Log conversion
DJI D-Log M to Rec.709 on iPhone
Direct answer
D-Log M is DJI's 10-bit logarithmic recording profile used by recent Mavic, Air, Mini, Flip, Avata, Osmo Action, Osmo Pocket, Osmo 360 and Osmo Nano cameras. To grade it, convert it to Rec.709 first with DJI's official D-Log M to Rec.709 LUT, then correct exposure and apply a creative look. On iPhone, LUTLINE bundles DJI's tables for 21 bodies plus a generic D-Log M entry, recognizes D-Log M clips from the _D suffix in the file name, and applies the right table before any adjustment — in the Free tier.
D-Log, D-Log M and D-Log2
DJI has shipped three Log flavors. D-Log is the older, flatter profile of the Mavic 3 generation and the Osmo Pocket 4 line; it needs the most work in the grade. D-Log M is the profile most current consumer drones and action cameras record; it keeps 10-bit dynamic range but sits closer to a viewable image. D-Log2 is DJI's newer curve; in LUTLINE's catalog it appears on the Osmo Pocket 4P. Each has its own conversion table, and they are not interchangeable.
| Profile | Cameras in LUTLINE's catalog | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| D-Log M | Mavic 4 Pro, Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Classic, Air 3S, Air 3, Air 2S, Mavic 2, Mini 5 Pro, Mini 4 Pro, Flip, Lito X1, Avata 2, Osmo Action 6, Osmo Action 5 Pro, Osmo Action 4, Osmo 360, Osmo 360 II, Osmo Nano, Osmo Pocket 3, plus a generic "Other D-Log M cameras" entry | DJI D-Log M to Rec.709 |
| D-Log | Mavic 4 Pro, Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Classic, Osmo Pocket 4P, Osmo Pocket 4 | DJI D-Log to Rec.709 (standard and Vivid; V1 and V2 on Osmo Pocket 4P) |
| D-Log2 | Osmo Pocket 4P | DJI D-Log2 to Rec.709 (standard and Vivid) |
One table, many bodies
DJI publishes a conversion LUT per product, but the files are not all different. When LUTLINE's catalog was built from DJI's downloads, thirteen current bodies — Air 3 and 3S, Avata 2, Flip, Mavic 3 and 3 Classic, Mini 4 Pro, Osmo 360 and 360 II, Osmo Action 4 and 5 Pro, Osmo Nano and Osmo Pocket 3 — shipped a byte-identical D-Log M table. Mavic 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro and Lito X1 share a second table; Osmo Action 6 has its own; Air 2S and Mavic 2 use the legacy one. That is why the app offers an "Other D-Log M cameras" entry: for a body that is not listed, the shared current table is very likely the right one.
How LUTLINE recognizes a D-Log M clip
A DJI file that goes through the iPhone's Photos app is re-wrapped, and most of DJI's own metadata is dropped. What survives is the software tag (for example DJI OsmoAction5 Pro) and the file name, which DJI ends with _D when the clip was recorded in D-Log M — DJI_20250606122150_0011_D.MP4. The color tags in the file say plain Rec.709, which is wrong, so an app that trusts the tags shows the flat Log image without conversion.
LUTLINE therefore uses the _D naming as the D-Log M signal and the software tag to pick the body when it is known. The Source sheet shows the evidence — D-Log M · from the file name — so you can see why Auto chose what it chose, and change it in one tap if a rename removed the suffix.
Grading D-Log M: the order that works
- Convert. DJI's table takes the Log curve out and renders to Rec.709. In LUTLINE this is the Source stage, on a 10-bit read path.
- Correct. Drone footage is often a third of a stop under, and skies pull the white balance cool. Fix exposure, then temperature, then contrast.
- Look. Apply a creative LUT built for Rec.709. Drone landscapes and action footage tend to suit the Cinema, Golden and Bright folders; the intensity slider tames a strong look on wide, bright scenes.
- Export. Pick a frame rate that divides the source's evenly. Exports go up to 60 fps: from a 120 fps clip, 60 fps keeps one frame in two and 30 fps one in four, each at its original timing, so the clip plays at normal speed. When a size and frame rate go beyond what H.264 can encode on iPhone (Level 5.2), the export uses HEVC and says so.
Reading from an external SSD
Many DJI clips live on a portable drive plugged into the iPhone. LUTLINE can read them in place through Files. Keep the drive connected and awake for the whole render; if the reader stops mid-file, the export resumes from the last written frame up to three times before it reports a failure that names the drive as the likely cause. Copying long clips to the phone first is still the more reliable path.
Frequently asked
Where do I get DJI's D-Log M LUT?
DJI publishes its conversion LUTs on each product's downloads page. LUTLINE bundles them for the 21 cataloged bodies, and the generic Other D-Log M cameras entry uses the table most current bodies share. If your camera is missing, write to [email protected].
My D-Log M clip was renamed and Auto shows "Standard".
The _D suffix was the only signal left after the Photos import. Tap the Source chip under the picture and choose DJI → your camera → D-Log M. The choice is stored with the project.
Is D-Log M conversion free in LUTLINE?
Yes. Every camera conversion, DJI's included, is part of LUTLINE Free.
Can I apply the DJI LUT in a desktop editor instead?
Yes — it is the same .cube file. The advantage of doing it on the phone is that the conversion, the correction and the look stay in one recipe and the export happens where the footage already is.