Capture One and Panasonic Lumix announced a strategic partnership in May 2026 that promises to reshape the workflow for professional Lumix photographers. The collaboration includes native tethering support for all current Lumix S-series and G-series cameras within Capture One 23, as well as exclusive film simulation profiles developed jointly by Capture One's color science team and Panasonic's imaging engineers.
What the Partnership Delivers
The partnership addresses a long-standing frustration for Lumix users: while Panasonic cameras excel at video and offer excellent still image quality, tethering support in professional software has historically lagged behind Canon, Nikon, and Sony. Capture One's new Lumix integration includes:
• Live tethering with full camera control (aperture, shutter, ISO, white balance) for S5 II, S9, G9 II, and GH6
• 16-bit RAW processing with optimized noise reduction for Lumix sensors
• Exclusive "Lumix Color" profiles that emulate Panasonic's in-camera color science
• Wireless tethering via Wi-Fi for location shoots without cables
Why This Matters for Professionals
For studio photographers and commercial shooters, tethering is non-negotiable. The ability to see images on a large monitor immediately after capture streamlines client communication, reduces reshoots, and speeds up the selection process. Until now, Lumix users often relied on less reliable third-party solutions or Panasonic's basic LUMIX Tether software. Capture One's integration brings Lumix into the same professional workflow tier as Canon and Sony.
Film Simulations: A Fujifilm-Style Approach
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the partnership is the film simulation profiles. Fujifilm has built a passionate following partly through its acclaimed film simulations, and Panasonic clearly wants a piece of that action. The initial profile set includes "Lumix Natural," "Lumix Cinema," "Lumix Monochrome," and "Lumix Vintage" — each developed to match Panasonic's in-camera look while offering the flexibility of raw adjustment.
Availability
Capture One 23's Lumix update is available now as a free update for current subscribers. A new "Lumix Pro" bundle, including a perpetual Capture One license and two years of updates, will be offered at $299 — a $100 discount over the standard Pro license.
Bottom Line
The Capture One-Lumix partnership is a win-win. Capture One gains access to a growing community of Lumix professionals, while Panasonic removes one of the last barriers preventing its cameras from being taken seriously in high-end stills workflows. For Lumix shooters who have been waiting for professional tethering, the wait is finally over.