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No, it would actually reduce the resolution by some amount up to 50%, depending on how good a demosaicing algo you use.

Yes you're right, I was thinking in terms of super pixels. Nonetheless, the basic argument still stands I would think: Throw out the red and blue channel and you're left with half the amount of data (half the resolution, not double, as you pointed out), but due to the distribution of the green pixels on the bayer grid you should be able to interpolate the missing pixels very nicely with any number of straightforward algorithms. Obviously the interpolation would need to happen after shooting (i.e. on your PC) and not in camera. That way you could reduce the data stream substantially, therefore increase the imaged surface area and end up with a higher-res orthochromatic image.

Yes, half the pixels would be the result of interpolation, but with orthochromatic data and the checkerboard pixel distribution of the green channel I wouldn't be surprised if the actual result would be very beautiful and remember, within the same (or similar) data rate you could now double the resolution per above argument.

Can you describe how to convert a raw file to monochromatic?

Sorry, I'm not that savvy at this level of data analysis. Is there no way to read just the data from the green pixels and discard red and blue directly off the sensor? This would already reduce the data by 50% on a Bayer grid (and either double the resolution or the crop factor). Yes, the resulting image would be orthochromatic, but that's not necessarily a bad thing (ask Anselm Adams!). Actually the orthochromaticity of the images could be a nice artistic motivator I think. If this works you could eventually even have a setting that lets the user choose which color channel to keep.

Like I say, I'm not familiar with exactly how the data is read from the sensor and how easy it would be to discard individual color channels but I do think that if there is any way of doing this, it could really distinguish these cameras as great for orthochromatic shooting.

Why not have a black and white raw option at higher resolution? Without the color info the 550D write speed might be good enough to get close to 1080p. Sure its only B/W, but for some of us that would be very cool indeed!!!

Not likely.

Why not?

I've been thinking the same, shouldn't monochrome be about 1/3 of the data stream of color, so in theory you should be able to go at least up to 720p continuous monochrome at 20 Mb/s, right? Maybe higher with some tricks? Any 'official' input from anyone on monochrome RAW on the 550d?

Tis might be a stupid question, but taking into account the limitations of the d550, would it be possible to shoot 1080p RAW in black and white? Is there such a method available? Could it be implemented? I'm interested in B/W filming and if possible, then the d550 could be ideal. From my limited technological understanding I'd assume that the data stream would be ~ 1/3 of that of color, so at least 720 RAW should be possible continuously, no? Any thoughts...?