Monochrome images and RAW

On 2009-09-14 22:41:01 -0700, Bob Larter said:

Fotodog wrote:
If you are contemplating a camera for monochrome shooting only, is
there any advantage in having RAW capability?

Yes. Greater dynamic range, same as for colour. If you're using
PhotoShop, import your RAW images in 16 bit mode, as you'll get finer
tonal quality.

When shooting monochrome in RAW you may not get what you expect.
I can only speak for my experience with my D300.
With the D300, if I set my custom menu to shoot B&W with any of the B&W
settings and filters available in camera, and I shoot RAW, all I will
get is a standard 16 bit NEF, in full and glorious color, which I would
have to convert to B&W in PP with CS4.
Those in camera B&W settings will only have effect when shooting jpg or
jpg+RAW.

For Nikon RAW is a color experience. The RAW NEF file will always have
all the color data.

....but having said that, you are correct, making the adjustments with
the 16Bit depth you will have finer tonal quality.
--
Regards,

Savageduck

"Savageduck" wrote in message
news:2009091423201851816-savageduck@REMOVESPAMmecom...
[]
For Nikon RAW is a color experience. The RAW NEF file will always have
all the color data.

...but having said that, you are correct, making the adjustments with
the 16Bit depth you will have finer tonal quality.
--
Regards,

Savageduck

As the sensor is still recording multiple colours (the colour filter is
not removed), I think Nikon do the right thing, and don't lie about what
the sensor sees.

Your point about getting good tonal quality when adjusted is fair enough,
though.

David

On Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:20:18 -0700, Savageduck wrote:

Yes. Greater dynamic range, same as for colour. If you're using
PhotoShop, import your RAW images in 16 bit mode, as you'll get finer
tonal quality.

When shooting monochrome in RAW you may not get what you expect. I can
only speak for my experience with my D300. With the D300, if I set my
custom menu to shoot B&W with any of the B&W settings and filters
available in camera, and I shoot RAW, all I will get is a standard 16
bit NEF, in full and glorious color, which I would have to convert to
B&W in PP with CS4. Those in camera B&W settings will only have effect
when shooting jpg or jpg+RAW.

For Nikon RAW is a color experience. The RAW NEF file will always have
all the color data.

Not just for Nikon; AFAIK all manufacturers work this way, which is
actually an advantage aside from the bigger DR. When converting to B&W,
it's good to have some control over the strength of the various colors.
That's why B&W film users use color filters too.

--
Regards, Robert http://www.arumes.com

On Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:20:18 -0700, Savageduck
wrote:

On 2009-09-14 22:41:01 -0700, Bob Larter said:

Fotodog wrote:
If you are contemplating a camera for monochrome shooting only, is
there any advantage in having RAW capability?

Yes. Greater dynamic range, same as for colour. If you're using
PhotoShop, import your RAW images in 16 bit mode, as you'll get finer
tonal quality.

When shooting monochrome in RAW you may not get what you expect.
I can only speak for my experience with my D300.
With the D300, if I set my custom menu to shoot B&W with any of the B&W
settings and filters available in camera, and I shoot RAW, all I will
get is a standard 16 bit NEF, in full and glorious color, which I would
have to convert to B&W in PP with CS4.
Those in camera B&W settings will only have effect when shooting jpg or
jpg+RAW.

Yes, the same is true with Canon as well. The B&W settings give some
nice results, but they only come as a JPG. I do the same as you:
shoot in RAW and then convert to B%W, using assorted filters in
Photoshop.