Possibility of converting a M8 to a B&W camera.

It is perfectly possible to remove the Bayer filter from the sensor since it is only printed on during manufacture; I have seen this done, although it is quite easy to damage the sensor surface once you start attacking it with solvents.

The problem is the de-Bayering process (which does indeed cause softening as it interpolates the missing colours in each of the pixels) since you would need to bypass this in the firmware somehow.

Maybe Leica could offer this as an option, though I can't for the life of me see why it would be a good idea...just try an MP and some B&W film!
 
I would like to second leaving it color and getting a copy of nik silver efex pro. the advantage there is that silver efex pro has a really fantastic colored filter simulator. I can produce black and whites that look darkroom quality with that software. It is absolutely brilliant.
 
There was somebody, a long time ago, who gutted a film Leica and installed a full frame B&W sensor on it. It was called the "M2ad" project, by a guy named Huw. He got far away on the project but suddenly vanished.

The idea pops up again every now and then, but the whole thing seems too expensive and time consuming to be done on a part-time basis. Pity, really, as an M9 18MP sensor without a Bayer array would certainly give medium format a run for its money.
 
I've read that some have experimentalist have removed the cover glass of CCD's and bleached out the Mosaic Filter using Acetone. The Kodak cover glass is cemented in place, and is not removable. Some kodak CCD's are available in monochrome and with removable cover glass. the array used in the M8 is not one of these.

the KAF-1600 was available in monochrome, color, and monochrome-IR.

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Mine is monochrome-IR.
 
taxi38 said:
Its what has BEEN done to the sensor that compromises the image.
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So even if you were able to remove the bayer filter, you'd need a whole new custom firmware for the pictures taken to be anywhere near useful.

Wasn't PhaseOne making monochrome backs?
 
Al Kaplan said:
Shhhhh, Leica is going to be very upset now that you've given out the secret of the M-13, which has not only built in settings for a multitude of film and developer combos but also the typical grey scale rendition of prints by everybody from Bruce Davidson to Gene Smith to H.C.B., and the flare characteristics of a plethora of lenses. Supposedly new software will be brought out annually to include the styles of new photographers as well as some more obscure names out of the past. Leica is currently negotiating with Kodak to get the rights to their old slogan "You push the button, we do the rest".
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Dammm Al......now that`s funny! :D

Tom

ps: I`m going to order a copy of the Elmer Batters software.........;)
 
Question for the M8 users: the IR filters are not required for B&W imaging, right? Or does the increased IR sensitivity mess with tonality?
 
You could remove the sensor with the electronics and the battery and replace it with BW film. I bet it's doable. (It makes about as much sense, too.)
 
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