This is exactly where Panasonic has achieved a real breakthrough with their latest S-series cameras (S5II and S5IIX): As the first manufacturer, Panasonic enables loading custom LUTs (Look-Up Tables) directly into the camera. For all those who have developed their own color aesthetics and work with individual LUTs, this is nothing short of a revolution.
What does this mean in practice?
Imagine you're photographing a project. Instead of just imagining the final image effect, you see your characteristic color grading applied to the scene directly in the EVF or on the display. This not only enables more precise image composition considering the final colors but also saves an enormous amount of time in post-processing.
Unfortunately, Panasonic uses a special LUT format (.vlt) for their cameras, which differs from the usual .cube files. This means existing LUTs need to be converted first. While I don't own an S5II myself, I'm excited about the concept and have developed a tool that enables exactly this conversion.
It would have been kind of cool if I could have tested my ideas and my tool myself with a Lumix camera. But somehow all the influencers out there intimidate me and unfortunately I don't have any contacts at Panasonic. Otherwise I really would have liked to do it.
LUT Converter for Lumix
The conversion happens in your browser. Your LUTs are not uploaded to any server but remain on your computer. After downloading, here's how to get the LUTs onto your camera: Save the .vlt file on your SD card in the "PRIVATE > LUMIX > LUT" folder.
Convert your .cube LUT file to Lumix S5II format
For everyone working with my LUTs The converter should work with these as well. Please try it out and let me know.
The ability to use custom LUTs in the camera is far more than just a technical feature for me. It's an incredible step toward more intuitive, creative photography. When we can see our final look while shooting, we can fully concentrate on composition.
I'm convinced we're just at the beginning of this development. The integration of individual looks directly into the capture process will sustainably change the way we photograph. Panasonic has taken a bold first step here – I hope other manufacturers will follow.