Advanced Digital P&S with best B&W mode

jmooney

jmooney

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Hi All,
I'm looking to add an advanced P&S to my bag (Canon G series, Leica Dlux-4, etc) and wanted to see if anyone had any advice on which had the best native B&W mode?

I'm in a position of being forced to transition from film and I'd prefer to shoot JPG and get B&W image out of camera rather than convert after. Regardless of weather or not this is the best way to do it, it's the way I'm going to do it for now at least. Any recommendations are much appreciated.

BTW I have not problem buying used so feel free to suggest older models as well. Budget is about $400 (less is prefered of course ) so alas no X1

Take care,
Jim
 
I've not used the G series yet, but I do own a D-Lux-4. I really like the Dynamic B&W mode in the D-Lux 4, but it is still a digital image in black & white. If you are not looking for a certain B&W film look, then the Dynamic B&W is great. If however you are looking for a certain B&W film look, then you need to convert a RAW in the usual software.

For what it is worth...

J.D.
 
Ricoh...

Ricoh...

I have owned several Ricohs, GRDI to GRDIII, I have kept the GRDI as it is the best digital B&W shooter I have found. The noise is very grain like, in the later models they have done to much to control the noise.
The GX range are good as well - but seem to fail with great frequency.

I also like the output from the Nikon D1X, but that isnt a P&S!

Ive seen some really nice B&W from the sigma Dp range, but they are probably outside the budget.

Gary H
 
The GRDII was fast enough to shoot RAWs with and I have a few B&Ws in my portfolio from it. I also liked the Pany LX-3 but Ricoh had the best interface of any digital camera ever. Both were built well but the Ricoh was a bit nicer so I think I'd look for a good $250 used one with a clean viewfinder and sensor (pocket lint seems to seep in and these cameras get used, as opposed to most digicams that spend most of their life sitting around).

Especially for B&W you can step back a generation or two and save some $.
 
I'm trying a Panasonic LX-3, and the dynamic B&W looks v good so far, and you have the choice of RAW + jpg for maximum flexibility.

Now the LX-5 is out, you might find a 2nd hand bargain - I did.
 
Frank Petronio said:
The GRDII was fast enough to shoot RAWs with and I have a few B&Ws in my portfolio from it. I also liked the Pany LX-3 but Ricoh had the best interface of any digital camera ever. Both were built well but the Ricoh was a bit nicer so I think I'd look for a good $250 used one with a clean viewfinder and sensor (pocket lint seems to seep in and these cameras get used, as opposed to most digicams that spend most of their life sitting around).

Especially for B&W you can step back a generation or two and save some $.
Click to expand...

from the gr1 up, Ricoh has really focused on that interface and they really have it dialed.
 
Another 1 Up for Ricoh GRD cameras. They are the best point and shoots for black and white. The Panasonics are very plasticy digitally feeling black and white and I cannot not recommend them enough for black and white.
 
the samsung ex1 is another great example of interface and focus on the important. superfast af, fast release even on auto everything. very solid construction and a fast, wide lens.

haven't really tried the 'black and white mode' but i am sure you can dial them to what you want pretty quick in CS.

only negative i can think of is the battery life is lame.

$250 the other day on CL.
 
I don't understand why would you want your camera to get you decent b&w when the whole point of b&w photography is maximum control over how the image will look... But anyway, there is not a single camera which outputs decent b&w images and hence i have none to recommend to you.
 
I use the Ricoh GX200 for B&W all the time. Often run Noise Ninja for PP. Get some great results.
3782919620_b1cc50c600_z.jpg


3397895025_eabd9e86ed_z.jpg


Shot at 1600 ISO then Noise Ninja

2779329280_358dc66c04_z.jpg
 
Gazzah said:
I have owned several Ricohs, GRDI to GRDIII, I have kept the GRDI as it is the best digital B&W shooter I have found. The noise is very grain like, in the later models they have done to much to control the noise.
The GX range are good as well - but seem to fail with great frequency.

I also like the output from the Nikon D1X, but that isnt a P&S!

Ive seen some really nice B&W from the sigma Dp range, but they are probably outside the budget.

Gary H
Click to expand...

+1 - GRD (B&W setting, snap focus mode, ISO400) = trix grain in 8x10 and 11x14 prints.. astounding for digital... shouldn't have sold mine...
 
Last edited:
i was getting pretty good results out of the sigma dp2. bit of a maddening camera at times (carry at LEAST 3 batteries) but man oh man it could produce some really great iso 800 files. not super distracting noise. can't really call it tri-x'esque or any of that but prints looked brilliant.
 
I don't know what camera's you have Jim but I'm guessing you could get an Oly EP1 body and an adaptor for your lenses and get better results than with a p/s
theres an ep1 body on ebay right now for 349 + shipping. with the right lens it will still fit in your pocket
if not that I would lean towards a g10 which should be available under $400 now that the 12 is coming out
 
I'm going to chime in and agree with those mentioning the GRD series - I have yet to find a digital P&S camera that has better ergonomics than this Ricoh.

The B&W mode in camera isn't bad but I know I can do better with Silver Efex - so I'll opt for that to convert my digital to B&W:
(ISO 800 in really crappy lighting but look how well it handles the exposure)
33930_475548910708_675280708_7285783_8309512_n.jpg


Cheers,
Dave
 
Do you shoot RAW with the first GRD? I thought they were supposed to be slow?

And what is a good price for an old GRD? GRDII? Not withstanding that this thread probably temporarily bumped any prices on the RFF classifieds....
 
ebino said:
I don't understand why would you want your camera to get you decent b&w when the whole point of b&w photography is maximum control over how the image will look... But anyway, there is not a single camera which outputs decent b&w images and hence i have none to recommend to you.
Click to expand...


I love absolutism....I supposed I shouldn't use pens with blue in either because you can only right decent words with black ink. :bang:
 
Frank Petronio said:
Do you shoot RAW with the first GRD? I thought they were supposed to be slow?

And what is a good price for an old GRD? GRDII? Not withstanding that this thread probably temporarily bumped any prices on the RFF classifieds....
Click to expand...



That reminds me I have to bump all the M2 thread as I'm going to be listing mine later....
 
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