How To Install USER LUTs On Sony Cameras: a6700, ZV E1, a7c II, FX3, FX30

Summary

This video tutorial guides viewers on how to install and use Sony's new user Luts feature in their cameras, which allows for real-time preview of footage with color grading before recording. It covers compatible camera models, the process of transferring .cube L files to an SD card, and activating the Luts in-camera. The video also explains how to utilize Luts with log shooting settings and the limitations of using only one L at a time. The host shares personal workflows, including using Sony's official S-Log3 S-Gamut3.Cine LUT for optimal results.

Takeaways

• 📷 Sony is introducing a feature in their cameras that allows users to install and preview LUTs (Look-Up Tables) before recording.
• 📱 The feature is currently available in the Sony FX3, FX30, A7 C Mark I, ZV1, and a6700 models, with expectations of more models to include it in 2024.
• 🔧 To install LUTs, users need to create a specific folder path on their SD card: 'private/Sony/Pro/L' and place the .cube LUT file there.
• 🔄 After installing LUTs, formatting the SD card or using a different one will not affect the LUTs as they are stored in the camera's memory.
• 🎨 Users can activate and use the LUTs by navigating to the camera's menu and selecting 'Manage user LUT' to import them.
• 📹 Log shooting must be enabled for the user LUTs feature to work, as it is a prerequisite for activating the LUTs in the camera.
• 🌈 Color gamut should be set to match the LUT being used to ensure the correct preview on the camera.
• 🚫 Picture profiles and LUTs cannot be used simultaneously; the camera requires the user to choose between log shooting or picture profiles.
• 🔄 The 'Embed L file' option applies the LUT metadata for editing software, not the actual footage.
• 👁️ The main benefit of this feature is the ability to preview what the converted log file will look like on the camera screen before recording.
• 📚 The script suggests using Sony's official S-Log3 S-Gamut3.Cine LUT for optimal results and provides a link for download.

Q & A

What is the new feature Sony has added to their cameras?

Sony has added a feature that allows users to install and preview LUTs (Look-Up Tables) in their cameras before recording actual footage.

Which Sony cameras currently support the user LUTs feature?

As of the video's recording, the Sony cameras that support user LUTs are the FX3, FX30, A7 C Mark I, ZV1, and A6700.

What is the expected behavior of the LUTs feature in Sony's 2024 camera releases?

It is anticipated that Sony will include the LUTs feature in their 2024 camera releases, making it a standard offering in their newer models.

How do you install LUTs into a Sony camera?

To install LUTs, you need to put your SD card into your computer, create or navigate to the 'private/sony/pro/L' folder path, and drag the .cube LUT file into the 'L' folder.

What happens to the LUTs if you format the SD card or use a different one after installing them?

If you format the SD card or use a different one, the LUTs will remain on the camera as long as they have been installed correctly.

Where can you find the option to manage user LUTs in the camera menu?

In the camera menu, you can find the option to manage user LUTs under Tab 4 (the pink one), then 'Color and Tone', and then 'Manage User LUT'.

How do you activate and use the LUTs once they are installed in the camera?

After installing the LUTs, you activate them by going to 'Log Shooting Setting' under Tab 3 (the red one with the camera icon), turning on 'Log Shooting', and then selecting the LUT under 'Color/Tone' in the same menu.

What is the purpose of the 'Embed L file' option in the camera settings?

The 'Embed L file' option applies the LUT metadata to your editing software, allowing you to preview the LUT effect during editing without altering the actual footage.

What are the limitations of using LUTs with Sony cameras?

The limitations include the requirement of having 'Log Shooting' turned on, the inability to use Picture Profiles and LUTs simultaneously, and the restriction of applying only one LUT at a time.

What is the recommended workflow for using LUTs with Sony's official S-Log3 S-Gamut3.Cine LUT?

The recommended workflow involves installing the S-Log3 S-Gamut3.Cine LUT onto the camera, turning on 'Log Shooting', selecting 'S-Gamut3.Cine' color gamut, and then selecting the LUT for a preview on the camera.

How does the video creator suggest improving exposure and white balance when using LUTs?

The creator suggests using their free two-part video guide for exposure best practices and mentions that white balance guides are coming soon.

Outlines

00:00

📹 Installing and Using LUTs in Sony Cameras

This paragraph explains how to install and utilize Look-Up Tables (LUTs) in Sony cameras that support user LUTs. It lists compatible camera models such as the FX3, FX30, A7C Mark I, ZV1, and a6700, and anticipates the feature's inclusion in 2024 models. The process involves placing the .cube LUT file into a specific folder on the SD card, which is then recognized by the camera. The menu navigation is detailed, including accessing the 'Manage User LUT' option and activating the LUT for preview. The paragraph also addresses common questions about LUTs persisting after formatting the SD card and the inability to use them without log shooting enabled. Limitations such as the inability to use picture profiles simultaneously and the restriction to one LUT at a time are discussed. The author invites viewers to share their camera models and feedback in the comments.

