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10 reasons why you should switch from Sony to LUMIX
Sony makes great cameras, of that there’s no doubt. And they have a huge following among enthusiasts and pros alike. But many Sony shooters are making the switch to LUMIX – particularly the S Series of full-frame mirrorless cameras.
One such switcher is a friend of mine, who runs a successful wedding photography and videography business. And he’s typical of the disillusioned Sony shooters who are realizing just how powerful – and affordable – the LUMIX system is.
“I can get 6K open gate Arri Log,” he says, when I ask him why LUMIX is tempting him away from Sony. “And I can get two LUMIX cameras for the price of one FX3.”
He proceeded to reel off a laundry list of reasons why making the switch would improve his image quality, his workflow and his business – and his reasons are typical of so many videographers who want to improve their setup, but may not be aware of the benefits that LUMIX offers.
So here are 10 reasons why someone using Sony should consider switching to LUMIX…
1) Open Gate 6K recording
For anyone remotely serious about shooting video, this is an absolute no-brainer and is one of the killer apps of LUMIX cameras. Open gate, if you’re unfamiliar with the term, is when a camera records the readout of the entire image sensor when shooting video, rather than just a cropped or digitally matted 16:9 frame.
On full-frame S Series cameras, this means that you can capture the full 3:2 area of the image sensor, and then apply whatever aspect ratio you need in post-production. This is incredibly useful when you need to deliver content in multiple formats, such as 16:9 for YouTube and 9:16 for social media reels; rather than having to film the same footage twice, you can simply shoot in open gate and then reframe and output in whatever ratio you need.
This feature is absolutely transformative for workflow among videographers, filmmakers and content creators, and is not available on Sony cameras.
2) Image stabilization
While many Sony cameras have in-body image stabilization, even the most diehard Sony shooter will admit that it’s far from the best in the business – it’s a nice feature to have, but its results can be very disappointing.
LUMIX cameras, however, have a well-earned reputation for having the best image stabilization in the industry. This goes back to the company’s heritage with Micro Four Thirds cameras dating back to 2008 – when Panasonic pioneered the first ever mirrorless camera, long before Sony and co followed suit.
LUMIX has spent well over a decade developing its stabilization system, with the implementation in the S Series representing the apex of the technology. It’s possible to achieve genuinely gimbal-like smoothness when shooting handheld video, and taking photographs in low light or with telephoto lenses.
3) Colour science
One of the most notorious achilles heels of Sony cameras is their colour reproduction. Skin tones are a particular culprit, but shooting under artificial or mixed lighting conditions can also be extremely challenging. I was once photographing runners at an outdoor stadium and between the Mediterranean skin, the African skin and the floodlights, it was a nightmare to colour correct.
By comparison, one of LUMIX’s mantras is “Capture True Colour” – and the colour science in its cameras is on another level. This is due in part to the company’s Three-Dimensional Colour Control technology, which uses advanced signal processing algorithms to faithfully reproduce natural colour and tonality whether you’re photographing skies, skin or foliage.
No more hours spent trying to fix your colors in post!
4) Phase Hybrid Autofocus
It’s fair to say that LUMIX cameras haven’t had the best reputation for autofocus performance in the past, given their previous reliance on contrast-based technology. However, that’s a narrative that needs putting to bed because it’s years out of date – and the AF on LUMIX cameras is now excellent.
Ever since the S5II on 2023, every LUMIX camera is powered by proprietary Phase Hybrid AF technology – which combines the speed and accuracy of contrast detection with the duration and responsiveness of phase detection. The result is a system that performs superbly even in challenging conditions, such as low light or backlighting, and with tracking single, multiple and even new subjects in a frame.
In conjunction with unique subject detection algorithms not found in any other camera system – such as Urban Sports to capture movements like breakdancing, skateboarding and parkour – LUMIX cameras now boast incredibly reliable and robust autofocus that handles whatever you throw at it.
