How To Make Sony S-Log3 Footage Look Like ARRI Alexa 35

Sony S-Log3 gets a bad reputation, particularly with regard to color science.

Many filmmakers feel it looks overly “video-like” once converted to Rec.709, especially when using the default LUTs bundled with editing software. But the problem isn’t S-Log3 itself - it’s how we handle the conversion.

After grading hundreds of S-Log3 shots, one thing has become clear: the profile contains tremendous color information.

With the right approach, it can be transformed into an image that lives in the same world as Alexa 35 - The gold standard for color in cinema.

Here is a quick video we made with some tips for matching S-Log3 to the Arri Alexa 35:

You can also grab our Sony S-Log3 CINESPACE (Alexa-like) LUT here.

Below is a written re-cap of the video for those of you that prefer to read or have an easy reference guide:

Why Default S-Log3 Conversions Fall Short

Even when footage is captured under identical lighting and exposure, a standard S-Log3 → Rec.709 LUT produces a dramatically different result from Alexa 35 LogC4. The Sony image often looks flatter, harsher, and more “digital,” with blown highlights and weaker midtone density.

This isn’t because the camera failed—it’s because the conversion curve doesn’t mimic how Alexa renders contrast and color.

To close that gap, we need to reshape three core elements:

1. Contrast curve

2. Highlight retention

3. Color balance & saturation

And we can do most of this with extremely simple tools.

Step 1 – Rebuild The Contrast Curve

The biggest mismatch between S-Log3 and Alexa is contrast. Alexa footage has a gentle, filmic curve with dense mids and protected highlights. Most S-Log3 conversions clip highlights early and leave shadows too thin.

Start by adjusting:

Gain (highlights): Pull highlights down significantly to recover detail in hair, skin, and practical lights.

Gamma (mids): Raise midtones to compensate and restore exposure.

Lift (shadows): Bring shadows back down to reintroduce depth.

This alone makes S-Log3 feel dramatically closer to Alexa—denser, more natural, and less “video.”

Step 2 – Restore Saturation

Those exposure adjustments naturally increase color richness, but a slight global saturation boost helps you better judge remaining issues. Think of this as revealing the problem before solving it.

Step 3 – Neutralize The Color Bias

Alexa 35 leans subtly toward green in a very pleasing way. S-Log3 often skews magenta. A small tint shift toward green immediately moves the image closer to Alexa territory.

From there, fine-tune:

• Highlights slightly warmer

• Shadows a touch cooler

• Midtones balanced for natural skin

Even minimal wheel adjustments can get you surprisingly close.

Step 4 – Go Granular (Optional)

If you’re in DaVinci Resolve, tools like Color Warper allow surgical hue alignment—especially for skin tones. By sampling a mid-range skin value and nudging it toward Alexa’s hue angle, you can achieve near-identical results in seconds.

But here’s the reality:

Most projects don’t have Alexa reference footage to match against.

The Real Challenge

Matching S-Log3 to Alexa manually works great when you have a reference shot. But in the real world, you’re usually grading in a vacuum—trying to imagine what Alexa would have done.

That’s exactly why we built the Cinespace S-Log3 LUT.

It was developed by repeating this matching process across hundreds of shots—analyzing how Alexa renders:

• Shadow saturation roll-off
• Skin tone compression
• Green/blue bias in low end
• Highlight density
• Overall image “weight”

The result is a one-step transform that delivers Alexa-like color without guesswork.

The Takeaway

S-Log3 isn’t the problem. It’s a powerful, flexible profile capable of beautiful results - you just need the right conversion philosophy.

Whether you grade manually or use a LUT-based workflow, focus on:

• Protecting highlights
• Building midtone density
• Subtle green bias
• Controlled saturation

Do that, and your Sony footage can absolutely live in the same cinematic space as Alexa 35.

If you want a faster path, check out the Cinespace S-Log3 LUT, designed specifically to solve this problem in a single click.

And remember: great color isn’t about fighting S-Log3. It’s about unlocking what’s already inside it.