Best camera for black and white photography in 2024 (2024)

When looking for the best camera for black and white photography, you’ve got a fair few decisions to make. Do you want to produce monochrome images in-camera, or are you more comfortable shooting as normal in color and then converting after the fact? Or, indeed, do you want to shoot digitally at all – many monochrome enthusiasts prefer using film cameras, trading away convenience in favor of superb latitude and distinctive character.

For this reason, I produced this guide to the best black and white cameras that spans a fair few different categories, and I’ve split it into sections to make things easier. First, with specialist digital cameras that shoot monochrome images only. The key advantage of these models is that they have had their color filter removed, which results in images of superior sharpness and clarity. However, there’s not only the obvious trade-off that you’re stuck with black and white only – there’s also the fact that these cameras are notoriously expensive.

So, I’ve also included a section of conventional mirrorless cameras that I reckon are great for shooting in black and white. Some of them, most notably those from Fujifilm and Panasonic, offer terrific black-and-white shooting modes that are perfect for those who want to get their monochrome shots in-camera. Others, meanwhile, are probably better for those who want to do their monochrome conversion in the best photo editing software.

And finally, yes, I haven’t forgotten the film enthusiasts, and have included a section for those who want to play around with black and white film stocks. I also added some disposable cameras that come pre-loaded with monochrome film, giving you everything you need to start shooting black and white as soon as you open the box.

Whichever type of camera you prefer, you’ll have plenty of choice. First up, we look at the best strictly mono-only cameras for black and white photography…

Top picks

Best mono-only cameras for black and white

Best overall

This is the best black and white camera that money can buy – and as such, it requires a lot of money to do so. The Leica M11 Monochrom is the latest digital rangefinder camera from the prestigious German manufacturer, and it’s a triumph.

It borrows the 60MP sensor first introduced on the Leica M11, only it does away with the color filter. This means you couldn't shoot color images with it even if you wanted to, but also results in improved image clarity and exceptional levels of detail.

Leica cameras are all about delivering a premium photographer’s experience (it doesn't even shoot video, so don’t ask). The M11 Monochrom is manual focus only, using a rangefinder system that’s tricky to get right, but immensely satisfying when you do.

The physical control dials give the camera’s operation a film-like feel, and Leica’s range of M-lenses provide that singular Leica ‘look’ you just can’t get any other way. Its price tag and self-imposed limitations make this a highly niche camera – but if you’re in that niche, it might be the best buy you’ll ever make.

See our full Leica M11 Monochrom review for more details

Best compact

Even though it’s about half the price of the M11 Monochrom, the Leica Q2 Monochrom is still going to be an expensive ask for a lot of people. If it’s in your budget though, then I have good news – it’s another fantastic camera.

A compact camera pairing a full-frame 47.3MP sensor with a stunningly sharp Summilux 28mm f/1.7 lens, the Leica Q2 Monochrom also differs from the M11 in another key way – it has autofocus. Contrast-detection autofocus to be specific, so no need to learn to use a rangefinder.

One thing that really impresses me about the Q2 Monochrom is its performance at high ISO settings. In most digital cameras, the highest ISO settings are normally simply never used, as the images they create are so compromised by noise. However, the Q2 Monochrom still produces usably contrasty, punchy images at its top ISO of 100,000, making it a fantastic performer in low light.

See our full Leica Q2 Monochrom review

Best affordable

Pentax continues to keep the DSLR dream alive with this B&W version of one of its APS-C DSLRs, announced in April 2023. Just like the Leica models above, the K-3 Mark III Monochrome features a sensor with no color filter (and also does away with the anti-aliasing filter), meaning it shoots monochrome only, but produces images of superior detail and clarity.

In other respects, this camera is pretty much the same deal as the original Pentax K-3 Mark III, meaning it combines rugged DSLR handling with a raft of exposure modes and an impressive ISO range of 100 to 1,600,000. Having 12fps burst shooting is nice too, though you’ll likely find the shot buffer fills up very quickly, and if you use Live View mode, you’ll find the contrast-detect autofocus doesn’t do nearly as well as on-sensor phase detection at keeping up with the action.

Best mirrorless cameras for black and white

Best Film Simulations

Contemporary Fujifilm X cameras are an excellent choice for monochrome shooters as they all come bearing Fuji’s famous Film Simulation modes. For those who don’t know, these are in-camera shooting modes that replicate the ‘looks’ of classic film stocks, including the distinctive, fine-grained monochrome stock ACROS.

The X-S20 is a simpler camera than its cousins in the X-T and X-H series, but it’s probably a better everyday shooter for most people. The lower megapixel count of 26.1MP means more manageable files while still providing realistically enough resolution for most purposes. As a newer camera, it benefits from the must-have feature of the past couple of years – subject-detection autofocus, meaning it can lock onto specific subjects with preternatural speed and accuracy. Also, if you are interested in monochrome video, the X-S20 has an impressive video spec, with a maximum resolution of 6K – and Film Simulation modes can be used in video, too.

See our Fujifilm X-S20 review

Best hybrid

Monochrome isn’t often something that gets talked about with Lumix cameras, which is a shame because the L. Monochrome picture profiles on cameras such as the Lumix S5 are fantastic. Making the most of the vivid, punchy JPEGs that the S5 produces, modes like L. Monochrome D produce brilliant black and white images that have a Leica-esque quality to them – fitting, given the provenance of the L-mount.

The Lumix S5 is arguably one of the best-value full-frame hybrid cameras you can buy right now, especially since its successors the Lumix S5 II and S5 IIX have joined the fray. The big upgrade on the S5 II was phase-detect autofocus, which does perform much better than the contrast-detect system on the Lumix S5. If you’re going to shoot a lot of moving subjects then it may be worth shelling out for the newer camera – otherwise, this is a chance to snag yourself full-frame monochrome quality at a bargain price.

See our full Panasonic S5 review

best for beginners

So far we’ve mostly been talking about black and white photography as practised in-camera. However, many monochrome photographers prefer to do their conversions after the fact, in which case, you can focus less on the various monochrome options a camera provides, and more on its image quality more generally. While the Nikon Z5 can shoot in monochrome, with a few options in the Picture Control settings, it doesn’t offer the kind of stylish, distinctive monochrome looks of, say, a Fujifilm X camera. What it does do, though, is produce terrific-looking full-frame images for a reasonable price.

The dynamic range on the Z5 is very good, particularly at lower ISOs, so when you come to convert your images to black and white you should have plenty of recoverable detail in the highlights and shadows. It’s a nicely built camera too, and has one of the better electronic viewfinders at this price point. The Z5 tends to be bundled with a Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens – a decent enough kit lens, but one you’ll probably find yourself outgrowing quite quickly.

See our Nikon Z5 review

• Black and white photography: how to see and shoot in monochrome
• How to convert to black and white in Photoshop Elements
• Who the heck buys a camera that only shoots black-and-white?
• How to dodge and burn in Photoshop for brilliant black and white

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