In this lesson we’ll learn how to grade S-Log2 material. This applies to the Sony a7S, a7S II and a7R II, and all S-Log2 material in general.
What you need to know before grading
Grading S-Log2 is pretty easy and fun. The footage holds up well. I have not had any banding or posterization.
There are two ways to grade S-Log2 footage:
- Use LUTs
- Grade from scratch
Here’s my honest opinion: Use the latter system in grading. Applying LUTs/presets/effects without knowing what they’re doing is why most people get crappy banding and noise. Some important notes:
- Always grade in a 32-bit float environment. Speedgrade, Resolve, After Effects, etc., all provide a 32-bit environment.
- There is an official S-Log2 to Rec. 709 LUT by Sony, but it applies to the gamut of the Sony F55 camera, and doesn’t look all that good with A7s/a7S II/a7R II footage. I would NEVER use it.
- All other LUTs are crap for A7s/a7S II/a7R II S-Log2 footage. Use the Cine profiles instead.
Overall, the footage from the Sony A7s/a7S II/a7R II in XAVC S-Log2 is very filmic.
Adobe Speedgrade Walkthrough
Follow my lead as I grade S-Log2 material in Adobe Speedgrade. You can use the same principles in any color grading software. I’ve made it as simple as possible so everyone can follow along:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRvp31JaxHU
Just in case you missed it, here’s the final graded Annakotta (Elephant Fort) sequence (this was shot in the a7S):
FAQs
These are important topics raised by subscribers that shed more light on this lesson.
Q. What’s wrong with 3rd-party LUTs?
A. Third party LUTs are popular because they let you deliver good quality work faster to your clients. This is important in the video industry, where there is cut-throat competition. This is perfectly acceptable, and even desirable. However, anybody can do this – your work will look like everyone else’s.
And what happens when you buy a newer camera? You are still dependent on more LUTs and shortcuts. What if you learn to grade, and create your own LUTs? A little effort today will give you the confidence to use any camera in the future. It’s like using a calculator for a math exam – we weren’t allowed to use them, but I kept thinking: What’s the problem? People in the real world use them, don’t they? But of course, today, I get it – I can do the math in my head faster than it takes to reach out for a calculator and punch in the numbers.
Q. Can you use LUTs with picture profiles other than S-Log2?
A. You don’t want to!
When using one of the cine profiles, the look is already ‘baked in’. If you don’t like the look, you have two choices:
- Tweak the profile, or
- Shoot S-Log2 and use a LUT. This way, you can have more DR and better noise characteristics.
There’s a serious level of math going on in 3D LUTs, so here’s a rule of thumb – when working with LUTs, always opt for the highest “data-option”. In the case of the A7s/a7S II/a7R II, the data is the same, but S-Log2 and 800% offer the flattest profiles with the most information.