Anyone else find them selves doing this? (B&W W/350D )

It has to do with how I shoot in b&w. I am using the 350D.

I set the camera to RAW, but I set the shot parameter to b&w using the color filter I want. I can shoot in b&w in the camera, but when I import the RAW photos, they are color.

This way I can judge my contrast and exposure of the shot in b&w while shooting, but still use Photohop for my conversion to b&w.

Wondering if I'm the only one to do this.

I don't use in camera settings to shoot b&w. IMO, it looks better to convert later in Photoshop where you have more control over tonal qualities in the image.

I use those mono/duotone modes a lot.

For personal pictures, I don't have the time nor patience to muck around with RAW files and tweak each one. I do that for lots of weddings and the LAST thing I want to do is MORE processing.

So I use those modes too... ANYTHING that will save me time later. But I don't shoot in RAW for personal pictures so what the camera does is what I get. You can still make adjustments in JPG format if it's not 100% what you want.

SRPhotographic wrote in post #2371447
way I can judge my contrast and exposure of the shot in b&w while shooting, but still use Photohop for my conversion to b&w.

That seems a bit pointless to me. Surely one of the advantages of RAW is that you get control over factors such as the exposure and contrast. You don't have to accept what the camera would give you; and therefore judging a shot on the basis of what the camera would give you is less than ideal.

IS it better to shoot in color and change in PS to B&W?

I also never use the in camera B&W settings.

Far better control over tone by shooting in colour (usually RAW) and converting in photoshop or the software of your choice.

My preferred conversion methodology is:

1. For quicky conversion from raw - desaturate completely in raw converter

or

2. For greater control - process colour image in raw converter, then use channel mixer

nwa2 wrote in post #2371904
I also never use the in camera B&W settings.

Far better control over tone by shooting in colour (usually RAW) and converting in photoshop or the software of your choice.

My preferred conversion methodology is:

1. For quicky conversion from raw - desaturate completely in raw converter

or

2. For greater control - process colour image in raw converter, then use channel mixer

Personnelly I feel I get much more control doing the conversion in Lightroom where you have access to six color channels rather then in channel mixer which only has three channels.

Mike

cherokee01 wrote in post #2371894
IS it better to shoot in color and change in PS to B&W?

It is in my opinion. Others may not agree.

picturecrazy wrote in post #2371712
I use those mono/duotone modes a lot.

For personal pictures, I don't have the time nor patience to muck around with RAW files and tweak each one. I do that for lots of weddings and the LAST thing I want to do is MORE processing.

So I use those modes too... ANYTHING that will save me time later. But I don't shoot in RAW for personal pictures so what the camera does is what I get. You can still make adjustments in JPG format if it's not 100% what you want.

I rarely shoot "personal pictures," but when I do the camera is invariably set to RAW. Hell, I shoot cat pictures in RAW.

SRPhotographic wrote in post #2371447
It has to do with how I shoot in b&w. I am using the 350D.

I set the camera to RAW, but I set the shot parameter to b&w using the color filter I want. I can shoot in b&w in the camera, but when I import the RAW photos, they are color.

This way I can judge my contrast and exposure of the shot in b&w while shooting, but still use Photohop for my conversion to b&w.

Wondering if I'm the only one to do this.

From the responses, I don't think most people understand the point he made. By shooting jpg and RAW, AND setting the mode to B&W, you get both. The jpg is in B&W, but the RAW still has all the color info. Viewing the jpeg on the screen gives you a rough idea of what the B&W will look like. He is not using the jpg B&W for printing, just camera preview. One of the toughest things to learn is how to 'see' a shot in B&W. This method helps a lot by giving a B&W preview, while leaving all the color in the RAW for the final conversion process at a later time. In fact, the jpg can just be set to 'small', as long as it's good enough for a preview. Think of the B&W jpg as a B&W Polaroid preview.

liza wrote in post #2371961
I rarely shoot "personal pictures," but when I do the camera is invariably set to RAW. Hell, I shoot cat pictures in RAW.

LOL. You're so funny. Cat pictures... haha

I usually switch to Medium Jpg normal quality for personal shots. For candid type shots, how often will I enlarge to 30x20? Probably never. But medium is still large enough for a very nice 11x14. I'm just a cheapass that doesn't want to use up so much hard drive space... that's my reasoning haha.

Don't you get tired of playing with raw files? I sure do! If you don't, then I admire you. I'm sure your personal pictures turn out better than mine but I'm FAR less picky about them than clients' photos.

As to the question, I think only the DPP will recognize your settings. If you are using third party RAW converters, it probably won't recognize that you set it to b/w.

gkas wrote in post #2372026
From the responses, I don't think most people understand the point he made. By shooting jpg and RAW, AND setting the mode to B&W, you get both. The jpg is in B&W, but the RAW still has all the color info. Viewing the jpeg on the screen gives you a rough idea of what the B&W will look like........ .

Good use of the capabilities of the camera .... I never thought of doing that.

That's a good idea...I never really thought about doing that.

There is an article in Popular Photography this month about a guy doing something simular, he shoots in RAW and brackets in black and white, allowing him to see the black and white on the LCD as soon as he shoots, since that is what his prints ultimately are printed as.

I thought it was a very interesting technique, as the conversion to black and white sometimes makes me wish I'd have rethought my composition.

After hearing another person doing this, I might give it a try

Shooting raw is perfect but i wold go for full colour and edit later. This does as mentioned give you much more control over the final image.

Happy shooting