Can the Nikon D5100 emulate black-and-white film, and is Night Vision the right mode?
Asked 12/24/2011
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I’d like to experiment with black-and-white photography on a Nikon D5100. The camera has a Night Vision mode that produces grayscale images, but I’m not sure whether that is anything like black-and-white film. Is Night Vision suitable for this look, or is there a better in-camera way to shoot or preview black-and-white images that more closely resembles classic B&W photography?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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Your best options:
1) Shoot JPG, and use Monochrome picture control. In the picture control setup menu you can simulate filters (red, orange etc) and do toning. Based on your settings, The camera will do a B&W conversion when it creates the JPG. LCD preview will show in B&W. You will not retain a full color version of the image.
2) Shoot JPG in normal (color) mode. Use the retouch menu to do a basic B&W conversion, or apply sepia toning. This will create a new B&W version of your image, keeping the original color version, so you have both. The retouch menu doesn't have the depth of options that the picture control does.
3) Shoot RAW and use monochrome picture control. This has the advantage in camera that you can preview a basic B&W conversion in your LCD, but when you save the RAW file, it will retain all color information, so you can do a more controlled B&W conversion in post processing.
4) Shoot RAW + JPG, and use monochrome picture control. Best of both worlds. You get a B&W JPG, and the full color RAW should you choose to do B&W conversion in post processing (or you change your mind and want a color image)
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
14y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No—Night Vision is not the right mode for normal black-and-white photography. It’s mainly a very-high-ISO, low-light mode that records monochrome to reduce visible noise in extreme conditions. In regular light, it can just make images unnecessarily noisy.
For a black-and-white look on the D5100, use Picture Control set to Monochrome. That’s the camera’s proper in-camera B&W option, and it lets you adjust things like filter effects and toning for different looks.
Good options are:
- Shoot JPEG with Monochrome Picture Control if you want finished B&W files straight from the camera.
- Shoot color JPEG and use the Retouch menu to make a separate B&W version while keeping the original color file.
- Shoot RAW with Monochrome Picture Control if you want a B&W preview on the LCD but still keep the full color RAW data for later editing.
If you want the most flexibility and the closest control over a “film-like” result, RAW plus Monochrome preview is usually the best approach.
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