Consider yourself welcome. I am glad you saw humor in my last reply. It was not meant to be insulting or anything like that.

As a new member here, you won't know this but a year ago on here, you'd have been ignored by the "Anyone other than experienced professionals are a waste of time" crew (actually, looking back at WHO posted replies, you were). You might have been deeply insulted by the "Full Frame or die" brigade (and that is coming from a paid up member of the "CX is junk" mob - LOL) but they all seem to have kept away from your question, probably because a DX body would imply they are somehow poor (the usual excuse is "I'm saving up for my $6000 camera so can't offer help") and that coming from someone who has used a D3 on and off for a few years now.

Whatever, enjoy your camera. The sensor is outstanding and considering the ever upward march of prices, the D5100 certainly is a bargain.

bjrichus said:
Then don't use that mode when you are shooting, B&W is indeed not available all the time in camera. Look at the manual again, page 91...

Or you can make a copy of a color shot using the in camera Retouch/Copy stuff or with the older D5000, you could use the Playback Menu > Retouch option > Monochrome > Black and White setting.

Or as andrewz suggests, just shoot using the best (more normal) color mode for the shot and once you download to your computer, convert it to B&W there. You will get much more control over the results that way too.

Or go to WallMart with your memory card do it all in the instant print kiosks using big colorful buttons to press on the screen (no manual needed) and you can get B&W prints from them too. By the way, those instant printing kiosks only use JPG files, so don't bother shooting RAW (remember to convert a RAW file to a JPG file in camera if that is what you are doing now).

Or if all this seems too complicated, buy a couple of D5100 books. the Field Guide series is good as are several others (it's all personal preference). Practice and expect to shoot several hundred (several thousand?) shots before it becomes easy, and you don't need to print any of them, the delete button is your friend when learning and its often the most used button by the pros too (even if some won't admit it - LOL)...

Or if all that is still too much, you might want to sell your D5100 and buy a Coolpix for what you'll get for it. I'll give you $250 for the D5100 body and pay the shipping to me, as the basic and simple to use consumer guide modes in the Coolpix cameras makes it really easy.

the sarcasm in this post is overwhelming, thank you for your "help"

to everyone else i give my thanks genuinely

If I were you I'd shoot in colour because then I could convert an image to B&W in Photoshop and would have more control over tones etc.

From another forum:

"First: Shoot RAW. You can set the camera to monochrome and then see the image in monochrome on the LCD. But shoot in RAW to retain the color information.

Second: By retaining the color information, in Photoshop you can alter the spectrum relationship the same way you would by using color filters over the camera with BW film...but with much greater flexibility."

hammers71 said:
i have tried this and i get a message on the screen "this option is not available at current settings or in the cameras current state"

Then don't use that mode when you are shooting, B&W is indeed not available all the time in camera. Look at the manual again, page 91...

Or you can make a copy of a color shot using the in camera Retouch/Copy stuff or with the older D5000, you could use the Playback Menu > Retouch option > Monochrome > Black and White setting.

Or as andrewz suggests, just shoot using the best (more normal) color mode for the shot and once you download to your computer, convert it to B&W there. You will get much more control over the results that way too.

Or go to WallMart with your memory card do it all in the instant print kiosks using big colorful buttons to press on the screen (no manual needed) and you can get B&W prints from them too. By the way, those instant printing kiosks only use JPG files, so don't bother shooting RAW (remember to convert a RAW file to a JPG file in camera if that is what you are doing now).

Or if all this seems too complicated, buy a couple of D5100 books. the Field Guide series is good as are several others (it's all personal preference). Practice and expect to shoot several hundred (several thousand?) shots before it becomes easy, and you don't need to print any of them, the delete button is your friend when learning and its often the most used button by the pros too (even if some won't admit it - LOL)...

Or if all that is still too much, you might want to sell your D5100 and buy a Coolpix for what you'll get for it. I'll give you $250 for the D5100 body and pay the shipping to me, as the basic and simple to use consumer guide modes in the Coolpix cameras makes it really easy.

Why? I use Photoshop to convert to B&W.

i have tried this and i get a message on the screen "this option is not available at current settings or in the cameras current state"

Try looking at the user manual... Page 179 (its online at the support section of the nikonusa web site if you can't find the CD that came in the box).

This is probably the easiest way to SHOW it to you (as I don't have a 5100 to hand myself):

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d5100/features02.htm

Does it help?

Sorry but i cannot find it anywhere, maybe i cant see the forest for the trees, but how do i put my D5100 in to Black & White mode????

Thank you