Use both. Use a LUT for your dailies (initial edit) to see the vibe, but switch to a FilmVision PowerGrade for the final color grade to dial in the perfect image.
LUTs are great – for a starting point. But they’re rigid. A standard 1D or 3D LUT doesn’t understand your footage’s dynamic range, white balance shifts, or exposure tweaks. You apply a “Cinematic LUT” and suddenly your shadows are crushed and your skin tones look like mud. filmvisioniidavincipowergrade lutrar better
The image looks slightly flat initially, but then the node tree activates. The colorist clicks on the "Post Balance" node, shifts the Gamma wheel slightly cool, and the shirt becomes white again while the sky retains its filmic cyan. The colorist lowers the "Bloom" node from 30% to 10% to reduce softness. In 30 seconds, Shot B is technically superior and more pleasant to look at. Use both