just a quick question to BW conversionists

[drevil]

Hi there,

when removing the CFA and turning a camera permanently into a black and white camera, do the RAWs look weird and is there some work to be done in post processing or are in theory the JPGs usable SOOC?

Thanks in advance

Best

Mirko

 

[tcdeveau]

No direct experience, so take this with a grain of salt, but my understanding is for best results you need to convert the file first with something like Monochrome2DNG:

Monochrome2DNG: the Missing Application for Сolor Сameras Сonverted to Black and White

The Monochrome2DNG utility is intended to streamline using cameras converted to monochrome and avoid artifacts and loss of resolution caused by (now, unnecessary) demosaicking which would otherwise be applied: It takes input files from cameras that have been converted to monochrome. It then...

www.fastrawviewer.com

I know that's not exactly an answer to your question so hopefully someone with actual experience can chime in.

 

[JoelM]

You don't have to do that, but it makes it easier for sure and is what I use. I don't know if anyone is doing a conversion for MF cameras though.
Joel

 

[Oren Grad]

1. Yes, you want to use a tool like Monochrome2DNG to avoid certain characteristic artifacts:

https://www.fastrawviewer.com/Monochrome2DNG#details

2. MaxMax offers monochrome conversions of the GFX 50R and GFX 50S. Not cheap.

 

[RobbieAB]

Having played with the darktable “passthru” demosaic option, my understanding is that it should work perfectly out the box for a monochrome camera, no other software needed.