LUT. People want LUTs! Or at least that's what Panasonic thinks with its new $1,500 Lumix S9. The S9 is a full-frame, interchangeable lens, mirrorless camera that has most of the features of the Lumix S5 II, but with a new slimmer body and a dedicated “LUT” button on the back.
A LUT, which stands for “Lookup Table,” is a way to alter the color or appearance of an image using a mathematical formula. In the most basic terms, you can think of it as a fancy way of saying “filter.” And the new Lumix S9 can store up to 40 different LUTs internally, although one is reserved for a permanent V-log of 709 LUTs.
With the new Lumix Labs app, you can create custom filters or explore over 80 different filters created by select content creators. Once you've made your selection, you can download them directly to your S9. And like the Fujifilm In theory, this is a great idea that allows users to have more control over what happens in the camera, but its success will largely depend on Panasonic filling the app with nice options, which the company tells me it plans to do. to do, although slowly. to maintain high color standards. For example, I don't think we'll see any cheesy instagram-style filters that apply a lot of grain or fancy tones.
In fact, the S9 appears to be aimed squarely at the thousands of people who they can't get their hands on a Fujifilm X100VI, not only in terms of the filters but also in the striking external styling of the S9. For example, the camera comes in four different colors (jet black, crimson red, dark olive, and classic blue) that are sure to turn heads.
However, there are problems. For starters, the S9 lacks any kind of front grip. In my short time with the S9, I found myself baffled by the decision to make the front of the camera (a crucial contact point for the right hand) flat. The only form of grip is a small thumb rest around the back, which is simply not enough for long-term use. I also missed having a viewfinder on a camera positioned as a hybrid photo/video device. While the articulating screen can accommodate most shooting positions, nothing beats the experience of moving your eye closer to the viewfinder to find a frame.
Internally, the S9 features the impressive video specs that the Lumix brand is known for. This includes a 24.2-megapixel sensor that can record videos up to 6K, 30 FPS 4:2:0 10-bit and a 5-axis IBS unit known for its impressive stabilization. But with the smaller size of the camera came the need to remove the cooling fans from the Lumix S5II, so I'll keep an eye out for any overheating in my future use.
Tune in to the video above to see sample photos of the S9.
The Lumix S9 will be available today for $1,500. And for Lumix fans who want the power of the Lumix S5 II in a smaller body, the only question left is: green, red, blue or black?
