WELCOME This site is for anyone interested in Olympus and OM System system cameras. First time visit? Check out our FAQ. You need to REGISTER before you can post. After registration and two posts, forum ads will disappear.
* Registered members don't see ads on the forum after two posts - sign up for free *
It's a (relatively) old adage now that you never perform black and white conversions in-camera, because the best results are always in post-processing. This was certainly true with my first digital camera several years ago, but the in-camera b&w in my new E-400 (at 1600ASA!) really surprised me this evening:
D'ya know, I have never tried taking a B&W photo in-camera, I guess in the main because I know that if I do, I lose the opportunity to see what it looked like in colour.
Maybe the in-camera processing is better than post processing, shall have to try and see. Good question though... and nice capture.
I don't think that arguement really applies these days.
I often switch to B&W shooting mode when I feel the subject needs that approach - for me it often helps simplify things by turning the subject in front of me into the image I have in my mind!
Have you got an online gallery or collection of in-camera black and whites? Would love to see what someone who regularly uses the mode gets up to.
I've not really a gallery as such, but here are some taken recently:-
First one in France in September, the second in Brittany a few months earlier (Leica D-Lux-3 with IS as my Oly E400 couldn't manage the low light!) and the last taken the other day with the E3 in Rochdale using a Leica R 90mm f2 lens.
Black and white images often rely on slightly skewed mixing of the colour channels to give them punch - traditionally this was either (or and) a feature of the film or of the use of filters.
Capturing in colour allows you to decompose the image to the red/green/blue channels and re-mix giving you the option to emulate film/filters in post processing.
But I do like the purety of shooting, sometimes in black and white.
WOW Nick.... excellent detail in the brickwork in your first image there and is a great example of where B&W works well. Some great shots of some churches in your gallery too by the way...
The E510 is my first DSLR and my first digital cam that allows me to take B&W as well as colour, I experimented with this B&W mode a couple of months ago whist abroad, these 2 shots were taken with the red filter. I love B&W shots more than colour, I kind of miss my Ilford FP4/HP5
Thanks for all your replies, guys! Clearly, there's something filmic going on in-camera when shooting in B&W mode - none of these look like desaturated colour images to me. I wonder what kind of film Olympus modelled the conversion on?
We process personal data about users of our site, through the use of web browser cookies and other technologies, to deliver our services, and to analyse site activity. No banner advertising is shown to members logged in to the site. For additional details, refer to our Privacy Policy.
By clicking "I AGREE" below, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our personal data processing and cookie practices as described therein. You also acknowledge that this forum may be hosted outside your country and you consent to the collection, storage, and processing of your data in the country where this forum is hosted.
Tweet
Comment