Shooting Log & picture profiles (and how to expose them)
Log footage looks flat and grey out of camera — on purpose. It captures more dynamic range so you have room to grade. But exposed wrong it gets noisy fast. Here's what Log is and how to nail it.
- Log captures more dynamic range for grading — it's meant to look flat.
- Expose Log a touch bright (to the right) to keep shadows clean.
- Only shoot Log if you'll grade — otherwise a standard profile is fine.
Watch: expose S-Log3 correctly
A practical method for exposing Sony S-Log3 consistently so it grades cleanly every time (applies in principle to other Log formats).
What Log actually is
A Log picture profile records the sensor's full dynamic range into a flat, low-contrast image. You add the contrast and colour back in the grade, which protects highlights and shadows. The trade-off: it needs correct exposure and a grade to look its best.
- Flat ≠ broken — that grey image is holding detail for the grade.
- Apply a LUT on your monitor to preview the graded look while shooting.
Expose to protect the shadows
Log shadows get noisy if underexposed, so most shooters expose a little bright ('expose to the right') and bring it down in the grade. Use the camera's tools — zebras at a known value, or rate the ISO — to keep it consistent across the shoot.
- Slightly over-expose, then pull it down in post for clean shadows.
- Pick one method (zebras / false colour) and use it every take.
- No grade in your workflow? Shoot a standard profile instead — it's fine.
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