Do you have to use a LUT with C300 footage? at DVinfo.net

Scott Gold · October 22nd, 2013, 03:30 PM

If I shot a bunch of footage in Canon Log, does it mean I must use a LUT when color correcting? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought LUT's were just guides that get you 90% there, you can color correct without them if you like.

Mark Dobson · October 22nd, 2013, 04:40 PM

No LUT required, and yes it gives you an idea of how things are going to look.

I can only refer to my own experience and I've been filming with Canon Log for the last 18 months and have never used a LUT although in many respects the View Assist on the C300 screen must in some way incorporate a LUT.

If you shoot and edit your own material it's a great way of working, providing a lot of latitude in post production and I've got pretty quick at correcting or optimising the files. I use FCPX and end up boosting saturation, sharpness and correcting the levels using the scopes.

The results are very rewarding even though it does take a lot longer than editing with the standard settings that come with the camera. I normally end up doing a lot of secondary corrections.

However within an edit many shots will be very similar and it's possible to save a lot of time with paste attributes and doing some minor tweaks.

Scott Gold · October 22nd, 2013, 05:42 PM

Cool, thanks for the reply.
You add sharpening in post? I thought that was something only done on 5Dmk3 footage.

Mark Dobson · October 23rd, 2013, 01:39 AM

It's certainly something I like to do.

This is what Canon says about Canon Log:

"Canon Log is a log gamma setting that retains maximum image information for post-production. It has high dynamic range and records the image with a flat image quality with subdued contrast and sharpness. This is ideal for color correction"

Here is a link to the Canon Web page I lifted this from:

Canon DLC: Cinema EOS Frequently Asked Questions

Canon DLC: Cinema EOS Frequently Asked Questions

Matt Davis · October 30th, 2013, 11:56 AM

You may like to check out 'Film Convert':

FilmConvert - Film Stock and Grain Emulation Software

It has a (downloaded separately) C-Log setting for both C300 and C100.

It's not a 'film look' plug in applied in secondary grading - it's the closest one would get to a 'LUT' for C-Log.

It's not for every shoot, it's not for every shot, but it does some wonderful gamma and colour manipulation that C-Log seems to like. Corporate shooters may want to step away, but I love it.

Edit: BTW, sharpening in post is very, very nice. It can be disconcerting to see unsharpened (minimum detail) rushes, but a little dab of sharpening in post is like the first time you try on your new glasses - oh, so THAT's what it looks like! Sharpening in post is better than in-camera as you can vary it shot by shot, and because it's not done in a fraction of a second, the NLE tends to do a neater, more pleasing job.

Sabyasachi Patra · November 7th, 2013, 10:41 AM

I exclusively use c-log with my C300 and don't use any LUTs. It is important to get the shooting parameters right and the post processing doesn't take much time.

Abhishek Mehan · January 21st, 2014, 11:21 AM

Hi guys, im new to the forum. I have been struggling with exporting my short film that was shot on a c300.
I'm getting compression artefacts even on mp4 @ 24 mbps. pixel blocks and round circular bands in darker areas. are there any ways to export the film that will reduce such effects. thanks.

October 22nd, 2013, 03:30 PM	#1
Scott Gold Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 194	Do you have to use a LUT with C300 footage? If I shot a bunch of footage in Canon Log, does it mean I must use a LUT when color correcting? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought LUT's were just guides that get you 90% there, you can color correct without them if you like. __________________ www.scott-gold.com

October 22nd, 2013, 04:40 PM	#2
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: Do you have to use a LUT with C300 footage? No LUT required, and yes it gives you an idea of how things are going to look. I can only refer to my own experience and I've been filming with Canon Log for the last 18 months and have never used a LUT although in many respects the View Assist on the C300 screen must in some way incorporate a LUT. If you shoot and edit your own material it's a great way of working, providing a lot of latitude in post production and I've got pretty quick at correcting or optimising the files. I use FCPX and end up boosting saturation, sharpness and correcting the levels using the scopes. The results are very rewarding even though it does take a lot longer than editing with the standard settings that come with the camera. I normally end up doing a lot of secondary corrections. However within an edit many shots will be very similar and it's possible to save a lot of time with paste attributes and doing some minor tweaks.

October 22nd, 2013, 05:42 PM	#3
Scott Gold Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 194	Re: Do you have to use a LUT with C300 footage? Cool, thanks for the reply. You add sharpening in post? I thought that was something only done on 5Dmk3 footage. __________________ www.scott-gold.com

October 23rd, 2013, 01:39 AM	#4
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: Do you have to use a LUT with C300 footage? It's certainly something I like to do. This is what Canon says about Canon Log: "Canon Log is a log gamma setting that retains maximum image information for post-production. It has high dynamic range and records the image with a flat image quality with subdued contrast and sharpness. This is ideal for color correction" Here is a link to the Canon Web page I lifted this from: Canon DLC: Cinema EOS Frequently Asked Questions Canon DLC: Cinema EOS Frequently Asked Questions

October 30th, 2013, 11:56 AM	#5
Matt Davis Trustee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,562	Re: Do you have to use a LUT with C300 footage? You may like to check out 'Film Convert': FilmConvert - Film Stock and Grain Emulation Software It has a (downloaded separately) C-Log setting for both C300 and C100. It's not a 'film look' plug in applied in secondary grading - it's the closest one would get to a 'LUT' for C-Log. It's not for every shoot, it's not for every shot, but it does some wonderful gamma and colour manipulation that C-Log seems to like. Corporate shooters may want to step away, but I love it. Edit: BTW, sharpening in post is very, very nice. It can be disconcerting to see unsharpened (minimum detail) rushes, but a little dab of sharpening in post is like the first time you try on your new glasses - oh, so THAT's what it looks like! Sharpening in post is better than in-camera as you can vary it shot by shot, and because it's not done in a fraction of a second, the NLE tends to do a neater, more pleasing job. __________________ Director/Editor - MDMA Ltd: Write, Shoot, Edit, Publish - mattdavis.pro EX1 x2, C100 --> FCPX & PPro6

November 7th, 2013, 10:41 AM	#6
Sabyasachi Patra Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 507	Re: Do you have to use a LUT with C300 footage? I exclusively use c-log with my C300 and don't use any LUTs. It is important to get the shooting parameters right and the post processing doesn't take much time. __________________ Wild Tiger Productions http://www.indiawilds.com/about.htm

January 21st, 2014, 11:21 AM	#7
Abhishek Mehan Tourist Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 3	Re: Do you have to use a LUT with C300 footage? Hi guys, im new to the forum. I have been struggling with exporting my short film that was shot on a c300. I'm getting compression artefacts even on mp4 @ 24 mbps. pixel blocks and round circular bands in darker areas. are there any ways to export the film that will reduce such effects. thanks.