DW199

My D7000 does exactly the same thing. I use the camera in Live View mode with back button focusing enabled.  I have a high contrast target to get accurate focus in low light.  The target is then ...

I think the colour is much better.  The face looks flat and lacks the contrast provided by the colours on the cheek in the B&W version.

If your objective was to create a portrait that was both realistic and flattering to the subject then I think that in the the first portrait you are standing too close.  This has caused the big ...