Sh00ter
shooting is a virtue
Hello, I am saving for a Canon 5D to ad to my small collection of film cameras. I will mainly use it for color, but was wondering how its black and white files look? How does the grain/noise look at higher ISOs? I like the look of grain but I dont want messy looking digital noise...
Thanks,
-S.
Thanks,
-S.
kuzano
Veteran
Shoot in color... convert in Editing Software
Shoot in color... convert in Editing Software
There is far more control over things like grain and tonality for black and white conversions by converting digital color images in software.
Sorry, can't tell you how the Canon 5D shoots in black and white because I don't use it that way. I haven't shot any digital camera in B/W mode since moving from Point and Shoots.
As a professional told me, shooting digital in black and white makes absolutely no sense. Why bring home an image that is compromised by the camera. There is so much you can to converting to and editing B/W with all the color information left in the file.
Others may be able to answer your question, but my personal opinion is "don't use the camera to create monochrome images". You won't have nearly as much latitude in Post Processing.
Considering your choice of the 5D, I personally think at the prices a nice 5D body sells for ($1000-1200), it is one of the best values in entry to Full Frame digital. The reviews have been incredible for that camera since it came out, and many are only now replacing them since the MkII 5D came out. I wouldn't be surprised to find the MkII not as ultimately desirable, except for those who truly need the increased resolution, for printing larger prints. I do not regret for a moment ending up with the Canon 5D MkI.
It would be a shame to see you pass on the 5D because of the OOC B/W, since I think that's an extremely short sighted approach to digital B/W. (again, personal observation)
Shoot in color... convert in Editing Software
There is far more control over things like grain and tonality for black and white conversions by converting digital color images in software.
Sorry, can't tell you how the Canon 5D shoots in black and white because I don't use it that way. I haven't shot any digital camera in B/W mode since moving from Point and Shoots.
As a professional told me, shooting digital in black and white makes absolutely no sense. Why bring home an image that is compromised by the camera. There is so much you can to converting to and editing B/W with all the color information left in the file.
Others may be able to answer your question, but my personal opinion is "don't use the camera to create monochrome images". You won't have nearly as much latitude in Post Processing.
Considering your choice of the 5D, I personally think at the prices a nice 5D body sells for ($1000-1200), it is one of the best values in entry to Full Frame digital. The reviews have been incredible for that camera since it came out, and many are only now replacing them since the MkII 5D came out. I wouldn't be surprised to find the MkII not as ultimately desirable, except for those who truly need the increased resolution, for printing larger prints. I do not regret for a moment ending up with the Canon 5D MkI.
It would be a shame to see you pass on the 5D because of the OOC B/W, since I think that's an extremely short sighted approach to digital B/W. (again, personal observation)
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gavinlg
Veteran
5d iso400
5d iso1600
5d iso400
I love my 5d, and once you learn how to post process well you can get really good black and white results with it. As has been said, it's better to shoot RAW and then convert to black and white later, rather than shooting in BW straight out of the camera - just more control for the photographer. All above were taken with the 35mm 1.4L. Note the iso1600 one - you can work up to 3200 and even push a stop further (6400) without any worries.
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gavinlg
Veteran
By the way - my basic B&W workflow is to tweak the tone curve for more contrast, sharpen (a lot) and just do some minor selective dodging and burning - about the same as a film print workflow. No noise reduction as even at 1600-3200iso the noise is tight and grainy, and adds to the feel of sharpness/texture in the print. I actually like it. Sometimes I even add grain to get more perceived sharpness/grit.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
I use Exposure 2 for B&W conversion with my 5D's and 5DII's. The 5D is a great bargain in digital cameras now. It hit a real "sweet spot" in digital evolution. You'll enjoy it.
user237428934
User deletion pending
Don't use the in-camera-conversion. I think the Jpg-engine especially of a Canon camera is a weak point. When you shoot RAW you have a lot of options for conversion. You can buy a plug in for photoshop or photoshop elements like silver efex pro (nik software) or exposure (alien skin). But even the built in "convert to b/w" function of photoshop/elements gives good result and has some options to play with.
martin s
Well-known
Check out Todd Heislers One in 8 Million essays, they're shot with a 5d in b/w-mode, so not even converted in some difficult way.
