Technical Instruction | LOG Profile Filming

A LOG profile (logarithmic), is a shooting profile found on some digital video cameras that gives a wide dynamic range, allowing more latitude to apply colour and style choices. The resulting image appears washed out and requires colour grading/correction during the post-production, but retains shadow and highlight detail that would otherwise be lost if a regular linear profile had been used that clipped shadow and highlight detail. This common feature is mostly used in filmmaking and videography.

Proprietary log profiles on various camera brands

Canon = C-LOG

DJI = D-LOG

Fujifilm = F-LOG

Nikon = N-LOG

Sony = S-LOG

Panasonic (Lumix) = V-LOG

Examples of a LOG profile colour grade

Dynamic Range

Dynamic Range is the ratio between the largest and smallest values that a certain quantity can assume. It is often used in the context of signals, like sound and light. It is measured either as a ratio or as a base-10 or base-2 logarithmic value of the difference between the smallest and largest signal values.

Electronically reproduced audio and video is often processes to fit the original material with a wide dynamic range into a narrower recorded dynamic range that can more easily be stored and reproduced; This processing is called dynamic range compression.

In terms of photo and video, dynamic range is the range in which a camera can capture the brightest and darkest areas of an image without loss of detail. If the camera moves out of this range, then that's when you'll see the whites being washed out or the blacks becoming noisy/grainy.

So, the more dynamic range your camera has, the more leeway you have to capture your image effectively.