dkeysser Loc: Minneapolis

I believe that is part of the equation. Then there is some advantage to removing the color filter arrays that also contributes to clearer high-ISO files. I have seen many comparisons between monochrom and color cameras at normal lighting conditions, and the differences are subtle. Apparently the differences in low-light situations are more apparent, which is one reason why it is the street photographers who are buying the Leico monochroms, despite the cost. I don't know who else makes a monochrom camera, other than conversion jobs.

gwilliams6

Yes I have no side by side with a B&W only camera. But is it worth the cost to the OP to disassemble his Sony A7C, or spend $7000 to $10,000 USD for a Leica Monochrome camera. It really is splitting hairs unless you have the money to burn. Feel free to post any such side by side comparisons any of you find. I also will look for any to show.

Oh quickly found one: there are subtle differences, more apparent at very high ISOs (25,000 ISO) . But the reviewer does say the subtle differences between monochrome camera and full color camera B&W conversion (both cameras Leica) can be largely cancelled out with post processing. What is your take from this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLPG1bvfZ6o

Cheers and best to you.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I had one converted using MonochromeImaging.com and just love using a mono camera. And there are advantages. I had it have full spectrum IR capability too. And I just love how it responds to using colored filters. And with narrow band filters, even mediocre lenses come out sharp with no CA since there is no problem with different wavelengths of light going through the lens at the same time.

If one were to use a narrow band filter on a camera with a Bayer Matrix, such as red, only 25% of the pixels would see light. This makes the camera very capable for astro imaging with the mono filter.

Here is a sample taken using a 720nm filter.

And another taken at 360mm FL using a 650nm filter of the comet Neowise in June 2020.

No way am I sorry I had the camera converted. I love using it!

(Download)


(Download)

gwilliams6

Very nice images . Did you convert your only camera? or was it a spare body. I was thinking the OP was thinking of converting an only camera.

Hey whatever works for you and be happy. I appreciate fine art photography and astrophotography, I do both and teach both as a Professor of Photographer at a state university.

Cheers and best to you.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

It was a spare camera. I still have a couple other Sony's that are non-modified.

I find the mono camera so much fun, and love using with my old Takumars and Rokkors along with filters.

gwilliams6

Enjoy.

I have owned Sony A6500, A7RII, A7RIII, A7III, A9, and currently own A7RIV, A1, A7SIII. For many years of my decades as a photojournalist, I lived and shot in a B&W world, as that was all we printed in my newspaper. Color was for my magazine and client freelance work.

Covering the war in Nicaragua back in my film days, I worked with one camera loaded with B&W film and usually a yellow filter over the lens, and another camera loaded with color transparency film.

Then we went to color presses in my newspaper when digital came in. We photographers fought over doing those front page images and lead section page images that were printed in color, shooting everything in color and then converting most images into B&W for the inside jump pages on most stories. Always shot color for my magazine work and that was a treat, and a lighting and color balance challenge.

Now as a fulltime freelancer, and a Professor of Photography, and photo mentor, I teach courses in Photojournalism, Digital Photography and 35mm B&W film photography. I will always love B&W photography, but now as a freelancer paying for all my own gear, I still cant bring myself to convert one of my digital bodies to B&W. I will either use my old Canon F1 SLR and shoot B&W film or I will convert an appropriate color digital image to B&W.

Can you tell which is which?

Spoiler, the last shot is neither, LOL

Cheers and best to you all.

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Thanks for pointing out these threads. The second one clarifies some of the differences where I compared the results from a Sony A7 II (24MP) converted to monochrome to a Nikon Z7 (47.7MP) that still has the Bayer array.

The comparison makes it clear that the resolution lost during demosaicing brings the Z7 down to the level of the A7 II when it comes to clarity and sharpness.

If I had started with an A7R IV (61MP) and removed the Bayer array there would have been a significant increase in quality. But the camera's resolution would exceed the resolution of the best prime lenses to the point that you might not be able to see the results unless you enlarged a cropped portion of the image.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

Some lovely images, for sure, and quite the CV - but as a professor I am sure you know that viewing these (or any) images on relatively crappy display devices like the random monitors and screens used by anyone looking at a website pales in comparison to seeing final printed output - so critical determinations made while seeing how they look on monitors is nigh on impossible.

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

It is easy to do in post. So easy. You should try it. And you can do so much more to your B&W's in post than simply removing the color filter array from the sensor.

whfowle Loc: Tampa first, now Albuquerque

I recently watched some side by side tests made of the Leica Q2 and Q2 monochrome cameras. The conclusion was that the monochrome camera was able to capture images 1.5 stops higher ISO without showing noise. It is known that B&W noise is less apparent in an image than color noise so I surmise that the noise is there but is less visible. For those who want to maximize the picture quality of their B&W images, it would make sense to use the monochrome version. But at a greater cost and losing the ability to shoot color with the same camera. That decision should be left to the photographer. I applaud Leica for pioneering the monochrome cameras and now Ricoh Pentax. If it proves to be profitable to the companies, then we might see lower cost cameras in the future.

gwilliams6

New Monochrome camera from Pentax: K3 III

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ5LtayQrpo

The PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome camera body will be available late April at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets for the manufacturer's suggested retail price of $2,199.95.

Cheers

gwilliams6

Do what you want , either modify your cameras or buy a Leica or Pentax monochrome camera.

For me personally, the actual resolution differences aren't enough to warrant me destroying the color capabilities of one of my expensive Sony cameras. And I dont have high ISO noise issues, even with my 61mp A7RIV and 50mp A1 with programs now like Topaz Denoise AI and DXO Pure Raw.

Cheers and best to you all.

gwilliams6

I tend to agree with you here Bill.

gwilliams6

Thanks about the images and the CV.

Just working with the UHH image compression as best I can.

Cheers and best to you .

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

A good start but it's an APS-C sensor. A full frame sensor makes a big difference.