5) Menus and ergonomics
Like color science, the menu system is one of the most notorious weak spots of Sony cameras. While the company deserves praise for revamping its menus a few years ago, they are still among the least friendly and intuitive in the industry.
LUMIX menus, by contrast, have a “grammar” that just makes sense. The layout and structure means that they’re easy to find your way around, and settings are typically where you would expect to find them – which makes such a difference in the heat of a shoot!
Likewise, many videographers find the handling and ergonomics of Sony cameras less than ideal for extended use. LUMIX bodies have a grip that better conforms to the hand, as well as a button layout that feels far less strenuous during long periods of shooting. There’s also a frankly ludicrous amount of customization available, meaning that you can tailor your camera to put your favorite functions at your fingertips.
6) Realtime LUTs
We all know the workflow: film your footage in log and then dress it up with your preferred LUT in post. But does it have to be this way? If you can get your desired look in-camera, why not cut down your post production time?
With Realtime LUTs, LUMIX cameras enable you to assign your lookup table directly to your footage as you capture it – essentially color-grading your footage, in-camera, while you’re recording. This kind of pre-production not only saves professionals a ton of time that they would usually spend color grading, it also enables inexperienced creators to level up their creativity by giving their footage a cinematic look straight out of camera.
And because Realtime LUTs can be applied to stills as well as video, you can easily harmonize your style when delivering mixed media (such as photos and video for a wedding) or simply add an extra layer of expression to your photography.
7) LUMIX Flow
For LUMIX S1II and S1RII videographers, the LUMIX Flow app is an invaluable tool that streamlines and centralizes your production workflow through your smartphone.
Not only does it enable you to use your phone as an external monitor and make easy changes to your settings, it actually puts it at the heart of the production process. LUMIX mode enables you to plan your production from scripts and storyboards, through the filming stages, to XML export and automic folder organization.
Not only can you create and edit scripts, sketches and storyboards on your phone, but because your phone is acting as an on-camera monitor you can seamlessly scroll through your notes and shot lists while you’re filming – so you never miss a shot! On top of that you can rate your takes on the go, feeding directly to your editing software, to make the editing process easier and more effective.
8) In-camera waveform and vector scopes
Professional editing tools like video scopes give cinematographers precise exposure and color control. Using waveform scopes can ensure that your exposures never clip, while vector scopes are crucial for accurately grading colors and matching balance across shots.
For those who are serious about the highest level video production, these kinds of scopes are crucial to deliver the required results. Waveforms and vectors are built into LUMIX cameras, but Sony cameras do not possess them.
9) RAW video recording
For top tier video production, RAW capture is essential. It gives you the highest possible video quality and the maximum degree of flexibility for post-production – whether you’re fine-tuning your footage with pinpoint precision or you’re conducting a desperate rescue operation after an exposure error at the point of capture.
LUMIX cameras support RAW video recording and, with the S5IIX and above, the ability to record directly to an external SSD, which is ideal for high-end video workflows.
10) L-Mount Alliance lens ecosystem
Sony enjoys a pretty diverse range of lenses for its E mount, with premium first-party optics complemented by third-party alternatives. However, the LUMIX brand is a member of the L-Mount Alliance – a partnership founded by imaging giants Panasonic, Leica and Sigma (and since joined by the likes of DJI and Blackmagic).
All three founding members produce lenses for the shared L-Mount, which means that LUMIX users have three first-party manufacturers making premium and exclusive optics for the system – along with all the major third-party brands giving even more choice along with boutique and specialist lenses.
This gives LUMIX shooters the enviable choice of Panasonic’s fantastic photo, stills and hybrid lenses, Leica’s precision luxury optics, and Sigma’s fantastic range of affordable, premium and performance glass – all engineered specifically to the unique strengths of the L-Mount.
If any of these 10 reasons has got you interested in LUMIX, you can actually try one for free for 48 hours. Head over to the LUMIX Loan Scheme website to find out more and test drive a camera and lens right away.
