Let's talk about LUTs (Lumix S9)

[Richard Wong]

Good point and an area of confusion. If I use or create a LUT and load it into the camera does it work directly on the RAW to create the jpeg in RAW+jpeg mode? Or does the camera create a jpeg from RAW then LUT is applied to the jpeg?

On the camera, Real Time LUT works on RAW file (or direct sensor output)

Did I read somewhere LUT doesn't work on RAW? Do the pre-installed filters in camera to produce jpegs work on RAW or some kind of generic jpeg that LUTs would then change therefore having the same base? Do LR filters act the same? In Lumix labs only working on jpegs in the app as you say not as good as LUT application in-camera?

LUT work on RAW

 

[pdk42]

I've tried to use Olympus's Art Filters before, and I even had a Pen-F for a while which had a sort of LUT thing of its own (the "creative wheel"), but I found after an initial play with them, I just reverted to raw and never used them again.

My preferred approach is to seek out the best framing and composition as possible at time of capture and then use post processing later to get the look that I think each specific image deserves. I don't set out saying "I fancy shooting Misty Blue Mountain theme today" or whatever. I'd also be hyper worried that along with the LUT processing, I'd also be getting all the other downsides of JPEGs - baked in brightness, WB, sharpening, tone curve, NR etc. At least with a raw file I can fix some degree of capture-time mess of my own making.

It seems to me that LUTs are really ill-suited to people like me who do mostly landscape stills - that is, small number of images in any one outing, dealing with wide DR, looking to add mood via selective editing, etc. I can see it makes much more sense for event shooting etc. As to video, I'm assuming that serious videographers will use vLog and DaVinci etc later, but I suppose the same argument as for event shooting would apply to some genres of video too.

 

[CharlesH]

My preferred approach is to seek out the best framing and composition as possible at time of capture and then use post processing later to get the look that I think each specific image deserves.

I'm with you, that's how I work.

I'm assuming that serious videographers will use vLog and DaVinci etc later

Yes, with video I only apply LUTs in post processing.

But i do expect to explore all the LUT capability of the S9. An application I have in mind, when I travel with friends they are constantly taking pictures with their phones and sharing them with all of us. And I'm with my large camera and almost never share. So my idea is to bring my S9 photos into the Lumix app, set the aspect ratio to fit their phones and maybe add a nice LUT and share them.

 

[CharlesH]

LUT work on RAW

Is that right? One of the reviewers, I forget which one, said you could shoot RAW+JPEG and the LUT would be applied to the JPEG and not the RAW.

 

[Richard Wong]

Is that right? One of the reviewers, I forget which one, said you could shoot RAW+JPEG and the LUT would be applied to the JPEG and not the RAW.

oh sorry i think i misunderstood the question. and replied incorrectly.

What I mean is, the real time LUT feature applies the LUT to the RAW output to generate the JPG file which has the LUT baked in.
The output RAW file does NOT have the LUT changes baked in.

It works the same way as the S5II.

Sorry about the previous incorrect answer

 

[Markuswelder]

But i do expect to explore all the LUT capability of the S9. An application I have in mind, when I travel with friends they are constantly taking pictures with their phones and sharing them with all of us. And I'm with my large camera and almost never share. So my idea is to bring my S9 photos into the Lumix app, set the aspect ratio to fit their phones and maybe add a nice LUT and share them.

My use case is a little bit similar. I've done similar when travelling OS with my G100, but I'm not particularly interested in the LUT bit. With my G100, I've done in camera raw processing, it's then just a one button push to send it to Lumix Sync, and from there use it however and wherever I want. The camera does a pretty damn good job of the heavy lifting part, I'd only be looking to use Lumix Lab as a final little massage or tweak, something that is a little bit less precise trying to do on the rear screen of the camera. It would be much easier on a larger phone screen I'd guess.
None of what I've done has been at point of capture, but later on when sitting around in the evening, if there's nothing else to do. For me, eliminating the need for a tablet or laptop when travelling.
I'm super super surprised to be honest, that no one has come up with something like this before now

 

[pdk42]

I'm with you, that's how I work.



Yes, with video I only apply LUTs in post processing.

But i do expect to explore all the LUT capability of the S9. An application I have in mind, when I travel with friends they are constantly taking pictures with their phones and sharing them with all of us. And I'm with my large camera and almost never share. So my idea is to bring my S9 photos into the Lumix app, set the aspect ratio to fit their phones and maybe add a nice LUT and share them.

Yes, that makes sense. I don't often use my camera for social shooting, but when I do, the lack of quick and easy sharing does raise a few eyebrows with family members - "you paid all that money but can't send us a copy now?"