Comparing REC709 LUTs with a high dynamic range shot

A logarithmic (LOG) profile like Blackmagic Design’s BM Film captures a much wider dynamic range (HDR) than standard dynamic range (SDR) high definition (REC709) monitors and televisions can display.

In order display an HDR image in an SDR timeline, the extra information must either be thrown-away, or “tone-mapped” (compressed) to fit. While this can be done by hand using the color correcting tools found in any popular NLE, a LUT designed for a given camera’s log profile provides a quick and consistent starting point for further creative color grading.

Almost every camera manufacturer that offers a log profile also offers an “official” REC709 LUT. Some are quite good, some are pretty bad.

So how do Blackmagic Design’s two standard REC709 LUTs, and another popular “corrective” LUT, compare to Pocketluts Pocket709 LUT?

BM Video is a very simple REC709 gamma curve that simply clips highlights outside of the SDR range. It doesn’t seem to do much of anything to how color is represented.

BM Extended Video conservatively tone maps extended highlights into the SDR. It doesn’t seem to do much of anything to how color is represented.

Pocket709 tone maps an even greater amount of extended highlights into SDR. It corrects a slight white balance (color temperature and tint) error and also corrects over 100 individual color errors.

Pocket709+ builds on the Pocket709 LUT. In addition to even more aggressive highlight retention, it “sweetens” the image with added midtone contrast, desaturated highlights and shadows, and compressed skin tones.

Finally, let’s look at the popular Leeming LUT PRO. This LUT is designed for ETTR techniques (you can read my thoughts on using ETTR with the Pocket 4K here), so without extra work creating an overall exposure and gamma curve, it does not tonemap to a natural image.

If you do utilize the ETTR technique and you don’t mind the extra work, Paul Leeming has done his usual bang-on job of  color matching. You can purchase his LUTs here.

Like what you see? Purchase the Pocket709 and Pocket709+ LUTs together and save $5.