mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Color can actually be a distraction because it tends to draw your eye and attention over other aspects. Monochrome is more about line, shape, texture, tone, mood and last but not least, contrast. It can evoke a different reaction to your images without the distraction of color. This is not to say shooting in color is a negative, it certainly isn't. It's that shooting in monochrome allows viewers to see intensity in your photos in a way that is different from when colors are present. Not every color photograph will look good in black and white.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Shoot color. Forget about B&W since many cameras (if not all of them) create the B&W image from your raw capture. To my knowledge there is no B&W raw image, unless you are limiting bandwidth like when you shoot infrared.

Here are 7 methods that you can explore to make the conversion -

https://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/7-black-and-white-photoshop-conversion-techniques--photo-488

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

But if you want a final result in monochrome, you are still better off shooting RAW in color and converting it to monochrome, which gives you more control over how the colors translate into monochrome tones.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

First I was talking about monochrome in general terms, not about camera settings. Most people who shoot monochrome regularly, myself included, probably shoot raw and convert to monochrome in post. Most post processors will open a raw file in color anyway so that's where the conversion needs to be done.

However, some people who shoot raw will use their camera's monochrome setting and increase the contrast and sharpness a bit to get a sense on their camera's LCD of how the composition will look in B&W while still on the shoot. It will still be in full color when it gets to your post processing program.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

That reply answered the OP's question much better than the one I replied to.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Someone has probably mentioned this, but shoot in color and then process for B&W. There are many excellent processing programs available for B&W.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

As a "Shades of Gray" sort of photographer.... When capturing photographs with a digital camera I operate the camera in the RAW format and Color (Adobe RGB).

I want ALL of the spectrum that the camera can give me, based on my setting of the camera I choose to make use of. Convert to Shades of Gray later on in Post-Edits.

-0-

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Take a look at this web site and other sites of Arthur's - he has had a spread in B&W Photography and has given a number of talks concerning B&W

https://lvphotographyclub.org/arthur-ransome-discover-yourself-through-photography-15-2016-speaker/

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

You might want to look through all these books about B&W photography
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=B%26W+photography

ELNikkor

Used to be I shot color with my FE2 and black & white with my FM2 and XA. Now, with a D5100, I shoot all color, and take away the color in post, if I think it will make a better image. If I shoot in monochrome, no way I can get the color back if I want it.

J2e Loc: Canandaigua, NY

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Bob, my preference has always been black and white. It's only the last few years that I've entered the realm of color. It's not just an easy desaturate that will produce a good black and white photograph. It will take a lot of attention to exposure and processing. There are various ways to render a digital color capture to black and white. Explore them and discover which produces the best for you. Even more important, and this goes for color as well, meticulous metering of the scene. Couple that with good composition and you're well on your way.
--Bob

Booker

I shoot a lot of B&W and, based on advice from many accomplished photographers, I ALWAYS shoot in color with conversion in post processing. If you have an Epson printer, I recommend Epson Fibre Paper. It gives great B&W reproduction. When I see a scene, 90% of the time, I know in advance if it will end up a B&W. just comes from experience. But, if I'm wrong, I have the shot in color. B&W emphasizes composition, lighting, and subject without the distraction of color.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

As per many here, shoot RAW and convert. Every processing program I've used or looked at had the ability to use filters so as to obtain a particular black and white effect. Using filters and adjusting curves, contrast, polarizing (if available on your program) will allow a range of effects in black and white. The ability to use masks to selectively deepen a shadow or bring up the light is another advantage. Were I restricted to one form of photography for an entire year it would be black and white rather than color. Periodically I go out with the intention that everything I shoot will be converted to black and white. Other times I see a shot and know it is meant to be black and white. There is a different feel to the act of shooting itself. The ability to convert on the computer is a great gift of the computer gremlins. Black and white night photography is an interesting experience. Given the color casts of some of the light sources on a city street today, black and white is easier in some ways.

About ten years ago I picked up a photography magazine--hard copy remember that?--in the Charlotte airport. One of the cover articles was about black and white conversion. The author advised shooting RAW in color and converting rather than using the monochrome setting in the camera. Good advice. One of my favorite shots from last year was a simple one of empty water glasses on the table of an outdoor cafe. The color and the processed conversion have different feels. One is not better than the other but the "story" is different.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Shoot in color!!! Then when you get into your editor you can control your midtones by adjusting each color slider. I think you have much less versatility shooting monochrome. You may want both!!!

Just about every photo I take I click on B&W while editing to get an idea. I have done fall scenes with leaves in full color that look as good in B&W as color. No need to eliminate the color!!!