18 April

Converting the 7D Sensor To Monochrome

by Jon Katz
Converting To Monochrome
Converting To Monochrome

The photo above was sent to me today by Dan Llewellyn of maxmax, the firm that is converting my new Canon 7 D to monochrome. I couldn’t begin to tell you in detail what they did but the photos give a sense of the conversion. The camera is finished,  and is on the way to the farm, it will arrive tomorrow or Wednesday.

The photo above is of the camera sensor before it is converted, the image is from the Canon 7D we are using to create a monochrome black and white camera. Hopefully, this will do for $3,000 what the Leica Monochrome M does for $8,000 (plus lenses). Can’t wait to see.

The photo is of the camera sensor, the shot above shows the sensor made for a digital color camera. The monochrome sensor below is very different. “When you see it in the pictures,” says Dan, “there are 10 micron gold wires that connect between the sensor die and the perimeter gold rectangular bonding pads. Once the sensor coverglass is off, if you touch one of these wires, they break easily, usually ruining the sensor.”

The photo below shows the sensor all sealed up.

Monochrome
Monochrome sensor now

I don’t have the language to describe this conversion process – maxmax is the only company I know of anywhere that does it – but I believe Dan has removed the color microns that block the detail I am seeking for black and white. You actually get a feel for the difference just by looking at the two images.

I think Dan is a genius, and since I am not, I will not try further to explain what he does, I’ll just make a fool out of myself, but I think I got it when he explained it to me on the phone – he takes the color microns out of the camera sensor. I did want to share the photos of the sensors with you, they are the heart of my new sensor. As I learn about this, I will do my  best to explain it to you. I am grateful for the support of my work. I have a lot to learn. Thanks for sharing this experience with me and helping to make it possible.

I gulp a bit when I think of this leap, it is so important to me to keep learning, keep challenging myself and keep growing. I will share it.

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