As a drone enthusiast and content creator, I’ve spent countless hours flying the DJI Mini 4 Pro and DJI Air 3S, always aiming for more cinematic, professional-looking shots. For 95% of my footage, I shoot in D-Log M, and the difference is phenomenal, especially once edited. Using Final Cut Pro, which makes colour grading simple yet powerful, I’ve been able to unlock the full potential of these drones.
D-Log M is DJI’s flat colour profile that gives you cinema-level flexibility in post-production. It captures 10-bit colour depth, preserves highlights and shadows, and makes it possible to craft rich, detailed aerial footage that stands out, whether for travel videos, real estate, or short films.
In this guide, I’ll share how to get the most out of D-Log M, from setup to shooting tips that bring your drone footage to life. I’ll go into more detail about editing D-Log M in another article.
When and Who Should Use D-Log M?
D-Log M shines when your goal is cinematic, professional-looking footage. It’s particularly valuable in golden hour light, where subtle colour shifts and rich shadows can be fully captured, and in high-contrast scenes, like sunsets, dense forests, or brightly lit cityscapes, where you want to preserve both highlight and shadow detail.
It’s best suited for intermediate to professional users, especially content creators working in advanced editing software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere. Because it requires colour grading, it’s ideal for those willing to invest the time in post-production to unlock the profile’s full potential.
Quick takeaway: Use D-Log M when you have the time and skills to colour grade, especially in golden hour or high-contrast scenes, to achieve rich, cinematic results.
Normal vs. D-Log M Overview
- Normal Profile:
- Higher contrast and saturation straight out of the camera.
- Great for quick, no-edit videos.
- Less dynamic range and colour flexibility.
- D-Log M Profile:
- Flat, low-contrast look before editing.
- Preserves more highlight and shadow detail.
- Allows for advanced colour grading to achieve a cinematic style.
How to Enable D-Log M on DJI Mini 4 Pro & Air 3S
Activating D-Log M on your DJI drone is quick and straightforward, but setting it up correctly ensures you get the best possible results in post-production. Here’s a step-by-step guide using the DJI Fly App.
Step-by-Step: Enabling D-Log M
- Power on your drone and remote controller and open the DJI Fly App.
- Enter Video View (the live feed from your drone).
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
- Go to the Camera tab.
- Under Color, select D-Log M.
- Confirm your resolution and frame rate.
- D-Log M is available in 10-bit mode and works at multiple frame rates, including 24fps, 25fps, 30fps, 50fps, and 60fps depending on resolution.
- Check that you’re recording in H.265 (HEVC) for full 10-bit color support.
Camera Settings Checklist for D-Log M
To get the most from D-Log M, consider these settings before you start filming:
- Manual Exposure – Switch from Auto to Manual (Pro) mode to have full control over shutter speed, aperture (if applicable), and ISO.
- White Balance Lock – Set a fixed white balance that matches the lighting conditions (e.g., 5600K for daylight) to avoid colour shifts mid-shot.
- ISO – Keep ISO as low as possible (ISO 100–400) to minimise noise.
- Shutter Speed – Follow the 180-degree rule for natural motion blur (e.g., 1/50 for 25fps, 1/60 for 30fps).
- ND Filters – Use ND filters to control shutter speed in bright conditions.
- Colour Profile – Double-check that D-Log M is selected before hitting record.
Pro Tip: Capture a few seconds of footage before your actual shot to test exposure, white balance, and histogram. This gives you a safety check before committing to your main shot. For more tips on camera settings, composition, and achieving a cinematic look, check out my guide on how to get cinematic footage from your DJI Mini 4 Pro.
How to Film Properly with D-Log M
Shooting in D-Log M is all about giving yourself the richest possible image to work with in post-production, while avoiding mistakes that can’t be fixed later. Over time, I’ve learned that a few careful adjustments in the field can make the difference between a flat, tricky-to-grade shot and a stunning cinematic sequence.
Expose to the Right (ETTR) Without Clipping Highlights
When using D-Log M, I often slightly overexpose my footage to capture more detail in the shadows, a technique known as exposing to the right on the histogram. But the key is not to push it so far that you clip highlights. For example, while filming a sunset over the coast, I had to ride the edge, lifting the mids without losing those delicate sunlit cloud textures.
