Soon after the highly anticipated DMW-SFU1 V-Log L license key started to ship to the first eager GH4 shooters, the next logical concern popped up. What is the best way to colour grade the log footage coming from the camera itself? Well, there is certainly no straight answer to this question.
Yet, as any other camera system, the GH4 also has its unique features and specific colour science so again some upfront testing and tweaking is required before you can get the optimal results. Applying a LUT still would be one of the most favored options and go-to solutions that would provide a great starting point and a solid base for more advanced colour adjustments.
The UK-based cinematographer Daniel John Peters has produced a handful of LUTs dedicated to the recent V-Log L gamma mode of the Panasonic GH4 that can be directly purchased and downloaded from his blog. Below are a few examples of the Peters’ LUT Pack in action that includes some basic LUTs to get you a finished look or just to start off and continue with colour grading from there.
GH4 V-Log LUTS from Daniel Peters on Vimeo.
I’m pretty sure that these LUTs will work equally well when applied to the Panasonic GH4R‘s footage as well, plus they are all compliant with Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut X and Davinci Resolve 12.
Before downloading Peter’s LUTs pack make sure that you first have installed the just released Firmware update 2.4 on your GH4 and got the V-Log activated, after purchasing the key code kit DMW-SFU1 from the provided link (at the moment available only to US customers).
This code, which is delivered on a physical card, allows you to easily install the V-Log L gamma onto the camera, giving you a flat profile that provides a wide dynamic range of up to 12 stops, improving upon the 10 stops previously attainable with the GH4. It’s also worth noting that Daniel Peter’s LUTs Pack will cost you £4.99 (about $8 US).
UK Dealer links to the Panasonic GH4R with V-Log installed at £999 + VAT (£1,199 inc. VAT):
Visual Impact /ProAV / CVP / Production Gear
US Dealers – DMW-SFU1-VLOG at $99.95:
[via: Cinescopophilia, source: Daniel John Peters Blog]
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Thank you for the post but using LUT’s except for preview (in recording mode) totally defies the whole porpoise of shooting in a LOG format.
Why? A LUT is a quick way to do color grading, yes, but LUTS can leave details in the shadows and highlights of the LOG footage intact, while applying a REC709-like colorspace and thereby removing the “flat” look. So that does not defy the purpose of the LOG format. LOG just gives you more dynamic range, which otherwise would not be possible in the limited 8 bit video formats most cameras use today.
Because using a LUT (except for previewing) is like shooting with a predefined profile in the camera. LOG grading must be made in accordance with what you are filming because you will probably never shoot with the exact exposure and light as the maker of the LUT intended. The results will always be worse than making a custom look in accordance with your LOG.
I read a lot of complains about V-LOG in those couple of days from people who do not understand what the LOG format is and how to use it. Most of the them are just incorrectly film in LOG, apply predefined LUT’s and then complain about bad results. In contrast, I only had very good experiences with V-LOG, even in 8 bits only.
Nar… Need to be free ffs…