Black & White Photography Questions

[natalie8]

I have a Sony Handycam with 40 GB and 4 Megapixels. It doesn't seem to have a setting for B&W but it has something called Night Shot. When you use the night shot at night, the pic is B&W. If you use Night Shot during the day, it's just a blur of colours, like red and yellow.

I would like to take more B&W photos, but I don't know how to do it. Can I take them with this camera or do I need to convert colour photos to B&W with a photgraphy modifying program? I'm really new to this, so please be gentle.

For you photogs on this forum, what advice can you give me?

[Marmite the Dog]

Can I take them with this camera or do I need to convert colour photos to B&W with a photgraphy modifying program?

That would be the only way seeing as you've already stated that your 'camera' doesn't have a B&W setting.

what advice can you give me?

Buy a proper camera.

[natalie8]

Great tips there, Marmite. Anyone else with real ones?

[Marmite the Dog]

Anyone else with real ones?

They are real ones, or did you expect someone to wave a magic wand and get your 'camera' to do the impossible?

[Cujo]

Always remember, expose for the highlights, develop for the shadows.

[nidhogg]

is there a setting for "picture effects"? If so try "monotone"?

[Bobcock]

With cameras that take RAW you can take in B&W and do the reverse, Ii.e. change it to colour in Photoshop RAW

[natalie8]

Thanks for your replies. I have to go out now and I'll use your tips tomorrow.

[nidhogg]

RTFM. Page 84.

[natalie8]

I've gone through the on line manual, including pg 84, thanks nidhogg. You can choose B&W for film but not for photos. There's a menu for various effects for photos which I'll have to try out.

It looks like I'll need to edit the photos myself to convert them to B&W.

[friscofrankie]

It looks like I'll need to edit the photos myself to convert them to B&W.

Works for me. I can shoot in B&W but the raw file converter can't handle the transition.

[BrucefarmerFANG]

Leica Does all you ask . why not go there ?

[natalie8]

Thanks, Bruce. I'll check it out.