Q&A, 22 Feb 2024: DJI's Inconsistent Log Names, No Universal Matching LUT (Try the Color Space Transform), Hyperlapse Maths at 25 fps, a Free Hyperlapse for Site Access, Night Strobes, and PPA Gear Insurance

Ian's Mini 3 Pro / Air 2S / Mavic 3 and a Sony A7CR. Full D-Log is the flattest and lives on the higher line; D-Log M on Air 2S and Mini 4 Pro; the Mini 4 Pro dropped D-Cinelike for D-Log M and HLG; Canon has Log/Log 2/Log 3 as a parallel. He shoots Normal for talking heads and log for B-roll. A universal LUT would need a colour-chart shoot; the practical tool is Resolve's OFX Color Space Transform for D-Log, S-Log, C-Log → Rec.709 (not D-Log M, not perfect). Two-drone jobs: match the first couple of clips, copy the grade, tweak - different scenes needn't match.

Interval = seconds between photos (3 s in the demo); 'length' = output duration; hyperlapses render at 25 fps so speed up to 30 in the edit; frames = length x 25, shoot time = frames x interval - 125 frames x 3 s = 375 s. Ian's Mavic 3 died mid-loop over a graded site near Traverse City: check battery minutes against the calculated time. Waypoint mode's speed (e.g. 5 mph) only moves the drone; interval sets the time compression. Business angle: a free hyperlapse buys site access, then $100-200 per repeat, weekly or monthly, cut to well under 30 minutes.

A Velcro-mounted Lume Cube on top of the drone, out of the camera's view; fog can flare it; required for night flying; shoot late blue hour for ground lights plus sky colour. Insurance through PPA (ppa.com): cheapest membership (~$20/month) plus Photo Care Plus - $250 deductible, drones, theft, computers, worldwide; DJI Care Refresh is a time-limited warranty, not insurance. His Air 3 repair after a drop: 'only a couple hundred', under the deductible.