Panasonic Lumix GH4 V-Log upgrade kit announced

Panasonic has officially announced the DMW-SFU1 upgrade kit that will deliver V-Log / V-Log L support to Lumix GH4 users.

The Lumix GH4 has been introduced as the first mirrorless interchangeable camera capable of recording movies at 4K resolution. Videographers have instantly adopted it and their thirst for 4K technology has been satisfied. However, they demanded more and the company began working on it.

One of the requests was V-Log support in order to increase the dynamic range and to make color grading easier. After many gossips about this feature, Panasonic has finally revealed the DMW-SFU1 upgrade kit that meets the demands of the users.

Panasonic LUMIX GH4 V-Log upgrade kit officially confirmed

The DMW-SFU1 upgrade kit has been released for pre-order for Panasonic GH4 users. This firmware update will bring V-Log and V-Log L support to Lumix GH4 cameras in order to offer similar features to videographers who are used to the Cineon system.

This is how V-Log L functionality will be displayed on your Panasonic GH4.

According to the company, the upgrade will extend the dynamic range from 10 stops up to 12 stops. Additionally, color grading has just become easier, while Varicam and GH4 are now more compatible when it comes to post-processing.

Panasonic delivers more flexibility to GH4 videographers who can can now use Look Up Table (LUT) in the grading process for increased dynamic range.

How to get the V-Log upgrade for your Panasonic GH4

First of all, the rumor mill has been right: the V-Log / V-Log L function is not available for free. It is a paid upgrade, it costs $99, and it is set to be released in mid-September.

The DMW-SFU1 will not be a simple file that you can download. Instead, it will consist of a kit that will be shipped to your address. This way, the company will make sure that each key code is linked to a single GH4, so it cannot be used on multiple cameras.

These are the steps to add V-Log / V-Log L functionality to your Panasonic GH4. (Click on image to enlarge)

Here are the steps to a successful Panasonic Lumix GH4 V-Log upgrade:

1. Buy a key code from Panasonic and wait for the kit to arrive at your address;
2. Download and install firmware update 2.3 from Panasonic’s website;
3. Export the camera’s unique serial number to your SD card;
4. Connect the SD card to your PC and upload the Serial.LST file to a special page on Panasonic’s website;
5. Download the Active.LST file from Panasonic’s website and transfer it to your SD card;
6. Disconnect the SD card from your PC and go to Menu -> Setup -> Activate in order to select Import Activation Code;
7. Reboot when prompted and you should see a V-Log L setting in Photo Style.

It is worth noting that this upgrade will be of use to professional cinematographers, as they are the ones who need extensive post-processing features.