Comparison guide

How to color grade D-Log M drone footage, step by step, with free and paid LUTs

Disclosure: we make Aerialgrade Drone LUT Pack, one of the options below. This comparison is made from public information on each vendor's own pages, checked 2026-11-11; we did not receive anything from the other vendors.

Start with DJI's free official D-Log M to Rec.709 LUT for your exact drone model: it is the safest conversion and costs nothing. If you only want to try a creative look, the free single looks from Twin Designer (Mini 4 Pro) or Manuringo (Mini 5 Pro, Mini 4 Pro) are enough. If you want a carefully corrected base and will follow a setup routine, Leeming LUT Pro fits better than our pack; if you own a Mini 4 Pro and want many looks, the Twin Designer or Manuringo packs offer far more looks than ours. Our Aerialgrade pack fits D-Log M pilots who already use DJI's LUT and want a small set of looks that do not depend on one drone model; it has no D-Log M conversion LUT.

Prices checked 2026-11-11.

D-Log M footage looks flat and grey straight out of the drone. That is on purpose: the profile keeps more highlight and shadow detail so you can shape the image later. This guide explains the grading process in five steps (expose correctly, set white balance, convert to Rec.709, add a creative look, fine-tune) and then compares free and paid LUT options you can use in that process. Disclosure: Bardach Technologies, which publishes this page, makes one of the options compared (the Aerialgrade Drone LUT Pack). This is a comparison made from public information on vendor pages, checked on 11 November 2026; we did not buy or test the competing files.

How we compared

• Whether the option converts D-Log M to Rec.709, adds a creative look, or both
• Which drone models the vendor's page names
• Price as shown on the vendor's own page on 11 November 2026 (one-time or free, sale vs regular price)
• What the vendor's page says about editors, file format and setup help
• Conditions such as mailing-list sign-up or refund terms

The options

DJI official D-Log M to Rec.709 LUTs

DJI · free · USD 0 (free download; no price shown on the page) · price checked 2026-11-11 on the vendor page

DJI's LUT page lists free conversion LUTs per camera, including D-Log M to Rec.709 files for the Mini 5 Pro, Mini 4 Pro, Flip, Air 3S, Air 3, Avata 2, Mavic 4 Pro and Mavic 3, among others.

Good:

• Free and made by the drone maker for each model
• The neutral conversion step most grading workflows start from
• Some Osmo cameras also have a 'vivid' D-Log M variant listed

Watch out:

• Conversion only, no creative looks
• Usually one file per model and profile, so you pick the file that matches your exact drone
• The page gives no usage instructions, and not every DJI model has an official LUT listed

Best for: Every D-Log M pilot as the first, neutral conversion step

Free Cinematic LUT for D-Log M (Mini 4 Pro)

Twin Designer (Sellfy store) · free · EUR 0 (shown as 'Starting from: €0') · price checked 2026-11-11 on the vendor page

A free single cinematic look for Mini 4 Pro D-Log M footage, offered as a sample of the seller's 47-LUT paid pack.

Good:

• Free
• Names Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Filmora and LumaFusion
• Gives recommended drone settings (PRO mode, D-Log M, Color Display Assist)

Watch out:

• One look only
• Only the Mini 4 Pro is named
• The page does not state the file format

Best for: Mini 4 Pro pilots who want to try one look before buying a pack

Free Cinematic LUT for D-Log M Footage

Manuringo (Gumroad) · free · EUR 0 (free download; paying more is optional) · price checked 2026-11-11 on the vendor page

One look taken from the seller's 51-LUT pack, described as optimized for D-Log M footage from the Mini 5 Pro, Mini 4 Pro and Osmo Pocket 3.

Good:

• Free
• Names the Mini 5 Pro as well as the Mini 4 Pro
• Seller names DaVinci Resolve, Premiere, Final Cut and CapCut

Watch out:

• One look only, described as rich contrast and moody tones
• The page says downloading adds you to the seller's creator community mailing list (you can unsubscribe)
• No separate neutral conversion LUT is mentioned

Best for: Mini 5 Pro or Mini 4 Pro pilots who want a free high-contrast look to test

Leeming LUT Pro (DJI drone camera packs)

Leeming LUT Pro · paid · USD 39.99 per camera pack (one-time) · price checked 2026-11-11 on the vendor page

A corrective LUT system sold per camera, aimed at an accurate Rec.709 base; D-Log M is listed for packs such as the Mavic 4 Pro, Mavic 3 Pro, Air 3, Mini 5 Pro and Mini 4 Pro / Flip.