05:00

🎨 Workflow for Applying Sony's Official S-Log3 S-Gamut3.Cine LUT

The second paragraph delves into the author's workflow for applying Sony's official S-Log3 S-Gamut3.Cine LUT, which can be downloaded for free from Sony's site. The author describes the steps to install the LUT onto the camera, emphasizing the importance of matching the LUT with the correct color gamut and log shooting settings. The workflow includes getting the exposure and white balance right, which the author offers to teach in future guides. The author then describes the post-production process of applying the same LUT used in-camera, adjusting white balance, and achieving a satisfactory final result. The paragraph concludes by highlighting user LUTs as a favorite feature and teases four more impressive features in newer Sony cameras, with a prompt to check them out in the next video.

Keywords

💡Luts

Luts, or Look-Up Tables, are a set of predefined color transformations used in video production to apply a specific look or style to the footage. In the video, Luts are highlighted as a feature in Sony cameras that allow users to preview the color grading before recording. The script mentions installing .cube L files into the camera, which are types of Luts.

💡SD card

An SD card, or Secure Digital card, is a type of memory card used in portable devices to store data. In the context of the video, the SD card is used to transfer Luts to the Sony camera by placing them in a specific folder path on the card.

💡Folder path

A folder path is the location in a file system that specifies the route to a particular file or directory. The script instructs viewers to create a specific folder path ('private/Sony/Pro/L') on their SD card to store the Luts for use in their Sony cameras.

💡Log shooting

Log shooting refers to the process of recording video in a log format, which captures a wider dynamic range and more color information than standard recording modes. The video explains that to use Luts, log shooting must be enabled on the camera, as Luts are applied to the log footage for preview purposes.

💡Color gamut

Color gamut is the complete range of color that a camera can capture or a display can show. The script mentions matching the color gamut to the L being used, which is important for accurate color representation in the footage.

💡Metadata

Metadata is data that provides information about other data. In the video, the term 'embed L file' refers to the process of applying Luts as metadata, which helps editing software understand how the footage should be color graded.

💡User Luts

User Luts are custom Look-Up Tables created or chosen by the user to apply a specific color style to their footage. The video discusses how to install and use these custom Luts on Sony cameras for a personalized look.

💡S-Log 3 and S-Gamut3.Cine

S-Log 3 and S-Gamut3.Cine are specific log and color profiles used in Sony cameras to provide a wide dynamic range and color space suitable for professional color grading. The script describes using these profiles in conjunction with Luts for a desired look in the footage.

💡White balance

White balance is the process of adjusting the color temperature of an image to ensure accurate colors, especially the color 'white'. The video briefly mentions dialing in white balance as part of the workflow when using Luts and shooting in log.

💡Post-production

Post-production is the process of editing and refining video footage after it has been filmed. The script explains that while Luts provide a preview on the camera, the actual color grading is done in post-production using the same Luts applied on the camera.

💡Dynamic range

Dynamic range is the ratio between the brightest and darkest elements that can be captured in an image or video. The video implies that log shooting, which increases dynamic range, is necessary for using Luts effectively on Sony cameras.

Highlights

Sony has introduced a feature in their cameras that allows users to install and preview LUTs before recording.

The feature is currently available in Sony cameras like the FX3, FX30, A7 C Mark I, ZV1, and A6700.

Sony may include this feature in their 2024 camera releases.

To install LUTs, users need to create a specific folder path on their SD card: private/Sony/Pro/L.

LUT files, which should be in .cube format, are dragged into the L folder on the SD card.

Once LUTs are installed, they remain available on the camera even if the SD card is formatted or changed.

To activate LUTs, go to the camera menu under 'Color and Tone' and select 'Manage User LUT'.

Users can select a container and import the LUTs for use.

LUTs provide a preview of the footage in post-production without affecting the actual flat log profile.

The 'Embed L file' option applies metadata for editing software rather than the LUT to the footage.

To use LUTs, 'Log Shooting' must be turned on in the camera settings.

Picture profiles and LUTs cannot be used simultaneously on Sony cameras.

Currently, only one LUT can be applied at a time.

The user demonstrates their workflow using Sony's official S-Log3 S-Gamut3.Cine LUT.

The LUT is applied in-camera for a preview, and the same LUT is used in post-production for consistency.

