Guide

What is camera log?

Updated November 7, 2026

Camera log is a way of recording that saves more highlight and shadow detail. It is meant to be converted, not watched as-is.

Common log profiles

• S-Log2 / S-Log3 (Sony), usually paired with an S-Gamut color space.
• C-Log / C-Log2 / C-Log3 (Canon).
• V-Log (Panasonic), with V-Gamut.
• N-Log (Nikon), F-Log / F-Log2 (Fujifilm), Apple Log (recent iPhones), and others such as D-Log on many drones.

Each one uses a different curve and gamut. A conversion built for S-Log3 will look wrong on V-Log, and the reverse. Check your camera's picture profile setting before choosing a conversion. Camera names here are trademarks of their owners; Filmsilk is not affiliated with any camera maker or editing app.

Where LUTs fit in a log workflow

1. Shoot log and expose carefully; log does not rescue a badly exposed clip.
2. Convert to Rec.709 with the camera maker's conversion LUT or your editor's color management. Steps: Convert log to Rec.709.
3. Balance exposure and white balance.
4. Apply one creative look built for Rec.709, then adjust intensity.

Side by side comparison of the two formats: Log vs Rec.709.

Common mistakes

• Applying a Rec.709 creative look directly to log: muddy, flat, or oddly colored.
• Converting twice (camera LUT plus color management): crushed blacks and heavy saturation.
• Using a conversion for the wrong profile or gamut: hue shifts, especially in skin.

Check it on your own frame

In the free LUT previewer, load your camera's conversion LUT in the first slot and a look in the second, then compare before and after. Everything runs in your browser.

FAQ

What is a camera log profile?

A log profile records brightness on a logarithmic curve so the camera keeps more highlight and shadow detail. The image looks flat and gray until it is converted to a display space such as Rec.709.

Are S-Log, C-Log, and V-Log the same?

No. Each camera maker defines its own curve and color gamut, for example S-Log3 with S-Gamut3.Cine, C-Log2 or C-Log3, and V-Log with V-Gamut. A conversion LUT has to match the exact profile you shot.

Can I put a creative LUT straight on log footage?

Only if the LUT was built for that specific log profile. Most creative looks, including Filmsilk, expect Rec.709 input, so convert first.

Where do I get a log-to-Rec.709 conversion LUT?

Camera makers publish official conversion LUTs on their support sites, and many editors can convert log with built-in color management instead.

Looks for converted footage

Filmsilk is 24 creative looks for Rec.709, so they slot in right after your log conversion. Try every look on your own frame first. The Collection is $29 one-time; Filmsilk Complete is $39 with Studio export.