Raw for Black and white

[mattsiesco]

Im getting a 350D before the end of the month and shooting black and white is a big deal and I only have photoshop elements, so conversion isnt that succesful, so I was wondering...

If I shoot in RAW and convert it to black and white with the packaged software, will that be more successful than converting a colored JPEG or a JPEG shot in black and white mode on-camera? And will converting it to black and white while using RAW with the software be the same as shooting black and white on-camera or will it just be like desaturating the photo like in photoshop? I want accurate tones and I know I cant really do it that well in elements, so any help would be greatly appreciated:)

Thanks
matt

[scottbergerphoto]

This is covered in detail in the sticky.

[PhotosGuy]

What Scott said.
I don't really understand what the attraction is for shooting B&W. It's MUCH harder to get a good B&W print, than it is a color one. For one thing, you no longer have color to separate the values in the print, so you have to be very careful when you're shooting. Way back when, we used to use filters to help with that. For another, it's harder to get a good print from a color printer.
Anyway, have fun.

[prime80]

Shoot RAW+Jpeg and set your parameter to black & white. You also have B&W filter settings in the camera as well. Then you can compare your results with the RAW file vs. the camera's results shooting in B&W. Once you've decided which you like best, shoot that way. Also, if you have an older copy of Photoshop Elements, fork over the $$ for PSE3. It's quite an upgrade from the previous versions. You should be able to do anything in B&W you like with it. There are several good B&W conversion filters available for it.

[scottbergerphoto]

If you shoot raw, you can apply any and all the parameters/filters in the conversion software until you get what you like.

[Kaydee]

I don't really understand what the attraction is for shooting B&W. It's MUCH harder to get a good B&W print, than it is a color one. Anyway, have fun.

I realize this is an old thread, but I came across it in a search and just had to reply to this statement for anyone else who comes along and finds this thread. The fact that it is MUCH harder to get a good B&W print over a color is the very reason for my personal attraction to B&W. Is it so hard to understand being attracted to a challenge? :)

[PhotosGuy]

Nope! Knock yourself out! ;-)