New Lut/Cube Update – PictureFX Leica M8 Camera Standard – FREE download

Intro :

Why I created a Lut to simulate the Leica M8 camera jpg output ?
Well, although the Leica M8 was not initially regarded as the best Leica camera, it eventually gained popularity and became highly sought after, partly due to its relatively attractive price. Many photographers aspire to shoot with a Leica at some point, which sparked the idea of creating a simulation.
Interestingly enough, the inspiration for this idea came from a YouTube video discussing an alternative to the Fujifilm X100 series, which is sometimes compared or referred to as a Leica alternative due to its rangefinder look. However, neither the Fujifilm nor the Olympus M10 mentioned in the video can truly replicate the signature Leica M8 film look.
Hence, the idea emerged to develop a Lut that could reproduce a Leica simulation. While there are various alternatives to Leica cameras, such as the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 & 2, and the X-E series, as well as the Olympus Pen F, E-P and E-PL series, if one desires the rangefinder look, the Lut allows any camera to be used, preferably with Raw output for optimal results.

History :

The Leica M8 was first introduced in 2006 and features a Kodak CCD 10-megapixel sensor. At its initial release, there was some controversy surrounding image quality issues, particularly related to color casts. Depending on the lighting conditions, black could appear purplish, and there was also a certain “sensitivity” with the colors green and orange. In response, Leica decided to provide all M8 users with two free filters. In 2008, a successor, the Leica M8.2, was already available. However, this did not diminish the camera’s popularity, and to this day, it remains highly sought after, partly due to its relatively “affordable” price compared to other Leica models.

The Lut :

The LUT simulation created here is entirely based on the original Leica M8 – without any modifications. Yes, you wouldn’t create a simulation of a particular film stock, for example, and then alter it because you’re not satisfied with the original. No, it’s all about staying true to the original as closely as possible. By the way, there were also positive aspects to the M8’s output, such as beautiful skin tones, which made the camera popular for capturing wedding ceremonies and occasionally serving as a backup to the Leica M9.

With this PictureFX Leica M8 Camera Standard, you can emulate a “comparative” atmosphere and color conditions to a certain extent, similar to the output of a Leica M8 camera. Ideally, working with Raw files is recommended as it yields the best results. However, I am aware that many people apply LUTs and Cube files directly to videos and even JPEGs, which is perfectly possible. To achieve the best outcome, it is advisable to start with a neutral JPEG or MOV media file. If your camera does not have the option to record in Log, use the “muted” or “natural” setting. When working with non-Raw or Log files, you can soften the color grading by adjusting the strength of the applied LUT or Cube, with a good starting point being approximately 70%.

Left : normal or natural dev from raw – Right dev with PictureFX Leica M8 cube

In the comparative test photos above, Raw files were initially developed in the standard way. In this case, an E-M10 Mark III Orf file was developed using the normal Olympus curve and Adobe camera color profile. The second photo was simply developed from Raw file using the Lut in RawTherapee. Both photos were then uploaded to Digikam Lightroom to enable a side-by-side comparison.

Another example in RawTherapee :

Above : original SOOC jpg untouched

Jpg developed from Raw in RawTherapee with the PictureFX Leica M8 camera standard

Original SOOC jpg

Original camera Raw untouched (neutral)

RawTherapee development – Raw (DNG) to Jpg with basic camera curve

RawTherapee development – Raw (DNG) to Jpg with PictureFX Leica M8 camera standard LUT

You can download the Cube simulation for FREE on FreshLuts.com :

Cube – PictureFX Leica M8 Camera Standard

Of course the Lut is also FREE, which can be downloaded on my cloud via this link :

Lut – PictureFX Leica M8 Camera Standard

The Lut or HaldClut PNG variant is created in a resolution of 125×125, which is typically sufficient for regular applications. On the other hand, the Cube version is available in a grid format of 25x25x25. Both of these format versions are widely used and can be easily found online, as they adhere to the common standard.

The compatibility with different software packages,
includes :
Adobe Photoshop CS6 and up (Cube)
After Effects – Premiere Pro – Speedgrade (Cube)
DaVince Resolve (Cube)
Affinity Photo (Cube)
Luminar AI (Cube)
Darktable (Lut & Cube)
RawTherapee (Lut) -> also ArtTherapee
and many more …

---

La Gallerie

The photo gallery of Open Source Photography, Olympus micro 4/3 system, Vintage Lens Photograpy, Film Simulation, PictureFX, HDR – Photographer : Marc R.