Log video on Android: log vs flat vs HLG
Few Android phones give third-party apps true 10-bit log. Most can shoot a flat profile, and many recent ones can record 10-bit HLG, and both grade well. Here's how the three differ, which one your phone can shoot, and the settings that matter more than any profile.
Flat, log or HLG: which do you need?
Normal phone video is finished in the camera: contrasty, saturated and ready to post. That's fine until you want to grade it, because the brightest and darkest parts have already been crushed. There are three ways around that:
- Flat profile. A low-contrast picture that leaves headroom in the highlights and shadows. It works in ordinary 8-bit video, so it runs on most phones. Grade it gently, because 8-bit footage can show banding if you push it hard.
- Log. A steeper curve that squeezes even more of the scene into the file. It really needs 10-bit video. On 8-bit it tends to band, and few Android phones offer true 10-bit log to third-party apps.
- HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). A 10-bit HDR format. On an HDR screen it shows brighter highlights and more detail, and it grades well. Phones, TVs and YouTube all support it widely.
If you want footage that looks great with little work on HDR phones and TVs, and your phone supports it, shoot HLG. If you plan to grade and your phone can't record 10-bit, shoot Flat.
| Flat | Log | HLG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Low-contrast picture with headroom in highlights and shadows | Steeper curve that squeezes more of the scene into the file | 10-bit HDR format |
| Bit depth | Works in ordinary 8-bit | Really needs 10-bit | 10-bit |
| On Android phones | Runs on most phones | Few offer true 10-bit log to third-party apps | Many recent phones |
| Grading | Grade gently: 8-bit can band if pushed hard | Tends to band on 8-bit | Grades well; edit in software that understands HDR |
What your phone has to support
10-bit HDR needs two things: a camera that outputs 10-bit frames, and a 10-bit HEVC (H.265) encoder. Many recent phones have both on the main camera, often only at some resolutions and frame rates. Higher frame rates, slow motion and 4K also depend on the sensor and on the lens you're using. Our guide to the best video settings on Android covers resolution, frame rate and bitrate.
Apps that read your phone's capabilities will only offer the combinations it can actually record.
Settings that matter more than the profile
- Lock exposure for the take. Brightness drifting mid-shot is harder to fix than any colour problem. Set exposure, then lock it.
- Set white balance by hand. Auto white balance shifting during a shot is very hard to undo in the edit.
- Use a shutter speed of about double the frame rate, around 1/50 s at 25 fps or 1/60 s at 30 fps, for natural-looking motion. In bright light that may need an ND filter.
- Pick a higher bitrate for detailed scenes such as foliage, water or crowds, so compression doesn't turn fine detail into blocks.
- Pick H.265 when you want smaller files. It's also required for 10-bit HDR.
Shooting it in One Camera
One Camera Pro includes Pro Video, with ISO, shutter speed, focus distance and white balance on real dials, plus:
- Flat, a low-contrast profile that keeps headroom for colour grading;
- 10-bit HDR video (HLG) on phones whose encoder supports it;
- exposure lock for the length of a take, so brightness never drifts mid-shot;
- higher bitrate tiers, for less compression in detailed scenes.
Resolution, frame rate, codec and bitrate are all in one place in the video settings. One Camera shows only what your phone can record, so if an option isn't listed, your hardware doesn't offer it. Every Pro feature is marked with a lock or a PRO tag, so you always know what is free.
Editing and grading the footage
- Flat footage: any editor with colour controls will do. Add contrast and saturation back first, then build your look.
- HLG footage: edit in software that understands HDR. DaVinci Resolve on a computer handles it well. Some mobile editors quietly convert HLG to standard video on import, so check an export before you delete the originals.
- Posting: YouTube accepts HLG uploads and shows a standard version to viewers without HDR screens. Many social apps convert everything to standard video, so a finished SDR export is often the safer choice there.
Questions
Can Android phones record log video?
Some can, but few offer true 10-bit log to third-party apps. A flat profile, or 10-bit HLG where your phone supports it, is the more widely available way to get footage you can grade.
What is HLG video on Android?
HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) is a 10-bit HDR video format. It shows more highlight detail on HDR screens and also grades well. Your phone needs both 10-bit camera output and a 10-bit HEVC encoder to record it.
Is a flat profile the same as log?
No. A flat profile lowers contrast to leave room for grading, and it works in 8-bit. Log uses a steeper curve that needs 10-bit video to avoid banding.