Making photos from one camera look like another
p.1 #1Making photos from one camera look like another
Perhaps a weird question.
Let's say that I have a camera that I love the default output from. That means I take photos in raw, import to Lightroom, and the resulting image, without corrections, is the look I'm going for. Then say I have a camera from a different brand and I want the photos from that camera to match the first camera. How would you go about doing this?
For me, there are two cameras I love the output from - the Sony RX1RII, and the Leica M9. I know that Cobalt makes a profile / preset pack for the M9, but not for the RX1RII. The camera I want to match is my Nikon Z6III.
How would I go about matching them manually? Would I take a variety of the same photos with both cameras and just do my best in lightroom to make them match? Any methodology for this?
I might be the only person in the world who is in love with the default output in Lightroom of the RX1RII, but so be it
Let's say that I have a camera that I love the default output from. That means I take photos in raw, import to Lightroom, and the resulting image, without corrections, is the look I'm going for. Then say I have a camera from a different brand and I want the photos from that camera to match the first camera. How would you go about doing this?
For me, there are two cameras I love the output from - the Sony RX1RII, and the Leica M9. I know that Cobalt makes a profile / preset pack for the M9, but not for the RX1RII. The camera I want to match is my Nikon Z6III.
How would I go about matching them manually? Would I take a variety of the same photos with both cameras and just do my best in lightroom to make them match? Any methodology for this?
I might be the only person in the world who is in love with the default output in Lightroom of the RX1RII, but so be it
Jan 01, 2026 at 09:23 PM
p.1 #2Making photos from one camera look like another
When you say default Lightroom output, which profile is LR set to for the Sony or Leica? Adobe Color? Adaptive Color? Or one of the profiles that simulates the camera's profile?
It might be a matter of shooting a color checker chart with whatever LR profile you prefer for the Sony or Leica, output it, have the calibration software read it, then do the same with the Nikon and see if the calibration software can build a profile to match the Nikon to the Sony/Leica. I think this should be possible but it has been a very long time since I've looked into building a custom camera profile... Back in the day there were a few members on this board very knowledgeable about profiling. Not sure if they're still around.
It might be a matter of shooting a color checker chart with whatever LR profile you prefer for the Sony or Leica, output it, have the calibration software read it, then do the same with the Nikon and see if the calibration software can build a profile to match the Nikon to the Sony/Leica. I think this should be possible but it has been a very long time since I've looked into building a custom camera profile... Back in the day there were a few members on this board very knowledgeable about profiling. Not sure if they're still around.
Jan 02, 2026 at 12:28 AM
p.1 #3Making photos from one camera look like another
Not specific to this, but I screen grab any images I like the look of, tones, colours, etc. I then upload those images to ChatGPT and ask it analyse those images, and create a Lightroom preset that emulates those tones and colours, that can be used with my Nikon Z7 raw files. And it actually works surprisingly well
Jan 02, 2026 at 04:33 AM
p.1 #4Making photos from one camera look like another
pr4photos wrote:
Not specific to this, but I screen grab any images I like the look of, tones, colours, etc. I then upload those images to ChatGPT and ask it analyse those images, and create a Lightroom preset that emulates those tones and colours, that can be used with my Nikon Z7 raw files. And it actually works surprisingly well
I'd love to see an example of this, if yiou have photos you can share.
Not specific to this, but I screen grab any images I like the look of, tones, colours, etc. I then upload those images to ChatGPT and ask it analyse those images, and create a Lightroom preset that emulates those tones and colours, that can be used with my Nikon Z7 raw files. And it actually works surprisingly well
I'd love to see an example of this, if yiou have photos you can share.
Jan 02, 2026 at 07:53 AM
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p.1 #5Making photos from one camera look like another
I think that is the basic premise of Cobalt's products, as well.
Jan 02, 2026 at 08:51 AM
p.1 #6Making photos from one camera look like another
rscheffler wrote:
When you say default Lightroom output, which profile is LR set to for the Sony or Leica? Adobe Color? Adaptive Color? Or one of the profiles that simulates the camera's profile?
It might be a matter of shooting a color checker chart with whatever LR profile you prefer for the Sony or Leica, output it, have the calibration software read it, then do the same with the Nikon and see if the calibration software can build a profile to match the Nikon to the Sony/Leica. I think this should be possible but it has been a very long time since I've...Show more →
Yeah, Adobe Color, as weird as it sounds. What kind of calibration software would I use for this? Thanks.
