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General discussion

Is Such a Digital Camera Available?

Jul 2, 2005 6:57AM PDT

I need a digital camera that can take monochrome photographs - I have a need to photograph line drawings that are unable to be scanned due to their extremely fragile nature and the fact that they are sometimes bound in volumes - Gray-scale or color is minimally acceptable but if some digital camera has a monochrome setting it would be ideal - Price is not really an object, within reason - Reason being perhaps up to $3,000 - HELP!!

Discussion is locked

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While I think Kodak has some ...
Jul 2, 2005 8:09AM PDT

Industrial or speciality cameras that do hi-res B/W, they are in the 5 and 5 figure range and only of interest to researchers or specialists. You have to call them to see more about such.

However, without much work I can take any camera image and with a few clicks turn it into black and white.

With such a budget you can look to very high pixel counts and nice lenses.

Bob

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Would be interested in your method
Jul 3, 2005 2:17AM PDT

Sugestions on turning the images into B&W would be appreciated - (not interested in Gray-scale) - The several photo-editing software packages I have tried don't seem to do a good job - Your suggestions would be appreciated - Thanks -

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Converting to black and white
Jul 3, 2005 12:08PM PDT

You can always convert a gray scale image to a pure black and white image in Adodobe Photoshop and other photo-editing programs. Change the image from gray scale to BITMAP at 500DPI. You can also leave it as a halftone (Gray Scale) and adjust the levels in black and white.
You may want to post or go to the Graphics Forum. They deal with this issue all the time. I go to the Graphics Forum daily. Meet up with you there. Hope this helps.

Kevin

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You could look at the Minolta Dimage X20
Jul 2, 2005 8:53AM PDT

but it probably isn't what you want.

Mine has a Toning selection on the menu with the Options:

Color
Black and White
Sepia
Mono R (Red)
Mono G (Green)
Mono B (Blue)

Why anyone would use the last four is beyond me.

I have used Black and White when I am in the local library and want to copy interesting newspaper or magazine articles.

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The Canon 20D can take Monochrome (B&W) pictures.
Jul 2, 2005 3:14PM PDT

Some of the other Canons probably do also. The 20D falls nicely within your budget even with a good lense.

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Monochrome
Jul 3, 2005 12:42PM PDT

Kiddpeat, This poster is looking at high-end studio camers.

Kevin

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(NT) (NT) For less than $3,000?
Jul 3, 2005 2:10PM PDT
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Digital Camera Available
Jul 3, 2005 12:38PM PDT

Yes there are studio 4x5 digital cameras that exist. The camera is set up to your computer and can be edited for gray scale and black and white or whatever with Adobe Photoshop.
Five years ago I worked with a graphics group that a photo studio with a set-up like that. I really think that the camera will cost about more than your estimate of $3,000. Look at $5-6 thousand. Sorry that I cannot direct you to a link or a website. Try Google.com
Some nice digital cameras out there for high-end studio work. The camera and lens is only part of it, the computer runs it on a software program. (Not Industrial Light and Magic.) Just Adobe Photoshop on your computer with PC or Mac. Adobe PhotoshopCS software costs $599 presently. Add a Mac or PC computer plus add-ons, studio equipment still under $10K.
Good luck.

Kevin

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Thanks for the assistance
Jul 3, 2005 11:09PM PDT

Many thanks for the assistance and suggestions - It seems pretty obvious that my "guestimate" of $3,000 may be a little (or a lot) low - Might have to raise the bar to the $6,000 to $10,000 area - In a previous life I did a lot of 4x5 and high-speed motion picture industrial photography but that was WAY before computers - If anyone knows sources for 4x5 digital camera backs, they would be appreciated - Wonder if those things every show up on the used market? - At any rate, thanks again for the suggestions and for pointing me in the right direction -

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Assistance
Jul 4, 2005 2:17PM PDT

I would love to photograph art as you do.
Good luck in your career. Your post was excellent.

Kevin

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Take a look at Panasonic
Jul 4, 2005 1:33AM PDT

I sell cameras, The best camera with high Optical Zoom, And the functions you are talking about is a Panasonic. There are a number of models. The larger camera, with the 10X Optical zoom is really a unique camera. Something to check out.