Use ND Filters to Control Motion Blur
ND filters are essential in bright daylight for keeping shutter speed in line with the 180-degree rule. When filming a city skyline at midday, even at ISO 100, my shutter wanted to jump far above the ideal 1/50 for 25fps. Dropping on an ND16 kept my motion blur looking natural while preserving dynamic range.
Keep ISO as Low as Possible
D-Log M’s flat profile can make noise more visible in the shadows if you push ISO too high. In low-light situations, like filming a riverbank at golden hour, I’ll often adjust aperture (on the Air 3S) or add an ND filter earlier in the day so I can maintain ISO 100–400.
Monitor Histogram and Zebras
I always keep the histogram on-screen and use zebras to warn me when I’m close to blowing highlights. This saved me recently while filming into the sun over a mountain ridge. A quick tilt down to adjust framing kept the brightest part of the sky in check without underexposing the foreground. You can switch the zebras on in the settings menu, click the three dots, select Camera and scroll down to Overexposure Warning.
Avoid Blown-Out Highlights in Skies
Bright skies are unforgiving in D-Log M, and once detail is gone, it’s gone for good. When shooting a backlit beach scene, I underexposed slightly and planned to lift shadows in post. This small adjustment kept the sky’s texture intact and gave me far more flexibility when grading later.
Why Use D-Log M?
D-Log M isn’t just another picture profile; it’s a tool I’ve grown to rely on as a drone pilot and content creator who loves the creative side of videography. With a degree in digital media and video production, I’ve always been passionate about crafting the most visually appealing footage possible, whether from the ground or the sky. By capturing far more image data than standard profiles, D-Log M gives me the post-production flexibility I need to shape the mood, enhance the colours, and bring out every detail in my DJI Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S footage. For me, it’s the difference between simply recording a scene and truly creating a cinematic moment.
The Advantages
Greater Dynamic Range
D-Log M records a wider range of light and dark tones, meaning you can retain details in bright skies and deep shadows. This is especially useful in challenging lighting conditions, such as sunrise or sunset, where standard colour profiles often blow out highlights or lose shadow detail.
More Flexibility in Post-Production
Because the footage is recorded in a flat, low-contrast format with 10-bit colour depth, you have far more information to work with when colour grading. This flexibility allows you to fine-tune colours, adjust contrast, and create a consistent look across all your shots, something that’s much harder to achieve with standard 8-bit footage.
Professional, Cinematic Look
After grading, D-Log M footage can achieve a polished, film-like quality similar to what you’d expect from higher-end cinema cameras. It’s ideal for storytelling, commercial work, or any project where visual quality is a top priority.
The Drawbacks
Requires Colour Grading
Out of the camera, D-Log M footage will look flat, desaturated, and a little lifeless. This is intentional; it’s a “digital negative” meant to be processed. If you skip the grading stage, the footage won’t look appealing.
Not Ideal for Quick-Turnaround Projects
If you need to shoot and share immediately without editing (e.g., social media clips straight from your phone), D-Log M will slow you down. In those cases, DJI’s Normal or HLG profiles may be better.
Graded and non-graded footage examples
Here are a couple of examples of the same footage, filmed once using the camera’s auto settings and once filmed in D-Log M. You will see the D-Log M footage looks flat and lacking colour, whilst the auto setting footage looks vibrant and colourful. Next, I’ll show you the D-Log M footage once it’s been edited in Final Cut Pro.
Now, here’s an example after the D-Log M footage has a LUT applied and has been colour graded in Final Cut Pro 11.
Editing D-Log M Footage in Final Cut Pro (or Premiere)
Shooting in D-Log M is only half the story and the real magic happens in the edit. Once your clips are imported into software such as Final Cut Pro (which I personally use) or Adobe Premiere, you need to convert and grade the footage to bring out its full cinematic potential.
The workflow usually starts with choosing the correct colour space, then applying a DJI-provided D-Log M to Rec.709 LUT or another cinematic LUT of your choice. After that, the real creative process begins with manual colour grading. This is where you refine exposure, contrast, saturation, and colour curves until the footage matches your vision. At this stage, you can also add finishing touches such as film grain or vignettes to enhance the overall look. Finally, the last step is exporting your project with the best settings for platforms such as YouTube or Instagram, while considering whether to deliver in 10-bit or 8-bit.
