Question_ B&W settings on Camera or after

G

Graham Hoare

Suspended / Banned
Messages
45
Name
GJH0702
Edit My Images
Yes
I know that on my camera ( Canon 1100d) I can set for B&W, but I also know that in iPhoto I can convert a picture to B&W.
Question Am I better taking a 'RAW' image then changing to B&W or setting the camera to B&W?
Thanks
 
Last edited:
RAW then process, it gives you greater control over how the colours are converted :)
 
Personally I process afteward, but even if you set your camera to B&W and only shoot RAW, it'll give you a B&W preview but the full raw is there for editing.
 
Definitely not in camera, for the reasons given, plus one other: a jpg file is 8 bits, which means 256 different tonal values. You need almost that number of different tones for a full range in black and white, so you have almost no headroom to make any tonal adjustments before you start to lose tones and adversely affect the final result.
 
Shoot Raw and JPEG, and set JPEG pictures styles to mono with other adjustments applied how you envisage the end result, eg apply red filter etc.

That way you will get a mono image on the LCD to help visualise tones for the final pic while you work, and have an untouched (full colour) Raw file to post-process however you like.
 
If i plan to make B/W photos, I switch the camera to B/W profile, but also save the RAW files of the images.
I like to see directly in camera viewfinder what would be like the photo, helps for composition by eliminating the color "factor". But when comes to editting, I work with the RAW file and convert it to B/W with more versatile of tonal gradation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top