I sold all my Fujifilm gear and switched to Panasonic because of this exclusive, lesser-known feature.

I sold all my Fujifilm gear and switched to Panasonic for this exclusive, little-known feature

Get exactly the look you love in your photos, right in the camera.

I am passionate about Fujifilm. If you have followed my work over the past few years, you have heard me praise it as the ideal ecosystem for travel photographers. The compact size of cameras like the X100VI, the stylized film simulation, and the remarkable selection of sharp lenses make it perfect for enthusiasts and wanderers from around the globe who want to express their creativity and share their experiences. That’s why I decided to switch to Fujifilm and sell all my previous equipment.For all of Fujifilm’s attractive aesthetics and features, there are some compromises that make life difficult for those who use their cameras professionally. First and foremost, Fujifilm X-series cameras have cropped sensors, which results in lower dynamic range, less separation between subjects (bokeh), and poorer performance in low light compared to full-frame cameras. Although Fujifilm has made significant improvements to the autofocus in its cameras over the past couple of years, phase detection systems from other brands are faster and more reliable.

However, one aspect that no other company can match is Fujifilm’s highly customizable film simulation, which produces beautifully stylized images right out of the camera. Nikon and Ricoh have tried to replicate this, but so far, no one has been able to match Fujifilm in this area.

I sold all my Fujifilm gear and switched to Panasonic for this exclusive, little-known feature

When Panasonic announced the new Lumix S5 II, hybrid photographers were excited to get their hands on a camera with so many features at such a competitive price. Along with open-shutter video and a new autofocus system, the company introduced a small but powerful feature: real-time LUTs.

A LUT is a lookup table that alters the colors and tones in an image, similar to a filter. They’re commonly used in video editing to achieve the desired look for a movie, but now, Panasonic allows users to apply LUTs while capturing photos and videos. This means that photographers have more creative control over their images, as they can choose from a variety of presets or create their own custom LUTs. Unlike Fujifilm, Panasonic’s system allows users to use any BUT they like, not just those that are present in the camera. With this feature, photographers can create images and videos with their own unique style, while still benefiting from the high-quality of a full-frame sensor.

I sold all my Fujifilm gear and switched to Panasonic for this exclusive, little-known feature

This may not be a big deal for some of you, but that’s fine – we all use different tools to help us create and produce the results that our clients want. In my work, using real-time LUTs allows me to load my personal style into the camera and see the final image before I take the shot. This way, I know exactly when to press the shutter button.

Don’t worry about guessing what the image will look like after 30 minutes of editing in Photoshop – the real-time LUT allows me to see how it will look right on the camera. It’s also great for showing photos to clients and actors while they’re shooting, as it’s more immersive to see the finished product on the location.

For those who are concerned about keeping control over their files, you can always shoot in RAW+JPEG format (like with Fuji) and save the RAW files for separate editing later if you want to take a different approach. In short, the Lumix’s real-time feature helps you develop your unique style and make your work stand out.If you already own a Panasonic camera that supports real-time LUTs, such as the full-frame Lumix S5II, S5IIX, or the more recent MFT Lumix G9 II, you can easily follow the instructions below to get started with real-time LUT processing.

Choose Your LUTs

As with camera presets, there is a vast selection of LUTs available online, both free and paid. If you have the budget, Gamuts Kinetic Pack is an excellent option. In fact, all the photos in this article were taken using LUTs from this collection.

Once you have downloaded your favorite LUTs, they will appear on your computer in .cube or .flat file formats (LUTs for other brands may require conversion using LUTcalc). Copy them to your SD card and insert it into your camera.

Save it to your camera’s memory card

Go to the image quality settings and you will see “LUT library” appear as the second option in the list. Click on it and you will see the standard Vlog_09 LUT that comes built into the camera, followed by ten empty slots for your own custom LUTs. Select an empty slot and you will be taken to your SD card where you can choose which LUT to load. Once you have selected it, it will be saved on your camera and you will be able to switch SD cards without losing it.

In both photo and video modes, you can access the “Photo Style” option in the menu. You can switch between different styles until you reach the “Real-Time LUT” option, which sets the standard colors to V-Log and allows you to choose which LUT (look-up table) to use. From then on, this setting will be applied to your JPEGs and videos just like Fujifilm does.

If you want even more control, you can return to the Photo Style menu and continue scrolling until you find “My Photo Style 1”. Here, you can select your preferred LUT and also control the base profile (for example, Vivid or Natural). This will give you a wider range of contrast and saturation options.

I sold all my Fujifilm gear and switched to Panasonic for this exclusive, little-known feature

Here it is. My Panasonic Lumix S5 II full-frame camera is equipped with hybrid shooting capabilities, allowing me to create stunning images and videos with ease. Fujifilm, you’re still a great company, but I think Lumix will take this round.

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