Canon Log Settings

Canon Log gamma curve takes full advantage of image sensor characteristics to ensure wide dynamic range for movies that will be processed in postproduction. With minimal loss of detail in shadows and highlights, movies retain more visual information across the dynamic range.

To work with Canon Log movies in postproduction, you can apply look-up tables (LUTs). LUT data can be downloaded from the Canon website.

  1. Select [Shooting: Canon Log settings].

  2. Select [Canon Log].

  3. Select [On (C.LOG)] or [On (C.LOG3)] ().

  4. Set the options as desired.

Canon Log

  • On (C.LOG)

    Enables 10-bit recording of Canon Log movies to the card. Movies can also be recorded to an external device that supports 10-bit recording.

    Note

    • YCbCr 4:2:2 (10-bit) color sampling and the BT.709/BT.2020 color space are used in Canon Log recording.

  • On (C.LOG3)

    Enables Canon Log 3 recording. Records movies with a higher dynamic range than when set to [On (C.LOG)].

    Note

    • YCbCr 4:2:2 (10-bit) color sampling and the BT.709/BT.2020/Cinema Gamut color space are used in Canon Log recording.

View Assist.

When played on the camera, these movies may look darker and have lower contrast than movies recorded with a Picture Style applied, due to Canon Log image characteristics, which are intended to ensure a wide dynamic range. For clearer display that makes it easier to check details, set [View Assist.] to [On].

  • Setting this feature to [On] does not affect movies recorded to the card, which are recorded using Canon Log characteristics. Similarly, HDMI video output has Canon Log characteristics, and View Assist is not used for it.

Note

  • [View Assist] is shown on the information display screen during movie recording with View Assist.
  • When set to [On], View Assist is also used with magnified display.

Color Matrix ([On (C.LOG)] only)

Using a color matrix, you can specify how colors are reproduced, to plan for postproduction processing. This option is set to [Neutral] when [On (C.LOG3)] is selected.

  • Cinema EOS Original

    Reproduces colors equivalent to those of the EOS-1D C.

  • Neutral

    Reproduces colors similar to actual subject colors.

Characteristics

Adjust as needed. Select an option ([Sharpness: Strength], [Saturation], or [Hue]), adjust the effect level, then press SET.

Sharpness: Strength 0: Weak outline emphasis 7: Strong outline emphasis
Saturation −4: Low +4: High
Hue* Reds −4: Toward magenta +4: Toward yellow
Greens -4: Toward yellow +4: Toward cyan
Blues -4: Toward cyan +4: Toward magenta

Reds, greens, and blues cannot be adjusted separately.

Color space

[Color space] can be set when [Color Matrix] is set to [Neutral]. Choose [BT.709], [BT.2020], or [Cinema Gamut] ([On (C.LOG3)] only) as the color space for recording to cards.

Shooting Settings

When set to [On (C.LOG)]

  • Manually setting the ISO speed to 100–320 will make the dynamic range narrower.

  • Canon Log offers a dynamic range of approx. 800% at ISO 400 or higher.

  • ISO 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, and 320 are expanded ISO speeds. [L] is displayed when an ISO speed is set.

When set to [On (C.LOG3)]

  • Manually setting the ISO speed to 100–640 will make the dynamic range narrower.

  • Canon Log 3 offers a dynamic range of approx. 1600% at ISO 800 or higher.

  • The following are expanded ISO speeds: ISO 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400, 500 and 640. [L] is displayed when an ISO speed is set.

Canon Log Image Quality

  • With Canon Log, movies may be affected by horizontal banding, depending on the subject or shooting conditions. Record a few test movies and check the results in advance. In particular, noise may become more noticeable if you enhance the contrast when color-grading your movies.
  • With Canon Log, skies, white walls, and similar subjects may be affected by noise or uneven gradation, exposure, or colors.
  • Horizontal banding is more likely to occur when recording somewhat dark, flat subjects. This image noise may even occur at relatively low ISO speeds around ISO 400 for Canon Log or ISO 800 for Canon Log 3.
  • If noise is noticeable, try recording under brighter conditions and adjusting brightness in color grading. Noise can also be reduced by recording at ISO speeds lower than ISO 400 for Canon Log or ISO 800 for Canon Log 3, although dynamic range is narrower.

Caution

  • General Canon Log shooting precautions

  • With Canon Log, autofocusing may be more difficult for subjects under low light, or for low-contrast subjects.
  • Noise may appear at image edges if [Peripheral illum corr] in [Shooting: Lens aberration correction] is set to [Enable] when Canon Log is set.
  • Canon Log 2 is not supported.
  • Histograms of images captured with Canon Log set are not based on images as converted for View Assist display. Image areas shown in gray in the histogram roughly indicate signal values that are not used.

Note

  • Playing movies recorded with Canon Log

  • View Assist is not used during movie playback.