At a certain point, many photographers say that the camera doesn’t matter. But we can tell you that’s not always the case. You can’t shoot sports in a way that makes sense with a pinhole camera, can you? Perhaps more than any other camera manufacturer, LUMIX cameras can help you realize your creative freedom both in-camera and in the post-production world. For example, shooting during foggy days is something that so many photographers find to be very fun. We’re going to talk a little bit about why and how LUMIX does that better.
This article is presented in partnership with LUMIX.
The Tech You Can Trust
First off, let’s talk about LUMIX cameras and what they’re capable of. We’re a photographers-first website: so the LUMIX S5II, LUMIX S5IIx, and the G9II are the cameras that we know photographers are going to want to buy if they haven’t already. There’s a lot here that we should unpack:
- First off, we think that everything these days should be weather-resistant. And by that, we’re not just talking about the idea of taking something out into the rain. Instead, we’re channeling this idea into something that’s predicating off of the idea of something weathering away — such as when a rainstorm weathers away a landform. Several LUMIX cameras and lenses have weather-resistance in them that is both incredible and reliable. Believe it or not, we’ve even taken awards away from other brands when they don’t hold themselves accountable to these marketing standards. In a world where e-waste is a growing problem, we believe this is a priority.
- LUMIX cameras have several autofocus modes that make it easier to focus on subjects in both low light and in the fog. There’s human and animal detection, for instance. But there’s also the phase detection that some of the cameras have in the AF-C mode.
- There’s access to several lenses across a broad spectrum.
- The battery life doesn’t typically run into issues because of lots of AI algorithms being performed by the camera’s processor. So that means you can keep shooting on a single battery instead of having to buy a camera and five batteries.
- You can load up Real Time LUTS on the cameras to get images that you’d otherwise need post-production to do.
- Beyond all the LUTS, LUMIX cameras let to mix and combine several things like photo profiles and even in-camera filters. Apply a bleach bypass filter if you and combine it with CineLikeV2. You’ll have lots of fun here.
- Considering the package that you’re getting, LUMIX is insanely affordable.
More importantly, their cameras also feel good and like cameras that you really want to use in the long run. You can put a lot of trust in LUMIX — which you otherwise might know as Panasonic.
The Colors
When you’re shooting photos in the fog, then you’re often in low light with the sun blotted out. Perhaps the streets are being illuminated by street lamps. That’s when we recommend using fixed white balances. The Blue Runner look is very possible here — and it’s the difference between making your whites in the scene look orange, blue, or purely white. Perhaps more so than any other full-frame camera system, LUMIX cameras let you actually embrace a vibe.
You’d be shocked at deep and saturated they can be once you start embracing a combination of LUTs and in-camera filters.
Slow Down: Low ISO Shooting on Foggy Days
One of the best things about shooting with LUMIX cameras is that you can shoot at a low ISO and be very happy with the results. Sure, you’ll get some motion blur, but you won’t get camera-shake. And that’s because of the exceptional image stabilization inside of a LUMIX camera. This doesn’t only mean that you can embrace your creative vision when it comes to capturing the moment, but you can expand it. It’s the difference between looking at a scene, and seeing what your creative mind imagines. Then it’s just a matter of connecting the artistic and technical sides of your brain to do the translations.
With LUMIX, it’s so easy for several reasons:
- The cameras and lenses are lightweight and balanced with the camera bodies. This is especially the case with their prime lenses.
- Because everything is so light, you can hold it all with ease.
- The ergonomics on the cameras put the controls really easily at your hands. On the S5II, for example, the front exposure dial is right around the shutter button. The ISO button also has a special perforation on it so you can find it easily. From there, you can figure out what other buttons will do their according job.
You can embrace things like intentional in-camera movement to get something that you wouldn’t otherwise get.