Because editing is a detailed subject, I have published a dedicated article that walks through each stage in depth. In that guide, I have explained how to set up your project in Final Cut Pro, apply LUTs effectively, create your own cinematic style, and choose the right export settings.
From Flat to Cinematic: Colour Grading DJI D-Log M in Final Cut Pro
I’ve always loved getting the most cinematic look possible from my equipment—whether I’m flying my DJI Air 3S, shooting on my Sony ZV-E10 II, or even experimenting with an underwater setup. For me, that perfect cinematic finish almost always comes down to careful colour grading in post. I’ve been filming and editing since I was…
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D-Log M: Frequently Asked Questions
What is D-Log M and how is it different from Normal or HLG?
D-Log M is DJI’s flat, 10-bit color profile that captures more dynamic range and color data than the Normal profile. It’s designed for color grading, so it looks low-contrast and desaturated straight from the camera. Compared with HLG, D-Log M targets a grading workflow that finishes in Rec.709 or HDR, giving you more flexibility to craft a specific look.
When should I use D-Log M on the DJI Mini 4 Pro or Air 3S?
Use D-Log M in high-contrast scenes and golden hour light, or any project where you want a cinematic look and plan to color grade. It shines when you need to protect highlights in bright skies while keeping shadow detail for a polished finish.
How do I enable D-Log M in the DJI Fly app?
Open Camera View, tap the three dots, go to the Camera tab, set Color to D-Log M, and confirm you’re recording in H.265 to capture 10-bit. Then choose your resolution and frame rate and switch to Manual (Pro) for exposure control.
What camera settings work best for D-Log M?
- Manual exposure for consistent results
- Lock white balance to match the scene
- ISO as low as possible, typically 100–400
- Shutter near the 180-degree rule (e.g., 1/50 at 25fps) with ND filters if needed
- Histogram and zebras on to monitor exposure and avoid clipping
How do I expose D-Log M correctly without blowing highlights?
Use ETTR cautiously: nudge exposure to the right for cleaner shadows, but stop before highlight clipping. Watch the histogram for a gentle roll-off near the right edge and use zebras to identify overexposed areas, especially in skies and sunlit clouds.
Do I need a LUT, and which one should I use?
Yes, start with a conversion LUT such as “DJI D-Log M to Rec.709” to normalize contrast and color. Treat it as a starting point, then fine-tune exposure, white balance, saturation, and curves for your desired style.
How do I edit D-Log M footage in Final Cut Pro?
Import your clips, set the project color space appropriately, apply a D-Log M to Rec.709 conversion LUT, then grade: balance exposure, adjust contrast, correct white balance, add saturation, and refine with color wheels or curves. Finish with subtle creative touches like film grain if desired. For a practical shooting companion, see my guide on how to get cinematic footage from your DJI Mini 4 Pro.
Is D-Log M good for quick social posts without editing?
Not really. D-Log M is meant for grading and will look flat if you post it as-is. For quick turnaround, use the Normal or HLG profile, or apply an on-device LUT during edit to speed things up before sharing.
Roundup and Conclusion
D-Log M on the DJI Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S is one of the most powerful tools available for drone videographers who want to push their footage beyond standard out-of-camera looks. By capturing a wider dynamic range and 10-bit colour, it gives you far more creative control when editing, helping you achieve results that truly stand out.
We’ve looked at why D-Log M is worth using, the ideal scenarios for shooting with it, and the settings you need to dial in before hitting record. With techniques like exposing to the right, using ND filters, locking white balance, and keeping ISO low, you can protect your highlights and ensure your footage is ready for cinematic colour grading.
Of course, D-Log M does require more work in post-production, but that effort is rewarded with professional-level results. Once you apply a LUT or dive into manual grading in software such as Final Cut Pro or Premiere, the flat, desaturated footage comes to life with rich tones and stunning detail.
For creators who enjoy the artistic side of filmmaking, D-Log M is not just a setting; it is a creative choice that unlocks the full potential of your DJI drone. If your goal is to produce visually striking and cinematic videos, taking the time to master this profile is more than worthwhile.