I also heard this rumour a few days ago, although it remains to be seen whether it actually comes to fruition. Samsung has been struggling to make its mark in the photography world, although the recently announced NX1 might change that. A mono only camera will always be niche, but perhaps Samsung might be thinking that such a product at an attractive price would introduce serious photographers to the rest of the range? Apart from the aforementioned Leica Monochrom, Phase One also makes mono backs which are even more expensive, but to date an affordable option does not exist.
The question most people will have to decide for themselves is whether they wish to make the decision about colour or mono at the point of capture. There are some photographers I know who work exclusively in black and white, so for them the answer is straightforward. For others, it could mean either carrying two cameras or concluding that mono derived from a standard RGB sensor is good enough. There are some excellent tools such as Silver Efex Pro which yield very good results which most people will not be able to distinguish from a shot taken either on film or a digital sensor modified only to record luminance values. The software solution has the definite advantages of being more adaptable and cheaper than a dedicated camera. As Rose has said, those wanting the digital black and white experience can set their cameras to show the result in mono on the rear LCD, which can also aid the challenge of visualising a scene without colour. Provided a Raw file is recorded at the time, it leaves the option open of whether the final image will be in colour or not, which I suspect is the way most people actually work.
One thing worth noting is that with a digital mono only camera, the use of coloured filters to control tone and contrast at the time of taking again becomes necessary. Only those who either already have the necessary experience with film or are prepared to give the time and dedication required to learn how to use such a specialist camera will get the best from it. While the idea has appeal, I do not believe that it is an easy course for those seeking the instantaneous gratification that is so prevalent in our modern world.
The topic has been covered at The Online Photographer where the usual cvilised debate has taken place. Although there are no featured comments, Mike Johnston who runs the site has indicated that Stan Roger's comment best reflects his own views.
http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.co ... g-man.html
