How is black and white photography done with digital cameras?

Replicant: How is black and white photography done with digital cameras?
I’m new to photography and just received a camera as an Xmas gift. In this digital age how is monochrome photography done (I prefer the look of black and white for a lot of subjects).

Do some digital cameras have a monochrome mode (I’ve yet to find one on mine) or is filters on SLRs or photoshopping these days?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Mere Mortal
A serious camera will not likely have a monochrome mode. Check this tutorial for converting picture files to monochrome.

Answer by Pooky
You would use a program, for this example, Adobe Lightroom, to convert your color shot, into a black and white one.

See two different screen at the link above? I had better control of [green] color (yes, in black and white] so the background of the young man looks darker and lighter.

This was converted from color https://www.flickr.com/photos/little_pooky/2523440530/ Malibu State Park.

This, too https://www.flickr.com/photos/little_pooky/5172776157/

Answer by word
My camera has a monochrome option that I change through the menu, but I never use it. I prefer to take my pics in color then edit it to black and white later… so I have the option

Answer by Sophia Reed
play around with it and you might be able to find a “black and white” mode. if not, you can always use photo editing programs to desaturate the image. not even necessarily spending $ 200 on photoshop, but things like Preview on mac have small picture edits mode that can help you get the look that you want on a photo.

Answer by Bob
Worst way – use b&w mode on the camera if it has one.
Best way – take normally and then convert it properly in post processing.