Open Gate shooting is a powerful video recording technique that utilizes the entire sensor area of a camera instead of the traditional cropped 16:9 format. This feature is particularly useful for filmmakers and content creators who need flexibility in their video production workflow. While many cameras limit video recording to 16:9, Open Gate allows for a taller frame—typically 3:2 or 4:3—providing more options for cropping different aspect ratios in post-production.
This technique is especially relevant for modern content creation, where videos must be formatted for multiple platforms, including YouTube (16:9), Instagram Reels (9:16), TikTok (9:16), and Facebook (4:5). By shooting in Open Gate mode, filmmakers can record a single clip and later crop it to suit different platforms without losing resolution.
What Cameras Support Open Gate Filming?
While Open Gate shooting remains a rare feature in most mirrorless cameras, Panasonic has made it a standard offering across many of its Lumix models as has Fuji to some extent with the XH2S. It is normally something found on higher end cinema gear like the Sony Venice or Blackmagic cameras.
How Open Gate Shooting Works
Most cameras crop the top and bottom of the sensor to create a 16:9 recording area, which limits flexibility when reformatting for vertical or square videos. Open Gate mode, however, captures the entire sensor area, allowing for much greater creative freedom in post-production.
For example, the Lumix S9’s Open Gate 6K mode records in 5952×3968 pixels (3:2 aspect ratio). If you later need a vertical 9:16 crop, you can extract a 2232×3968 pixel frame, which is much higher resolution than a standard 4K clip (2160×3840 pixels). This ensures sharper details and allows for further cropping without quality loss.
Similarly, Micro Four Thirds Lumix cameras like the GH6 and GH7 record in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which offers similar flexibility for both landscape and vertical crops.
The Open Gate (flexible framing) feature, available on LUMIX cameras, provides maximum flexibility by utilizing the entire sensor for framing. This allows you to capture a single shot and easily adapt it to multiple aspect ratios, making it ideal for content creators who need to optimize their work for various social media platforms without the need for multiple takes or excessive cropping. This widely praised function is a game-changer for streamlining content production.
Benefits of Open Gate Video Recording
1. Shoot Once, Crop Later
One of the most significant advantages of Open Gate shooting is the ability to shoot a single clip and later crop it into different aspect ratios. This eliminates the need to re-record the same scene in multiple orientations, saving time and effort.
2. Higher Resolution Crops
Since Open Gate footage is recorded in 6K or higher, even heavily cropped versions maintain high image quality. This is especially useful when extracting vertical (9:16) or square (1:1) videos from a single landscape-oriented clip.
3. More Creative Framing Options
With a taller frame, Open Gate shooting provides extra headroom, allowing filmmakers to adjust composition after the shoot. This flexibility is particularly valuable when dealing with unexpected framing changes or last-minute client requests for alternate aspect ratios.
4. Enhanced Digital Reframing and Stabilization
The additional resolution in Open Gate footage enables smoother digital zooms, pans, and stabilization in post-production without a noticeable loss in quality.
How to Use Open Gate Shooting Effectively
1. Enable Open Gate Mode
On Lumix cameras, Open Gate settings can typically be found in the video recording menu. Select 6K Open Gate or 5.8K Open Gate depending on your camera model and sensor size.
2. Use Frame Markers for Composition
Since Open Gate footage includes more frame area than your final output, it’s crucial to use Frame Markers to ensure your subject remains within the intended crop area. Lumix cameras offer customizable frame guides, allowing users to visualize 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, and other aspect ratios in real time.
3. Optimize Your Workflow for Different Platforms
- For YouTube: Export at 16:9 (e.g., 3840×2160 for 4K output).
- For Instagram Reels & TikTok: Crop to 9:16 (e.g., 2232×3968 from a 6K Open Gate clip).
- For Facebook & LinkedIn: Use 4:5 or 1:1 crops.
4. Leverage Open Gate for Multi-Purpose Content
If you’re producing content for both traditional video screens and social media, Open Gate shooting allows you to create high-quality versions for all formats from a single recording session.
Panasonic Open Gate vs. Other Brands
Panasonic has been at the forefront of making Open Gate shooting a standard feature in many of its cameras, while most competitors still limit video recording to 16:9. This makes Lumix cameras particularly appealing to filmmakers and content creators who need a versatile and efficient workflow.
Other brands have experimented with Open Gate-style shooting, but Panasonic remains the most consistent in offering it across its camera lineup.
Is Open Gate Shooting Worth It?
If you are a filmmaker, content creator, or videographer looking for maximum flexibility in your footage, Open Gate recording is a game-changer. It allows you to shoot once and export in multiple aspect ratios while maintaining superior resolution and quality.
Key Takeaways about Open Gate
- Open Gate video uses the full sensor area for maximum flexibility.
- Higher resolution ensures better quality when cropping for vertical or square videos.
- Saves time by eliminating the need for multiple recordings in different orientations.
- Lumix cameras, especially the Lumix S9, S5II, GH6, and GH7, offer industry-leading Open Gate video capabilities.
If you’re serious about multi-platform video production, Open Gate shooting is the future.