Good:

• Per-camera packs covering many DJI drones
• Aims at a consistent, corrected base before your own grading
• Mentions D-Log M for the listed recent drones

Watch out:

• Correction only; the creative 'Quickie Creatives' cost another USD 39.99
• Priced per camera, so two drones mean two packs
• The page says purchases are final and cannot be refunded

Best for: Pilots who want a carefully corrected Rec.709 base and will follow the vendor's setup routine

DJI Mini 4 Pro Cinematic LUT Pack (D-Log M)

Twin Designer (Sellfy store) · paid · EUR 14 one-time (sale price; regular price EUR 20) · price checked 2026-11-11 on the vendor page

A pack of 47 cinematic LUTs for the Mini 4 Pro's D-Log M profile.

Good:

• Lowest-priced paid pack here at the time of checking (sale price)
• 47 looks to choose from
• Names Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Filmora and LumaFusion

Watch out:

• Only the Mini 4 Pro is named
• No neutral conversion LUT is mentioned
• The file format is not stated on the page

Best for: Mini 4 Pro owners on a small budget who want many looks

51 Filmlook LUTs for DJI Mini 4 Pro (D-Log M)

Manuringo (Gumroad) · paid · EUR 39 one-time · price checked 2026-11-11 on the vendor page

51 creative .cube looks made for the Mini 4 Pro's D-Log M profile, from warm sunsets to moody, vintage and stylized looks.

Good:

• Large choice of looks in .cube format
• Names DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro
• Instant download

Watch out:

• Described as designed exclusively for the Mini 4 Pro's D-Log M profile
• No neutral conversion LUT is mentioned
• Many looks to sort through before you find a house style

Best for: Mini 4 Pro owners who want a wide choice of looks

Aerialgrade Drone LUT Pack (made by us)

Bardach Technologies · paid · USD 39.99 one-time · price checked 2026-11-11 on the store page

20 .cube files: 4 conversion LUTs from DJI D-Log (D-Gamut) to Rec.709 (Exact and Soft-Highlights, each in 33- and 65-point versions) and 8 looks, each as a D-Log-in and a Rec.709-in file, plus an 8-page PDF guide and before/after previews. It has no D-Log M conversion LUT: D-Log M users apply DJI's free official conversion LUT first, then the Rec.709-in looks.

Good:

• The Rec.709-in looks work after DJI's free conversion on any drone, not tied to one model
• Before/after preview of every look so you can see them before buying
• PDF guide covers DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro

Watch out:

• No D-Log M conversion LUT, so D-Log M users still need DJI's free LUT
• Only 8 looks, far fewer than the 47- and 51-look packs
• A new brand without a long track record

Best for: D-Log M pilots who already use DJI's free LUT and want a small set of model-independent looks, or D-Log (not D-Log M) shooters who want conversion and looks in one purchase

Why D-Log M footage looks flat

D-Log M is DJI's log-style profile on drones such as the Mini 5 Pro, Mini 4 Pro, Air 3 and Avata 2. It records a flat, low-contrast image so highlights and shadows keep more detail. Before you can watch it on a normal screen, it has to be turned into Rec.709, the standard look for SDR video, and then shaped to taste.

D-Log M is not the same as D-Log, an older DJI log profile that some drones and cameras also offer. DJI lists separate LUTs for each, so make sure you pick the file for the profile you actually shot. Using a D-Log conversion on D-Log M footage, or the other way round, usually gives wrong contrast and colour.

Step 1: Expose correctly when you shoot

Grading cannot rescue clipped highlights. In D-Log M, protect the sky and bright surfaces: use the histogram and zebras in the DJI Fly app if your drone offers them, and use ND filters to keep a natural shutter speed in bright light. A slightly bright image is usually easier to grade than a dark one, as long as the highlights are not clipped.

Twin Designer's page also recommends shooting in PRO mode in D-Log M with Color Display Assist turned on, so the preview on your phone shows a normal image while the drone still records the flat file.

Step 2: Fix white balance

Set a fixed white balance in the drone rather than auto, so the colour does not shift during a shot. In the edit, correct any remaining colour cast before or at the start of the conversion. In DaVinci Resolve this is usually done on a node before the conversion LUT; in other editors use the basic colour controls on the clip. Small white-balance fixes are much easier on a neutral image than after a strong look has been added.

