C300: C300MKII Canon Log exposure guides and zebras

DeanFS7

DeanFS7

Active member
Hi guys, I'm looking for some solid info on exposure settings for Canon Log (2 and 3 as well as standard C Log) but struggling to find much online. Essentially I'll expose to the waveform on the monitor for run and gun stuff if anyone can point me somewhere or help that'd be great!
 
There are several strategies. You can keep an eye on where the skintones are falling on the waveform. In my testing, I've found I like white skin to be kissing 50 IRE in C Log 1 and 3. You can enable the view assist on the camera, or I guess applying a viewing LUT is more accurate on the C300/II, and then just expose by eye. You can also just keep an eye on the waveform and attempt to expose to the right (or "to the top" I guess) and tr y to keep anything fro clipping. Though danger with that approach is that you'll be capturing the skin tones too dark in order to preserve highlights that you should honestly just let blow out.

I use a light meter sometimes. That's how I found out I like skin at 50IRE: https://vimeo.com/157318638

You really need to figure out your whole workflow, and if you're going to use LUTs as a starting point for your grade, you need to test out how different LUT's affect your image at varying exposures. The Canon LUTs should respond well if you expose "properly" (for instance, by just using the exposure your light meter tells you to use).

Other LUTs made by third parties may tell you to expose differently. I know a few LUTs for C Log 2 recommend overexposing a stop or two from "correct" exposure.
 
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DeanFS7 said:
Hi guys, I'm looking for some solid info on exposure settings for Canon Log (2 and 3 as well as standard C Log) but struggling to find much online. Essentially I'll expose to the waveform on the monitor for run and gun stuff if anyone can point me somewhere or help that'd be great!
Click to expand...

This white paper may have the info you are looking for:

http://learn.usa.canon.com/app/pdfs/white_papers/Deep-Dive-HDR-Part2.pdf

Specifically:

Log 2 = The 18% reflectance reference gray should have a digital code of 407 (corresponding to 39.8 %)

Log 3 = The 18% reference gray has a digital code of 351 (corresponding to 34.3 %)

That being said, when shooting "run and gun stuff," I rarely have time to expose grey cards, so I use the following rules:

1.) When shooting people, aim for around 70% zebras on caucasian faces. For darker skin tones. Start with 70% and dial it down a bit. If you are blowing out the background, add more light to the people's faces. If you can't do that, decide which you value more, well exposed faces or bright background detail.

2.) When shooting b-roll, use the waveform to ensure that nothing you want is clipping. Furthermore, use the line+spot setting and make sure the content you care about is around 50 IRE at least (point the spot at your subject to see where it lands clearly).
 
I'm not sure 70 IRE is quite right for faces in C Log. That puts it above where Canon wants reflected white, no?
 
drummondb said:
I'm not sure 70 IRE is quite right for faces in C Log. That puts it above where Canon wants reflected white, no?
Click to expand...

That's a good point. I've been pretty happy with my caucasian faces "kissing" 70% Zebra (just the brightest part of the cheek), but I should probably do a test with a grey card set to the previously mentioned settings to confirm.
 
drummondb said:
There are several strategies. You can keep an eye on where the skintones are falling on the waveform. In my testing, I've found I like white skin to be kissing 50 IRE in C Log 1 and 3. You can enable the view assist on the camera, or I guess applying a viewing LUT is more accurate on the C300/II, and then just expose by eye. You can also just keep an eye on the waveform and attempt to expose to the right (or "to the top" I guess) and tr y to keep anything fro clipping. Though danger with that approach is that you'll be capturing the skin tones too dark in order to preserve highlights that you should honestly just let blow out.

I use a light meter sometimes. That's how I found out I like skin at 50IRE: https://vimeo.com/157318638

You really need to figure out your whole workflow, and if you're going to use LUTs as a starting point for your grade, you need to test out how different LUT's affect your image at varying exposures. The Canon LUTs should respond well if you expose "properly" (for instance, by just using the exposure your light meter tells you to use).

Other LUTs made by third parties may tell you to expose differently. I know a few LUTs for C Log 2 recommend overexposing a stop or two from "correct" exposure.
Click to expand...

Cool, falls in line with what I did today! Thank you.
 
Actually found that earlier, really good info and obviously Shane knows his stuff! Thanks.
 
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