How to shoot B&W on K-5

LeroyPK · 01-15-2016, 08:43 PM

On my K-100d, shooting in B&W was as easy as picking the b&w filter and shooting. What am I missing in trying to find the same functionality on my K-5? Any suggestions?

**jatrax** · 01-15-2016, 09:16 PM

Right arrow into the color mode panel and select B&W. Better to shoot in RAW and convert in PP, but that's just me. YMMV.

LeroyPK · 01-15-2016, 09:25 PM

it's an exercise in seeing in b&w.

And thanks. That's exactly what I'm looking for.

**jatrax** · 01-15-2016, 09:29 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by LeroyPK

it's an exercise in seeing in b&w.

Works for me.

I actually use my cell phone's camera with a B&W filter on it to 'look' at scene before shooting.

And I just realized you can have the B&W mode on and still shoot RAW. The thumbnail will show in B&W but the RAW data is the same and can be changed in PP.

foto guy · 01-16-2016, 04:58 AM

Originally posted by jatrax

And I just realized you can have the B&W mode on and still shoot RAW. The thumbnail will show in B&W but the RAW data is the same and can be changed in PP.

This is what I do all the time.

Bophoto · 01-16-2016, 09:43 AM

If you use Pentax digital utility, you have the RAW in B&W there.

**jatrax** · 01-16-2016, 02:36 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by foto guy

This is what I do all the time.

Funny how you can use a camera for years and still learn something new................

Originally posted by Bophoto

If you use Pentax digital utility, you have the RAW in B&W there.

Good point as well. When I loaded my test photo into Lightroom of course the B&W thumbnail went away, replaced by the Lightroom one which is in color. I usually do B&W in SilverFX but having the B&W mode on in the camera is kinda cool.

cats_five · 01-21-2016, 01:27 PM

There are so many ways to convert colour to b&w, and sometimes the outcome varies greatly. This link is for gimp but Photoshop of course has all of these as well. Once you take layers into account so you can convert different parts of an images in different ways the options are almost limitless. https://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Color2BW/

**fs999** · 01-22-2016, 06:33 AM

I would shoot in colour, and make it b&w in post production, where you can do all the stuff you want...

**wizofoz** · 01-22-2016, 06:38 AM

or shoot in raw + and have both the raw and the B&W Jpeg

Ron63 · 03-09-2016, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by jatrax

Works for me.

I actually use my cell phone's camera with a B&W filter on it to 'look' at scene before shooting.

And I just realized you can have the B&W mode on and still shoot RAW. The thumbnail will show in B&W but the RAW data is the same and can be changed in PP.

I had no idea this was possible, thank you for that!

Bengan · 03-09-2016, 02:03 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

Funny how you can use a camera for years and still learn something new................

When that stops it's time to look for something new to do...

**jatrax** · 03-09-2016, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by Bengan

When that stops it's time to look for something new to do...

You got that right! But I think I have a long way to go before I need to worry................

**Riggomatic** · 03-09-2016, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

Right arrow into the color mode panel and select B&W. Better to shoot in RAW and convert in PP, but that's just me. YMMV.

Thanks! Another thing to try tonight.

01-15-2016, 08:43 PM	#1
LeroyPK Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Racine, WI, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 76	How to shoot B&W on K-5 On my K-100d, shooting in B&W was as easy as picking the b&w filter and shooting. What am I missing in trying to find the same functionality on my K-5? Any suggestions?

01-15-2016, 09:25 PM	#3
LeroyPK Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Racine, WI, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 76 Original Poster	I agree but... it's an exercise in seeing in b&w. And thanks. That's exactly what I'm looking for. Last edited by LeroyPK; 01-15-2016 at 09:32 PM. Reason: forgot to say thank you

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01-15-2016, 09:16 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Right arrow into the color mode panel and select B&W. Better to shoot in RAW and convert in PP, but that's just me. YMMV.

01-15-2016, 09:29 PM - 1 Like	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by LeroyPK it's an exercise in seeing in b&w. Works for me. I actually use my cell phone's camera with a B&W filter on it to 'look' at scene before shooting. And I just realized you can have the B&W mode on and still shoot RAW. The thumbnail will show in B&W but the RAW data is the same and can be changed in PP.

01-16-2016, 04:58 AM	#5
foto guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vernon, Connecticut Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 292	Originally posted by jatrax And I just realized you can have the B&W mode on and still shoot RAW. The thumbnail will show in B&W but the RAW data is the same and can be changed in PP. This is what I do all the time.

01-16-2016, 09:43 AM	#6
Bophoto Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 429	If you use Pentax digital utility, you have the RAW in B&W there.

01-16-2016, 02:36 PM - 1 Like	#7
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by foto guy This is what I do all the time. Funny how you can use a camera for years and still learn something new................ Originally posted by Bophoto If you use Pentax digital utility, you have the RAW in B&W there. Good point as well. When I loaded my test photo into Lightroom of course the B&W thumbnail went away, replaced by the Lightroom one which is in color. I usually do B&W in SilverFX but having the B&W mode on in the camera is kinda cool.

01-21-2016, 01:27 PM	#8
cats_five Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 835	There are so many ways to convert colour to b&w, and sometimes the outcome varies greatly. This link is for gimp but Photoshop of course has all of these as well. Once you take layers into account so you can convert different parts of an images in different ways the options are almost limitless. https://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Color2BW/

01-22-2016, 06:33 AM	#9
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,639	I would shoot in colour, and make it b&w in post production, where you can do all the stuff you want...

01-22-2016, 06:38 AM	#10
wizofoz Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Outer east. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,695	or shoot in raw + and have both the raw and the B&W Jpeg

03-09-2016, 11:49 AM	#11
Ron63 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 36	Originally posted by jatrax Works for me. I actually use my cell phone's camera with a B&W filter on it to 'look' at scene before shooting. And I just realized you can have the B&W mode on and still shoot RAW. The thumbnail will show in B&W but the RAW data is the same and can be changed in PP. I had no idea this was possible, thank you for that!

03-09-2016, 02:03 PM	#12
Bengan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,756	Originally posted by jatrax Funny how you can use a camera for years and still learn something new................ When that stops it's time to look for something new to do...

03-09-2016, 03:35 PM	#13
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by Bengan When that stops it's time to look for something new to do... You got that right! But I think I have a long way to go before I need to worry................

03-09-2016, 03:43 PM	#14
Riggomatic Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Auburn, Indiana Photos: Albums Posts: 3,886	Originally posted by jatrax Right arrow into the color mode panel and select B&W. Better to shoot in RAW and convert in PP, but that's just me. YMMV. Thanks! Another thing to try tonight.