The user emphasizes the importance of correct exposure and white balance for optimal results.

The video concludes with a teaser for four more features on Sony cameras that have impressed the user.

Transcripts

Sony has recently been putting a feature

into their cameras that lets us install

a lot and preview what the footage looks

like before we even hit record but I've

noticed in the comments of some of my

recent videos that y'all are a bit

confused on how to install those Luts

into the camera and the best way to

utilize it I've got your back first off

your camera needs this function which

provides the ability to use user Luts a

few cameras that have this at the time

of making this video is the fx3 the fx30

the A7 C Mark I the zv1 and the a6700

although I suspect that in Sony's 2024

camera releases that they're going to be

including this feature as well okay

let's get your luck onto your

camera go ahead and put your SD card

into your computer and then if you have

a Sony SD card this folder path is

already going to exist if you don't have

a Sony SD card that's fine you can

manually create this folder path that

folder path you're going to go to

private Sony Pro and then L and if you

don't have a Sony SD card it's no

problem just create the same folder path

of private Sony Pro and then L you're

then simply going to drag your L file

which should be a do cube a cube L file

you're going to drag it into that L

folder and that's what we're going to

utilize once we put the SD card into the

camera to grab those Luts oh and because

you're going to ask this anyway after

you install these Lots into the camera

which we're going to do in just a second

once you install them into the camera if

you format your SD card or use a

different SD card the lots are on the

camera you're good to

[Music]

go next Once those L files are on the SD

card you're going to put that SD card

into the camera and then under the menu

we're going to go to Tab four the pink

one the exposure SLC color then to

number five color and tone then to

manage user L you can select any of

these containers select that container

and then import boom they're in but how

do we activate them and actually use

them let's hit that but first let me

know in the comments what camera you're

using I'd be really curious to know what

camera that you're using to utilize this

really cool feature and while you're

down there if you're getting something

from this video let me know by giving it

a tap on the thumbs up to let me know to

keep making videos just like this one

all right let's put these Lots into

action back here on the menu we're going

to go to tab three the red one with the

camera number one shooting image quality

SL recording then down to log shooting

setting go ahead and turn this on color

gamut should match the L that you're

using I'll show you my exact workflows

for how I'm utilizing this feature in

just one second to shed some light onto

that then embed L file doesn't apply the

L to your actual footage it applies the

metadata for your editing software if

you don't know what that means go ahead

and just leave it off it really doesn't

matter anyway then head down to Tab four

again number five here exposure SLC

color color slash tone select L and

choose the L that you have previously

imported and you can see here that it is

applying that L as a preview of

something very close to what we can

expect when we apply it in post again

your actual file when you go to put it

onto your computer will still be in flat

log profile this feature is just a

preview on the back of the camera to see

what it's going to look like before you

even hit

record there are a few downsides or just

lack of capabilities when it comes to

this feature the first one is that if

you don't record and log you're not

going to be be able to utilize this user

Luts feature because as we looked at

earlier you have to have log shooting

turned on to even activate the Luts in

the first place this isn't a huge issue

because at least what works well for me

the best value that I get from this

feature is being able to see what a

converted log file will look like on the

back of the camera the second downside

is that you can't use picture profiles

and look at Luts at the same time that's

because the Sony cameras have to either

be in log shooting turned on or or in

picture profile you can't do both at the

same time and the third downside is that

you can only apply one L at a time I

would love to be able to take my log

footage see what it looks like with my

conversion L applied and then also with

my very subtle stylized color grade that

I do as a lot file on top of that I'd

love to see that on the back of the

camera maybe

someday these are my exact workflows

with using this user l feature I use

Sony's official slog 3 S gamut 3 C

conversion lot which you can download on

Sony's site for free right here I'll put

a link down below to help youall get

there I put that on the SD card in the

exact path that we looked at earlier and

then install that onto the camera which

you're a ninja at at this point turn on

log shooting and select s gamut 3 cine

color gamut because it matches the L

that I'll be using I keep in bed off

then select that L and you can see what

it's doing to the footage right here and

then all I have to do is two things to

make the shot look good the first one is

nail my exposure which I do have a free

two-part video guide for my best

practices for getting my exposure just

right I'll provide a free link down

below if you want to level up your

exposure game and then just dial in my

white balance which I I don't have any

videos or guides on yet but they're

coming very soon then I'll just pull

that footage into post I'll apply that

exact same L that we used earlier on the

camera give the white balance some love

and I'm really happy with our end result

here user Luts are one of my favorite

new features on these newer Sony cameras

but there's actually four more features

that equally blew my mind and you can

check those out right here I'll see you

in the next video take care see

you