Hey Everyone,

Does anyone have an example of a video shot in Normal and not color graded next to the same video shot in D-log and color graded? I am looking for an example that opens my eyes to a distinct difference between the two that makes all the extra color grading work actually worth it. I'm new to this and color grading is a lot to learn and master and I'd like to see some obvious justification for all the extra work. I'm not sure I can learn to grade better than the Normal setting.

Thanks for the help. Safe flying.

If you are happy with Normal and the grading you can do with it then don't worry about D-log.

I took similar scenes and worked both normal and D-log.  I could have lived with the tweaked Normal and if I didn't have the time I would leave it at that and have.  But, there are more options to change the looks of things with D-log.   Doesn't necessarily mean that it is better; but I can usually find a more pleasing (to Me) grade starting with D-log  and I am no expert.


Play with the free version of Davinci, use one of the free Luts as a starting or ending point and see if it is worth your time.  Only you know.

I think the versatility of the DLOG-M footage to reach many different results is the big advantage over "normal". Once it's graded and saved or recorded as normal, the video can't return to it's full fidelity and/or be rendered as cleanly with a variety of different moods or atmospheres. DLOG-M is a definite plus to create more dramatic footage, but not necessary for strictly capturing accurate shots.

Highly recommend some of the free Casey Faris YouTube tutorials on Davinci grading.

I would say that for photographs, the RAW shots seem much better than JPG mode.

Hi, thanks for the inquiry. Hope you'll get a good image wherein you could compare the two images. Thank you for the support.

Did this with no colour adjustment just normal

Pzooky Posted at 11-1 14:32
Did this with no colour adjustment just normal

Nice, but it doesn't answer the question of how the same scene would have come out filmed in D-log and graded.

parkgt214 Posted at 11-1 15:08
Nice, but it doesn't answer the question of how the same scene would have come out filmed in D-log and graded.

I've no idea, my pc/video card can't handle it when I go into D-log or MPEG4 so have to record in .mov 4k and turn it into 1080p, to be fair I've no idea what I'm doing just been testing out things trying to make the best of it with a slow pc until I make some upgrades. Strange my pc can handle other devices but not M2P even in 1080p, watching with interest

Basically Normal is already D-Log corrected/graded in camera (cf. https://vimeo.com/blog/post/color-grading-vs-color-correction-explained

Short but exactly what you asked

simis Posted at 11-2 03:01
Short but exactly what you asked
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CNTCqn3DmY

And there is your conclusive proof that it is indeed worth the effort. ;)

simis Posted at 11-2 03:01
Short but exactly what you asked
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CNTCqn3DmY

Holy crap.  Thanks exactly what I was looking for.  The difference is clear.  Thank you.  Looks like it's time to compulsively dive into color grading tutorials.  

U are welcome!

simis Posted at 11-2 03:01
Short but exactly what you asked
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CNTCqn3DmY

What if any attempt was made to improve the Normal footage in that clip?

I am NOT a photographer by any means.  These were shot as it happened.....NO POST.  Normal Mode.  Being there, it was amazing to me how realistic the color was.....I had 84 shots and a few vids in there.....again no Post.   The vid is straight off the card........Not alot of settings.....    Sorry I don't have comparo with DLog

Randy