Digital BW, The Print

Jerry,

Everyone determines their own particular price/feature scheme, but a
6 MP B&W camera using a dedicated B&W CCD would be superior to the
exact same camera with a 6MP Color CCD (RGB) used in grayscale mode.

On the color version only ¼ (1.5 MP) of the pixels gather Red
info, ¼ (1.5 MP) gather blue info, and ½ gather green info (3
MP).  This information is then interpolated into a file (often 6MP).  
This file is then converted into grayscale.  On a color CCD, the
individual CCD elements have filters, so this RGB behavior cannot be 
turned off.
 
So on a color CCD, even for a grayscale file; it starts out as an 
interpolated color file then is converted to grayscale.

A dedicated B&W camera is not handicapped with this interpolation 
scheme.  Each of the 6 million pixels gathers a dedicated (not 
interpolated) value for the grayscale value.  This results in a file 
of higher fidelity (than on a like camera with a color RGB sensor).

The dedicated B&W camera would most likely result in grayscale images 
that would hold up to larger prints (than a like technology camera 
with a color RGB CCD).

Now whither this upside would offset the additional cost and utility 
of a color version would be an individual decision, but I am sure 
there are some users that would rather enjoy the increased B&W 
fidelity of this camera over the increased usability or price point.

In the past, Kodak sold a 6MP B&W digicam with a Canon body (I dont 
remember the model #).  They closed these out about a year ago for 
$2500.  At the time I thought it was a grand bargain.  The closeout 
stock only lasted about two days.

Enjoy!     Lon
___________________________________
--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Jerry Olson 
<jerryolson@r...> wrote:
> Way too expensive. I would certainly want both color and black and 
white
> capabilities for that price.  And a Canon Body.
> 
> Jerry
> 
> Carl Schofield wrote:
> > 
> > New camera from Kodak, DCS 760M:
> > http://www.pdnonline.com/newprod/articles/article1404.html
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > 
> > 
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