Are Panasonic LUT’s the same as Fujifilm Simulations

[Wellington100]

My gut feeling no not even close but I don’t know why?

 

[Jeff Biscuits]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67720278

 

[GreatOceanSoftware]

My gut feeling no not even close but I don’t know why?

Chris and Jordan talked about this on the PetaPixel video today.

 

[bastibe]

LUTs can perfectly replicate any film sim or recipe. After all, Fujifilm themselves provide LUTs that apply the Film Sims to their F-Log video.

Film Sims are no magic. They are beautifully crafted, and have fancy names, but technically, they are no different from the picture profiles by any other manufacturer. They can be perfectly captured by a LUT.

And no doubt there already are very good Classic Chrome LUTs available for Panasonic.

The real trick, however, is that Panasonic can apply two LUTs! This is common in video production: the first LUT transforms the (camera-specific) raw image into a (camera-independent) known, calibrated color space, then the second LUT applies a look to that. This way, the first LUT can equalize different camera models to look the same, and the second LUT applies a look to their footage, and doesn't need to know about the camera model.

So, in the end, LUTs are better than film sims. They can do everything a film sim can, and more. The only caveat is that I don't know how much you can alter them in-camera. Part of the beauty of the Fuji recipe scene is that you can mix and match settings to adjust things to your liking. From what I've seen, some of that may be possible in the new Panasonic system as well. But a LUT by itself is not easily editable, so I don't know how that works.

 

[thenoilif]

So, in the end, LUTs are better than film sims. They can do everything a film sim can, and more. The only caveat is that I don't know how much you can alter them in-camera. Part of the beauty of the Fuji recipe scene is that you can mix and match settings to adjust things to your liking. From what I've seen, some of that may be possible in the new Panasonic system as well. But a LUT by itself is not easily editable, so I don't know how that works.

I think this is where their app comes into play. It's much easier to make adjustments to profiles, film sims, and LUTs using a smartphone touchscreen then having to use the menu system in a camera mostly because camera screens are just not as intuitive as your phone.

But the issue is connectivity. No camera has been able to create a truly seamless connection with a phone. These processes are usually buggy and unreliable.

 

[Justin Cider]

LUTs can perfectly replicate any film sim or recipe. After all, Fujifilm themselves provide LUTs that apply the Film Sims to their F-Log video.

Film Sims are no magic. They are beautifully crafted, and have fancy names, but technically, they are no different from the picture profiles by any other manufacturer. They can be perfectly captured by a LUT.

And no doubt there already are very good Classic Chrome LUTs available for Panasonic.

The real trick, however, is that Panasonic can apply two LUTs! This is common in video production: the first LUT transforms the (camera-specific) raw image into a (camera-independent) known, calibrated color space, then the second LUT applies a look to that. This way, the first LUT can equalize different camera models to look the same, and the second LUT applies a look to their footage, and doesn't need to know about the camera model.

So, in the end, LUTs are better than film sims. They can do everything a film sim can, and more. The only caveat is that I don't know how much you can alter them in-camera. Part of the beauty of the Fuji recipe scene is that you can mix and match settings to adjust things to your liking. From what I've seen, some of that may be possible in the new Panasonic system as well. But a LUT by itself is not easily editable, so I don't know how that works.

The last time I had a Panasonic camera was back before I got the XH1 about six months after its release. Even back then Panasonic's lumix app was near flawless and the connection was super stable. I never tried to transfer photos over the app so I can't speak to that, but it was the most well designed app I've ever used for any camera for any brand. I can't speak to the newest version, but I can't imagine that outside of some initial release bugs that they are taking a step backwards with it. It was that experience with the Lumix app that has made my distaste for the Fuji apps even more seething.

 

[tilted_horizon]

LUTs can perfectly replicate any film sim or recipe. After all, Fujifilm themselves provide LUTs that apply the Film Sims to their F-Log video.

Film Sims are no magic. They are beautifully crafted, and have fancy names, but technically, they are no different from the picture profiles by any other manufacturer. They can be perfectly captured by a LUT.

And no doubt there already are very good Classic Chrome LUTs available for Panasonic.

The real trick, however, is that Panasonic can apply two LUTs! This is common in video production: the first LUT transforms the (camera-specific) raw image into a (camera-independent) known, calibrated color space, then the second LUT applies a look to that. This way, the first LUT can equalize different camera models to look the same, and the second LUT applies a look to their footage, and doesn't need to know about the camera model.

So, in the end, LUTs are better than film sims. They can do everything a film sim can, and more. The only caveat is that I don't know how much you can alter them in-camera. Part of the beauty of the Fuji recipe scene is that you can mix and match settings to adjust things to your liking. From what I've seen, some of that may be possible in the new Panasonic system as well. But a LUT by itself is not easily editable, so I don't know how that works.

LUTs don't support some features - grain for example - so they can't do everything a Fujifilm sim can. But it looks like Panasonic is allowing grain to be added on top of a LUT via camera setting, in addition to LUT strength (opacity). This added flexibility makes it more powerful than a Fuji sim and closer to what can be done in Lightroom.

As for being editable, it looks like the Lumix Lab app is making that process much easier. It took me weeks to learn LUT creation for my S5M2, but this app seems to be making it as simple as using VSCO or Snapseed in a phone. That's potentially huge.

Fuji color still has advantages for SOOC snapshooters. 10-bit HEIF - basically, a super jpeg with better gradation and highlight rolloff, with a filesize around 6-10 times smaller than raw. And the sims themselves. If you like what Fuji has done with profiles like Acros and Reala Ace, get a Fuji.

 

[bastibe]

Good points, @tilted_horizons!