B&W with DLux5 in RAW and JPEG

[Lucklik]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

In digital I always shoot RAW

For B&W I used to use analog.

Now I'm trying to get good (even better) B&W result with digital.

I like the B&W setting on the DLUX5, because I can see and check my pictures in B&W on the screen, but I'm puzzled about developing the RAW images.

When I open the RAW they are yellow and it is often very hard to get even the same result as the camera B&W jpeg.

 

Can somebody enlighten me?

Is there any advantage in shooting B&W RAW over normal color RAW?

[jaapv]

B&W raw does not exist (except the Monochrom) Could you please elaborate a bit? What post processing software are you using? What camera settings? Are you sure you are opening the raw file and not the jpg?

[Jeff S]

Black and white mode applies only to JPEG, not RAW. If the RAW pic (which is color) has a yellow tinge, could that just be the lighting, i.e., tungsten or mixed lighting? Even so, this can be adjusted in post (e.g., with Lightroom or other software) when converting to B&W to closely approximate the JPEG, if that's your intent.

 

The reason to shoot RAW in the first place is to preserve as much info in the file as possible, including color info, and therefore to give you the most latitude and flexibility in post. It also allows for different conversions down the road.

 

I can't recall if the DLux (I sold a DLux 4 after a brief time) allows you to shoot B/W JPEG simultaneously with RAW so that the LCD shows the B/W image. Some people prefer cameras with this capability in order to maintain a b/w experience throughout the shooting and processing experience. If the RAW image is also captured, then you have the choice (including the color option).

 

Jeff

[xalo]

Jeff said most of it and in my use also the D-Lux 5 saves a colour RAW file with the b&w JPEG that's displayed on the screen.

 

I'm most of the time not overly happy with the in-camera b&w jpegs (even "dynamic" apperas flat) and tweak them in Lightroom 3 or Photoshop - they can be astonishingly flexible, but then, I am not going for poster prints...

 

Sometimes I go back to the RAW file for adjustment in LR3. The RAW's colour balance should be of no importance. Depending on you conversion technique, you can desaturate, mix channels, change to lab colours and discard all but the alpha-channel (also works with jpegs)... Especially at higher iso (in the DL5 >250... ) you can often recuperate in the RAWS nuances and details in highlights and shadows that are not recorded in the jpeg.

 

Alexander