Computer designed lenses have ruined photography

[marcfs]

Take a look at the IQ that can be produced with Nik Silver Effex Pro.

15 trial available at this site:

http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/usa/entry.php

Marc

[Bob Atkins]

Yes, Silver FX Pro is worth a look.

Conversion to B&W isn't best done by a simple color to monochrome change. You really need to tweak the channel mixer, adjust curves and play around with local contrast levels. While it's possible to do most of this stuff in most image editors, the dedicated software is certainly faster and may do a better job if you're inexperienced.

The ideal solution would be a B&W DSLR which would have many advantages over a softfare conversion from color (e.g. to need for a Bayer color matricx over the filter, no need for Bayer deconvolution, better sensitivity, higher resolution etc.). The Kodak 760m was a B&W DSLR and gave great results from only 6MP, but there just wasn't a market for B&W DSLRs so none of the major players have ever developed one and Kodak dropped theirs back around 2002 (when I think it cost maybe $10,000). A used 760m today will bring $5000-$6000 if it's in good shape.

[KeithB]

Well, there is this:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/achromatic.shtml

But you could shoot a *lot* of film for what it costs!

[george]

KeithB. thank you !

That was a superb demo of BW digital !
I regularly use the PhaseOne software - Raw converter.
But my financial resources will not permit even thinking about OnOne digi backs....
I happen to know someone who invested on such gear. If I got it right, six months later his back was outdated...... They are now redesigning for less noise and soon, everything on the market will be outdated.
I will not mind spending money on an L series lens but that is as far as it goes. Lenses will keep their value (I hope)
After all I have never earned a penny with Photography, it's a hobby and I wouldn't know how to try to make a profit from out of it.

Cheers

G.

[klindup]

Hi Keith
Lovely image quality much better that I have seen elsewhere.  I take Bob's point about cost and demand for a B&W DSLR.  Another question for Bob.  You have a televue refractor telescope.  Have you tired CCD imaging using your telescope.  Whilst most of the cameras used are black and white and produce colour using multiple exposures through Red, Green and Blue filters some are colour cameras and I assume use similar techniques to DSLRs.  Have you heard of anyone playing around with using an astro ccd camera for conventional photography using conventional lenses?

ken