Step 3: Convert to Rec.709 with DJI's free LUT

Download the D-Log M to Rec.709 LUT for your exact model from DJI's LUT page (dji.com/lut). It is a .cube file. Apply it as the conversion step:

In DaVinci Resolve, add it on a node after your exposure and white-balance node. In Final Cut Pro, Apple's guide shows two ways: choose 'Add Custom Camera LUT' in the Info inspector's Camera LUT menu, or apply the Custom LUT effect and pick the file; .cube files are supported. In Premiere Pro, the Lumetri panel accepts a LUT as an input LUT.

Some editors also have built-in colour management or colour space transforms with DJI presets. We found no editor documentation that confirms a dedicated D-Log M setting, and a D-Log preset is not meant for D-Log M footage, so DJI's own LUT is the safer conversion unless your editor's documentation says otherwise.

Step 4: Add a creative look

After conversion the footage looks normal but plain. A look LUT adds a style: warmer, cooler, softer, moodier. Two things matter here:

First, check what input a look expects. Some looks expect Rec.709 input and should go after DJI's conversion (our pack's Rec.709-in files work this way). Others expect D-Log M input and do the conversion themselves; stacking those on top of DJI's LUT doubles the contrast. Read the seller's instructions.

Second, use the look at partial strength if it is too strong: lower the node's key output in Resolve, the Mix slider in Final Cut Pro, or the intensity in Premiere's Lumetri panel.

Step 5: Fine-tune and match shots

Finish with small changes after the look: contrast, saturation (check strong reds and blues such as sky and signs), skin tones if people are in the shot, and a light vignette if you want one. Then copy the grade to the other clips from the same flight and adjust exposure and white balance per clip so the shots match. Check the result on a second screen or phone before you export.

Free or paid: what you actually need

For a clean, normal-looking result, DJI's free LUT plus a few manual adjustments is enough. Free single looks from Twin Designer and Manuringo let you try a style at no cost (Manuringo's page says downloading joins its mailing list). Paid packs make sense when you want a consistent house style across many videos: Leeming LUT Pro focuses on accurate correction, the Twin Designer and Manuringo packs offer many looks for the Mini 4 Pro, and our Aerialgrade pack offers 8 looks that sit on top of DJI's conversion for any drone.

If you shoot D-Log rather than D-Log M, we also offer a free natural-contrast conversion LUT for D-Log footage (https://bardachtechnologies.gumroad.com/l/jbnaso); it is not for D-Log M.

Try it free first

Before buying anything, use the Free LUT finder by drone model or the free natural-contrast conversion LUT for D-Log footage (one .cube file). It is free and needs no sign-up.

Questions

Do I need a LUT to grade D-Log M footage?

No. You can grade by hand with contrast and saturation controls, but a conversion LUT is the fastest way to a normal Rec.709 image. DJI's free D-Log M to Rec.709 LUT for your model is the usual starting point.

Where do I download DJI's official D-Log M LUT?

From DJI's LUT page at dji.com/lut. Pick the file listed for your exact drone model and for D-Log M, not D-Log. Not every DJI model has an official LUT listed.

Can I use a D-Log LUT on D-Log M footage?

It is not recommended. DJI lists separate LUTs for D-Log and D-Log M, and using the wrong one usually gives wrong contrast and colour.

Should I correct white balance before or after the LUT?

Before, or at least before the creative look. Exposure and white-balance fixes are easiest on the neutral image; in DaVinci Resolve that usually means a node before the conversion LUT.

Can I stack a conversion LUT and a look LUT?

Only if the look expects Rec.709 input. Looks made for D-Log M input already include a conversion, so putting them after DJI's LUT doubles the contrast. Check the seller's instructions.

Sources

• DJI LUT downloads
• Apple: Apply LUTs in Final Cut Pro for Mac
• Twin Designer: free Mini 4 Pro cinematic LUT for D-Log M
• Twin Designer: Mini 4 Pro cinematic LUT pack for D-Log M
• Manuringo: free cinematic LUT for D-Log M
• Manuringo: 51 Filmlook LUTs for DJI Mini 4 Pro (D-Log M)
• Leeming LUT Pro
• Aerialgrade free natural-contrast LUT for D-Log footage

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