MONOCHROME Pentax K-1

Sharpness is stunning

Medex wrote:

Rod Herdman wrote:

Medex, I've seen you previous equally fantastic BW shots from converted sensors. It's fascinating and the BW images are fantastic. Well done to you !

Personally I'd be too scared to attack a fully functioning decent camera in case i wrecked it. But - a monochrome K5II is something I would love . . .

Cheers,

Rod

I wrote DM to you.

Replied, thank you

The detail here is wonderful, but I am reluctant to give up the exposure adjustment capability for landscape work..........Larry

Pentax645 wrote:

The detail here is wonderful, but I am reluctant to give up the exposure adjustment capability for landscape work..........Larry

What exposure adjustment do you give up with a monochrome camera?

robgendreau wrote:

Pentax645 wrote:

The detail here is wonderful, but I am reluctant to give up the exposure adjustment capability for landscape work..........Larry

What exposure adjustment do you give up with a monochrome camera?

Not with the camera, but in PP the levels can be adjusted by color even though it's a monochrome image. Just like using filters with B&W film.

SMCTakumar wrote:

This is beautiful. I kind of wish to have a dedicated monochrome K-1 to use with Takumar lenses. Is the conversion technically challenging?

Sure, it is chalenging... and not cheap.

I am not sure it is worth extra money to use with old optical design lenses which have best resolution at f5,6-8. But this is just my opinion.

Krummj wrote:

Those look great. I've been loving my monochrome converted Z6. I paid this person $1200 to do it: https://monochromeimaging.com/ . He says it's for Sony conversions, but he's open to Sony sensor cameras. I know he has done Panasonic, Nikon and Sigma FP, not sure about Pentax. Seems quite competent.

I use the same conversion software.

Yes, I think as well he is very competent. I do not know what process he uses for conversions.

ogl wrote:

Sharpness is stunning

and it can be even better using sharpness sliders in editing software.

Medex wrote:

ogl wrote:

Sharpness is stunning

and it can be even better using sharpness sliders in editing software.

That's the benefit of having a cleaner original image, the sharpening software works better with it.

Pentax645 wrote:

robgendreau wrote:

Pentax645 wrote:

The detail here is wonderful, but I am reluctant to give up the exposure adjustment capability for landscape work..........Larry

What exposure adjustment do you give up with a monochrome camera?

Not with the camera, but in PP the levels can be adjusted by color even though it's a monochrome image. Just like using filters with B&W film.

This is something I'm reluctant to give up. I've just been working on a mono conversion where parts of the image want a red filter and parts want a yellow or none at all. I can make two layers in photoshop with different filters and blend them.  Without trying one I don't know how easy it is to see the effect of the filters you will need to use with a mono sensor. Temping as it is, I'll stay with the convenience, rather than take the extra detail - there is so much already in a K1 image.

Just curious does anyone, manufacturer, make a B/W sensor camera only?

Thanks, Tom W

TomWret wrote:

Just curious does anyone, manufacturer, make a B/W sensor camera only?

Thanks, Tom W

Leica (M9, M10 Monochrome, Q2 monochrome) and PhaseOne (100 and 150 mpix digital backs)

Thank you, Medex.

Tom W

Krummj wrote:

Of course, one of the nicest advantages to doing it with a K1 or another dslr is that you retain Phase Detect autofocus. I have to use contrast detect now, in pinpoint mode. It's accurate, but slower.

Monochrome conversion does not eliminate phase detection AF on Nikon Z6 sensor. 
I convert Ricoh GR III sensor which has PDAF and it works as should after conversion. This AF mode does not relate to color filter array, green filters above AF pixels are used just because pixels are most sensitive to green light if UV/IR-cut filter is used (as well as for normal sensor).

Thanks. Yes, I tweaked the on board B/W to work really well for my use, especially with sharp Tak lenses.

SMCTakumar wrote:

Thanks. Yes, I tweaked the on board B/W to work really well for my use, especially with sharp Tak lenses.

Is that where the phrase "sharp as a tak" comes from?

"Medex" performed the necessary surgery on a K-1 I purchased for this purpose.  I'm very happy with it.  If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me.  While you can..

Adam