DJI Mini 5 Pro Video Color Profiles – Normal vs D-LOG M

Thanks to its 1” CMOS sensor, the Mini 5 Pro produces excellent footage in all light conditions. To make the most of its capabilities for filming, it is crucial to choose the correct color profile

In this article, I will analyze the two main ones, Normal and DLOG M, to see when and how to use them

Other related articles you may find interesting:

What about HLG?

With the Mini 5 Pro, three color profiles are available; however, in this video, I will not analyze HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma), as this profile is used in professional broadcasting applications with specific monitors

HLG utilizes the BT 2020 Color Space, rather than the REC 709 used by Normal and D LOG M. For this reason, it is not recommended to include clips made in HLG mode in the same project as clips taken in Normal or D-LOG M

The techniques for exposure and post-production are also different

Normal

Normal profile can be used immediately after shooting, even without any editing, although adjusting the luminosity and adding a touch of extra contrast and saturation can often be beneficial. For this reason, it is the most widely used, especially by beginners and casual users who post their footage on social media

This profile is pre-processed and denoised by the algorithm. In previous lightweight models, including the Mini 4 Pro, Normal was an 8-bit profile, capable of displaying about 16 ml colors. However, in the Mini 5 Pro, Normal is a true 10-bit profile, with a richer color palette of over 1 billion colors

The quality of the footage is excellent in friendly light conditions, and it can be used even by professionals when a computer is not available for post-processing, or when the footage must be published immediately after shooting

How do we define friendly light conditions?

It is preferable to avoid high dynamic range situations with big differences in luminosity between the shadows and the highlights

Shots in the direction of the sun should be avoided. The optimal position of the sun, as viewed from the camera, is between 4 and 10 o’clock

It is also suggested to avoid the central hours of a sunny day, as the shadows would be too harsh. Better results are obtained by shooting around sunrise or sunset, or when the sun is partially obscured by clouds

Another way to reduce the dynamic range is to turn the camera down towards the ground, taking out the sky from the scene

D-LOG M

If Normal mode works so well, why bother about another profile?

High Dynamic Range

There are two main reasons for using D-LOG M. The first one is to achieve better results in high dynamic range situations

D-Log M is a simplified version of D-Log, a true flat profile supplied with previous high-end DJI models. The idea behind a flat profile is to produce lower-contrast desaturated footage, retaining more information in the highlights and shadows, and reducing color banding

D Log M is relatively flat and easier to color grade by using a LUT as a starting point. DJI has already released a free LUT to use with the Mini 5 Pro

When using D-LOG M, the image on the screen looks flat, making it difficult to find the correct exposure, but the option Color Assist Display in the White Balance window improves the visualization

For the Mini 5 Pro, DJI claims an astonishing 14 stops of dynamic range when using Auto exposure by implementing a process named Dual Native ISO fusion

I always use Manual Exposure and manual White balance; however, with the Mini 5 Pro in high dynamic range situations, it is worth using Auto exposure to take advantage of the ISO fusion. It is preferable to maintain the same angle between the camera and the sun during a clip to avoid shifts in luminosity

Since D-LOG M is practically unprocessed, we may occasionally find a limited amount of chromatic noise in the shadows, but it is very easy to get rid of it

I use the excellent denoiser Neat Video. I have made a specific article about this program

Color Grading

Another reason to use DLOG-M is to adapt a clip to the color scheme of a specific project. Since this color profile is practically unprocessed, it responds better to post-processing and offers more options for color grading

I find DLOG-M to be much better implemented in the new model compared to the Mini 4 Pro, with richer colors, good contrast, and limited noise

Face to Face

Here you can watch some clips shot in Normal and DLOG-M profiles one after the other, with the same light conditions, to better appreciate the differences

The ones in Normal profile only have a luminosity adjustment when needed, while the ones in D LOG M are heavily processed after applying the DJI LUT