Camera Color Science: What Makes Canon Special & Should We Even Care?

Today's video is all about color science in cameras: why pretty doesn't mean accurate, what makes Canon's colors unique, and if it should affect your gear decisions.
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Table of Contents:
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0:00 - Intro
0:56 - What Is Color Science?
1:50 - How Colors Are Captured by the Image Sensor
2:32 - The Bayer Filter Mosaic Explained
3:20 - How Cameras Use Color Filters to Create a Unique Look
3:48 - Unfortunately Pleasing Colors Aren't Always Accurate
3:57 - Sony Is Very Accurate, but Canon Is More Pleasing
4:40 - How Raw Images Are Demosaiced or Debayered
5:19 - What Is a Color Matrix & How Do You Change It?
5:58 - How Raw Development Is Similar to Film Processing
6:28 - What Canon Does to Its Colors to Get the "Canon Look"
7:12 - But This Is All Subjective!
7:42 - Applying This to Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw
8:06 - Why Color Science Matters Less with Raw Files
8:17 - What "Adobe Standard" Does Differently
9:05 - When Everything Else is Equal, Color Science Doesn't Matter
9:22 - Practical Applications & What about Raw Video?
10:21 - Does Camera Color Science Matter for Log Recordings?
11:01 - Make Your Choices Based on How Much Time You Have
11:17 - Situations When Color Science Isn't As Important
11:36 - The Problem with Referring to the Look as "Color Science"

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#canon #color #science

[geraldundone]

Fun fact! That crazy text filling the screen at 4:45 is actual image data from a Raw file I opened in Excel. 👌🤓

[thejsonYT]

*"Desperately trying to find something positive to say about a brand that we inexplicably love by expressing abstract ideas in the face of an obvious lack of technical innovation."* This line. Love it! The logical approach is refreshing. Several creators right now are trying to downplay the importance of specifications because their favorite camera company just released a camera that is weak for video.

[borisovodenko]

Finally, I found an intelligent and honest camera guy.

[crooty]

That Sir, was a blast of rapid-fire, articulate, nerdy nourishment. Spectacularly well thought out, structured and delivered. A simple 'thanks' doesn't do this justice.
One of the big imaging companies should hire you right now.

[atlantamx]

How do you not have a zillion subscribers? You are smart, present logical information in an educational way. I really appreciate watching and learning from your videos.

[stevenjohnson]

The absolute best explanation of color science I have ever looked at. There is a lot of BS on YT about this, and sometimes I think that reviewers talk about this just to differentiate themselves from each other. The other comment, which you allude to is how many layers there are to the actual process of recording light with a digital system. Such things as the color rendition of the viewing device (monitor/TV/phone screen), print issues, overall system color calibration. These all affect how the "color science of the camera manufacturer" actually looks to the end user. Even the lighting in the room/situation in which the photo is being viewed affects the look of the color. What drives me nuts is how red is interpreted, for flowers, which I love to photograph. After many years of experimenting, I still cannot get the reds in my photos to come out the way I see them when I actually take the shot. Thanks for a great video, keep them coming.

[Cyclingdropout]

awh see here, a rare video with in depth understanding/explanation, useful rationale, and avoids hyperbole. an endangered species in the polluted youtube environment.

[TheMarkoPoloProgram]

Haha didn't expect all of that information coming at me so quickly. It was like a freight train of information crashing into my brain. Great video!

[sanderson]

This is how you touch upon colour science when discussing cameras, not how all these other so called youtube “experts” just dismiss other brands based on their own limited knowledge and obvious bias towards certain brands.

Keep up the great work!

[kafkaindisneyland]

Now that was a great, indepth video. Gerald, not only do you have a nuanced understanding of this stuff, but you also have excellent delivery! I learned lots of new details about sensor technology and what we call "colour science" (yes, it actually has a "u" in it – just ask the queen). The mic drop at the end there just made you my favourite Youtuber du jour.

[danielschmaderer]

Where has this channel been all my life! The detail explanations of your videos is exactly what I like. Keep up the great work!

[razafiarisonmichael]

Best video I've ever seen after so much time ! If only I knew this before buying a Sony a7R III to die on lightroom. But thanks for Sony to make me a better photographer.

Thank you Gerald ! I love this video ! Very instructive !

Now I understand why Sony is still making 10fps.They use their better processor to make better colors instead of rushing for more images per second since 2020. Also I imagine how much processing they need to do with desamoicing since they use BSI and were the 1st to rush on many megapixels. Fuji was not fast on processing image becaused they focussed on color science processing since years. Now Fuji just make their cameras faster since they have the super magenta straight out of the camera. Same for Lumix orange and grey. Same for canon's brown. Same for Nikon's yellow.

I guess since Sony A7RV, because they have made the best color, they will start to make faster burst now or higher megapixels !

I'm happy to say that after 2 years of photographing landscapes, portraits, wildlife and street photography with Sony, Fujifilm and Nikon; Sony is my favorite for the room they give for editing and it still looks so much natural even after a lot of post processing.

I still want my new menu system though, new cameras are expensive...

[keplers_dog]

Never has there been a better explanation of "colour science", imho. Thanks, Gerald, your insights helped me understand what the fuss is all about - and what it indeed isn't! Your videos are stunning, in so many ways (didactics, relatableness, focus on topic, aesthetic quality, etc.), thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! You really inspire me on a regular basis to get to know the technical side of photography and videography more. Simply amazing stuff!

[moritzhberg]

Who else nodded in agreement just before the AGREED title appeared on screen at 1:46? Really good video. There was a lot to take in, but it was presented in an easy to understand fashion. Keep up the great work!

[jackchow]

One of the most thoughtful and articulated video on YouTube explaining the color science of cameras. A mature photographer should get the colors they want with any mainstream pro-level cameras.

[arvindkarthik]

Wow. Seriously one of the most underrated Youtuber. You deserve atleast 500k subs. Also please don't stop making informative videos like this. Love from India ❤️

[miklosnemeth]

This is the third excellent video on "color science". The first was from the Northrups, the other from Sean Tucker (Skin Tones in Portraits: Canon vs Sony and How to Correct) and now yours. Sean explained, how the Canon image manipulation produces smoother skins hiding the details. Your explanation clearly explained the background of it. Peter Gregg on his video (My Canon EOS R Thoughts plus I think C-Log Looks Really Good) nicely demonstrated how Canon C-Log hides skin details making his face smoother than actually is.

[LordEderon]

Man you're fast, no time wasted. I like both your content and style. Thumbs up!

[ISunnyChicken]

This was awesome! Thanks for sharing such a well thought out view on color science!

[luka_III]

Oh, boy! This one was perfect! Best video I've seen on YT! Ever!