martin
martin
user237428934
User deletion pending
Wow. Great photos. But where did you read about the camera and settings?
martin s
Well-known
gavinlg
Veteran
Just want to add this too, from that same page of interviews with Todd Heisler:
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martin.mintal
Member
Re:
Re:
There is no such thing as "Canon 5D Black and White quality" (I am not trying to be rude here
)
I mean, you should shoot in colour and then use software like NikSoftware SilverEfex Pro or AlienSkin Exposure 2, where you can
a.) Convert your files to B/W
b.) Use the various film simulating templates and adjust them how you like
Why you should shoot in colour ? Because - if you shoot in colour, then you can use the various farb filters - in Photoshop, you can even select for example the sky and selectively apply an orange filter (for dramatic skies).
What I wanted to say: Canon 5D is an amazing camera and there are 1000 possibilities how you can adjust your files. The camera is usable up to ISO 1600, in B/W even up to ISO 3200 (depending on the image/print size).
Should you have any other questions (reg. the software), really feel free to ask me:
mag.martin.mintal@gmail.com
This is an ISO 3200 file:
Re:
There is no such thing as "Canon 5D Black and White quality" (I am not trying to be rude here
)I mean, you should shoot in colour and then use software like NikSoftware SilverEfex Pro or AlienSkin Exposure 2, where you can
a.) Convert your files to B/W
b.) Use the various film simulating templates and adjust them how you like
Why you should shoot in colour ? Because - if you shoot in colour, then you can use the various farb filters - in Photoshop, you can even select for example the sky and selectively apply an orange filter (for dramatic skies).
What I wanted to say: Canon 5D is an amazing camera and there are 1000 possibilities how you can adjust your files. The camera is usable up to ISO 1600, in B/W even up to ISO 3200 (depending on the image/print size).
Should you have any other questions (reg. the software), really feel free to ask me:
mag.martin.mintal@gmail.com
This is an ISO 3200 file:
Mcary
Well-known
With the except of the 4th images which was taken at ISO 1250 these were all shot at 1600 or 3200
http://www.mcaryphoto.net/5DHighISO/index.html
Note work safe.
Work flow is fairly simple and strait forward and all done in Lightroom 2.something
http://www.mcaryphoto.net/5DHighISO/index.html
Note work safe.
Work flow is fairly simple and strait forward and all done in Lightroom 2.something
- Convert to Grayscale, and adjust WB as desired
- Adjust white and black clipping as needed
- Adjust Tone Curve
- Tweak Grayscale mixer (as needed)
- Tweak Sharpening as (needed)
- Apply Clarity as need/desired.
martin s
Well-known
Another thought; If I'd convert to black and white later in software rather than in camera I'd use the Black and White Adjustment layer Photoshop offers. It's a brilliant way to tweak separate color channels.
Also check out Chris Orwigs Lightroom Tutorial on Black and White conversion, it's worth watching his Lynda.com-Videos, too, by the way. You don't have to like him or his photography, but his teaching style and what he teaches I think is quite interesting.
martin
Also check out Chris Orwigs Lightroom Tutorial on Black and White conversion, it's worth watching his Lynda.com-Videos, too, by the way. You don't have to like him or his photography, but his teaching style and what he teaches I think is quite interesting.
martin
gavinlg
Veteran
You can also do that in lightroom, because when you ask it to "convert to black and white" it doesn't actually do it to the real file, just a preview - so when you then make color channel adjustments it still adjusts them as if it was a color file, but with a BW layer on it.
Jason808
Established
When I had a Canon, I rather enjoyed the results I was getting out of the in-camera B&W Jpegs. The Nikons...not so much.
But, I would agree with others and shoot color. You are then in control of the conversion. If you just have to have a B&W shot on the back of the camera, shoot RAW+JPEG and set the camera into b&w mode. Your JPEGs will be black and white, while your RAW stays in color. At least that's what it was for my XT
But, I would agree with others and shoot color. You are then in control of the conversion. If you just have to have a B&W shot on the back of the camera, shoot RAW+JPEG and set the camera into b&w mode. Your JPEGs will be black and white, while your RAW stays in color. At least that's what it was for my XT