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pr4photos wrote:
Not specific to this, but I screen grab any images I like the look of, tones, colours, etc. I then upload those images to ChatGPT and ask it analyse those images, and create a Lightroom preset that emulates those tones and colours, that can be used with my Nikon Z7 raw files. And it actually works surprisingly well
Well now that's a killer idea. I've used ChatGPT for various other things but didn't realize I could use it for this. I'm definitely going to try this out, both to try and match cameras, but also to feed it images I like from other photographers and have it tell me how to get there. Thanks!
When you say default Lightroom output, which profile is LR set to for the Sony or Leica? Adobe Color? Adaptive Color? Or one of the profiles that simulates the camera's profile?
It might be a matter of shooting a color checker chart with whatever LR profile you prefer for the Sony or Leica, output it, have the calibration software read it, then do the same with the Nikon and see if the calibration software can build a profile to match the Nikon to the Sony/Leica. I think this should be possible but it has been a very long time since I've...Show more →
Yeah, Adobe Color, as weird as it sounds. What kind of calibration software would I use for this? Thanks.
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pr4photos wrote:
Not specific to this, but I screen grab any images I like the look of, tones, colours, etc. I then upload those images to ChatGPT and ask it analyse those images, and create a Lightroom preset that emulates those tones and colours, that can be used with my Nikon Z7 raw files. And it actually works surprisingly well
Well now that's a killer idea. I've used ChatGPT for various other things but didn't realize I could use it for this. I'm definitely going to try this out, both to try and match cameras, but also to feed it images I like from other photographers and have it tell me how to get there. Thanks!
Jan 02, 2026 at 09:41 AM
p.1 #7Making photos from one camera look like another
Give CaptureOne a try. First it has it's own "C1 Std" color profile for all the cameras it supports -- this gets them looking very similar at least color and saturation wise out of the gate. (Of course it also has all the manufacturer profile options as well.) Second is a few revisions ago they added an AI "Match Look" tool. Here you simply drag your preferred exemplar image into the tool's image box, then you can "apply" that look to any other image. It works impressively well.
Jan 02, 2026 at 10:30 AM
p.1 #8Making photos from one camera look like another
weezintrumpete wrote:
It might be a matter of shooting a color checker chart with whatever LR profile you prefer for the Sony or Leica, output it, have the calibration software read it, then do the same with the Nikon and see if the calibration software can build a profile to match the Nikon to the Sony/Leica. I think this should be possible but it has been a very long time since I've looked into building a custom camera profile... Back in the day there were a few members on this board very knowledgeable about profiling. Not sure if they're still around.Yeah, Adobe Color, as weird as it sounds. What kind of calibration software would I use for this? Thanks.
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Well now that's a killer idea. I've used ChatGPT for various other things but didn't realize I could use it for this. I'm definitely going to try this out, both to try and match cameras, but also to feed it images I like from other photographers and have it tell me how to get there. Thanks!
I find it does very well, with one caveat - it often get the colour temperature wrong. Slide the temperature to where it should be - as you would normally, and you shouldn't need to touch any other slider, unless you want to tweak for personal preference.
I have used it for food photos, people photos, and architectural photos, using screen grabs of images I like the look of, whilst browsing the net. I've built up a little library of presets, doing this, and am very pleased with the results.
rscheffler wrote
When you say default Lightroom output, which profile is LR set to for the Sony or Leica? Adobe Color? Adaptive Color? Or one of the profiles that simulates the camera's profile?It might be a matter of shooting a color checker chart with whatever LR profile you prefer for the Sony or Leica, output it, have the calibration software read it, then do the same with the Nikon and see if the calibration software can build a profile to match the Nikon to the Sony/Leica. I think this should be possible but it has been a very long time since I've looked into building a custom camera profile... Back in the day there were a few members on this board very knowledgeable about profiling. Not sure if they're still around.
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pr4photos wrote
Not specific to this, but I screen grab any images I like the look of, tones, colours, etc. I then upload those images to ChatGPT and ask it analyse those images, and create a Lightroom preset that emulates those tones and colours, that can be used with my Nikon Z7 raw files. And it actually works surprisingly wellI find it does very well, with one caveat - it often get the colour temperature wrong. Slide the temperature to where it should be - as you would normally, and you shouldn't need to touch any other slider, unless you want to tweak for personal preference.
I have used it for food photos, people photos, and architectural photos, using screen grabs of images I like the look of, whilst browsing the net. I've built up a little library of presets, doing this, and am very pleased with the results.
Jan 02, 2026 at 11:00 AM