BW color filter use with Q3 in BW mode?

[Denebola]

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I've read that filters for BW used on a color sensor (but with the camera set up to shoot in monochrome) have no effect.

I have an old Cokin orange filter, so I tried to mount it on the Q3 in BW and BWHC. It does not have a so great effect (of course red would be much more intense, specifically against sky, which is what interest me), but it is noticeable anyway.

Yes I know that a good option is to convert a color image to BW in post-production (with the flexibility of giving different gray intensity for the different colors), but to me it seems that the BW images obtained directly in camera are anyway a bit better that what may be done in post-production (maybe I'm not so good in this phase? 😂)

The question is: what is your experience with color filters conceived for BW use with the Q3 set in monochrome? (especially red filter)
Anyone take pictures with such configuration?

Den

[Le Chef]

You’re better off shooting RAW and doing the conversion in Lightroom and then adjusting to suit.

[Driften]

Red dot forum did some tests on one of their YouTube episodes of colored filters on a color sensor and found in B&W mode they really didn't work. If you want the effect of a red filter as seen on a monochrome sensor or B&W film you need to shoot raw and edit the DNG in Lightroom/etc like Le Chef said.

[jaapv]

A definite no-no. On a colour digital camera a colour filter will degrade the image quality and increase noise. Stick with raw and handle it in postprocessing. 

[ChrisQ3]

Yep, I echo the above! I have tried various (Green, Red, Orange and Yellow) filters on my Q3; while using the High Contrast Monochrome and the standard Monochrome options. The quality of the images for such a brilliant sensor were rather underwhelming!  I use CaptureOne now to crop and increase the saturation slightly, before sending them to Silver Efx to convert them.  (Adding some saturation appears to help Silver Efx extract additional detail from the Q3 files…

[BradS]

Have you tried a polarizing filter?  It will darken skies in certain situations, can also make colors look more natural, less washed out.

[ChrisQ3]

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2 hours ago, BradS said:

Have you tried a polarizing filter?  It will darken skies in certain situations, can also make colors look more natural, less washed out.

Thats an interesting or spooky suggestion, thank you! Today I went to my local camera shop looking for a polarising filter.  They didn’t have my size, will order one on Amazon. 
 

I know they can increase contrast which can benefit black and white; and help with glare etc etc. - But are there any downsides of using a polariser? Any types of light/tones restricted by using one? Thanks. C. 

[Anakronox]

Generally the only downside to using a polarizer is that it will end up blocking some light, typically up to a full stop, maybe 1.5 depending on the brand.

[Denebola]

Very interesting point of views. Looks like nobody would use B/W filter on a colour camera...

In general, of course, any filter has some optical negative effect on the image quality (but with good ones the amount is so low that it can be ignored), as well as limiting the amout of light transmitted (neglectable for filters like UV, but also 3 stops for a good red filter, just to say one)

Polarizers are of course a good choice to darken the sky, but they have less effect than a red filter (in B/W), need to be of very good quality when used for color pictures, because low-quality ones (over than optical issues) often are not color neutral (giving a colour casting to the picture), and, overall, their effect with the sky depend too by the azimut and elevation angle respect to the sun (there are angles where the effect of a polarizer is very little). This last is one of the reasons why I started use also the red  when shooting on film.

Den

Edited June 16, 2024 by Denebola