 pennies.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 31, 2014

I'm not after quantity of choices.I'm after the experience with in-camera B&Wfilteringcompared to physical filters.we have too many software choices already.who can keep 'em apart?

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