B&W in camera or Photoshop?

[DjBeau]

Hey everybody

If I want to take a B&W photo (digital SLR) is there ANY difference between shifting the camera mode to B&W and simply desaturating the picture in Photoshop?

And if there is what are the differences then?

 

[gizmo2071]

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87629&highlight=Black+white+camera

 

[&Denekamp]

Between in camera and desaturating, there wont be a lot of difference, however the camera might use other levels for the colour channels than 33, 33, 33.

However, neither of the two is a very good way to convert to B&W, really. Because if you let the camera do it, it just throws away any colour information, and that is a shame. Because, strange as it sounds, colour is important when converting to B&W!

Personally, I shoot in colour (jpeg or RAW) and then convert them to B&W in Photoshop using the 'Channel mixer' (tick the 'monochrome' box). That way, you have a LOT more control over the outcome of the conversion. Maybe give this technique a try, and see if you like the result it gives you.

Good luck,
Niels

 

[MikeR]

Between in camera and desaturating, there wont be a lot of difference, however the camera might use other levels for the colour channels than 33, 33, 33.

However, neither of the two is a very good way to convert to B&W, really. Because if you let the camera do it, it just throws away any colour information, and that is a shame. Because, strange as it sounds, colour is important when converting to B&W!

Personally, I shoot in colour (jpeg or RAW) and then convert them to B&W in Photoshop using the 'Channel mixer' (tick the 'monochrome' box). That way, you have a LOT more control over the outcome of the conversion. Maybe give this technique a try, and see if you like the result it gives you.

Good luck,
Niels

It's the best way for greater control.
My camera doesn't have a clue as to what I want.

 

[Sideburns]

Shoot in RAW. whether you shoot in B+W or colour on your camera, there's always the option to turn it back to colour. It never throws out the colour info. But to be honest, I find it better to just shoot all in colour in RAW and either grayscale it later, or check lightroom's preset "black and white".

so to answer your question...shoot in colour.

 

[LokiZ]

The only reason I would ever shoot in B/W is if it was film and I was the one who was going to be doing the development... Just my opinion.

I agree with the shooting in RAW and also the use of channel mixer to get the results you want.