How to Install LUTs on the Canon R6V (Complete Guide)
One of the most exciting additions to the Canon R6V is the ability to load custom LUTs directly into the camera. Whether you're shooting in Canon Log 2 or simply want to create a unique look in-camera, this feature can completely change your workflow.
The first time I tried installing LUTs, though, I realized Canon doesn't exactly make the process obvious. There are a few menu settings you need to know, certain LUT formats that work, and a couple of important limitations that can catch you off guard if you're not careful.
In this guide, I'll walk you through exactly how I install LUTs on the Canon R6V so you can follow along and get everything working correctly.
What You'll Need
Before we get started, you'll need four things:
A Canon R6V
An SD card or CFexpress card
A 17-grid or 33-grid LUT file (65-grid LUTs are not supported)
A computer
Both SD and CFexpress cards work perfectly fine. For this walkthrough, I used a CFexpress card, but the process is the same regardless of which card you prefer.
Step 1: Prepare Your Memory Card
The first thing I recommend doing is formatting your SD or CFexpress card inside the camera.
Once it's formatted:
Remove the card.
Insert it into your computer.
Copy your LUT files directly onto the root of the card.
The "root" simply means placing the LUT files in the main directory—not inside one of the folders that the camera creates.
Once the files are copied over, safely eject the card and place it back into the camera.
Step 2: Select the Correct Card
Before importing LUTs, make sure the camera is reading from the card that contains them.
Inside the menu:
Go to the Wrench Menu
Make sure your SD or CFexpress card is selected in the playback options
Without selecting the correct card, the camera won't be able to load the LUTs you've copied over.
Step 3: Choose Your Picture Profile
Next, head over to:
Red Camera Menu → Color Mode (Page 4)
From there:
Select Custom Picture
Press INFO to customize the profile.
Now you'll choose which picture profile you'll attach your LUT to.
This depends on the type of LUT you're using.
If your LUT is designed to convert Canon Log footage, choose one of the Canon Log profiles.
If your LUT is designed to be applied directly to a Rec.709 image, choose either:
Canon 709
BT.709 Standard
You can also use one of the User Picture Profiles if you'd like to build your own custom setup.
Step 4: Register the LUT
For this example, I used Canon Log 2.
Here's the process:
Select your picture profile.
Choose Edit CP File.
Make sure the profile is unprotected.
Scroll down to Look File Setup.
Select Register.
Your available LUTs should now appear.
In my case, I loaded a Rec.709 conversion LUT with an additional adjustment layer called Adagio, then registered it to the selected picture profile.
Step 5: Turn the LUT On
This is the step that's easy to miss.
After registering the LUT, head back into the menu and make sure Look File is turned On.
Once enabled, you'll immediately see the LUT being applied to your live image.
Using LUTs with Rec.709
The process is nearly identical if you're working with a Rec.709 profile instead of Canon Log.
Simply:
Go back into Color Mode.
Select Canon 709.
Edit the Custom Picture.
Register your desired LUT.
Turn Look File back on.
I demonstrated this using a "Stranger Things" LUT.
While it certainly created a dramatic look, I personally found it much stronger than I prefer. That's one of the reasons I like creating my own custom LUTs instead of relying on stock LUTs.
When you upload a LUT directly into the camera, it's always applied at full intensity, which isn't usually how I like to grade my footage. Because of that, I recommend customizing your LUTs first in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve before importing them into the camera.
Important Things You Need to Know
Before you start filming with LUTs, there are a few important limitations you should understand.
LUTs Are Baked Into Your Footage
If you enable a LUT inside a Custom Picture profile, that look becomes part of your final video.
In other words:
You cannot record Canon Log with a LUT preview while keeping the original Log footage untouched.
Once the LUT is enabled in the Custom Picture profile, it's permanently baked into the recording.
RAW Is the Exception
The only time the LUT is not baked into your footage is when recording RAW.
In that case:
You'll still see the LUT on the LCD while filming.
Your recorded RAW file remains untouched.
You can completely regrade the footage later during editing.
Proxy Files Behave Differently
If you're recording proxy files, the LUT will be applied to those proxies.
Even if you're recording RAW to your main card and proxies to your SD card:
The RAW footage remains clean.
The proxy files include the LUT.
My Biggest Recommendation
After experimenting with different LUTs, I've found that creating my own custom LUTs gives me far more control over the final image.
Many stock LUTs look overly aggressive because the Canon R6V applies them at full strength. By customizing them beforehand in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, I can dial in exactly the look I want before loading them onto the camera.
Final Thoughts
Installing LUTs on the Canon R6V is actually a straightforward process once you know where everything lives in the menu. The biggest hurdles are understanding which LUT formats are supported, placing the files in the correct location on your memory card, and knowing exactly how Canon handles LUTs during recording.
Once you've gone through the process once, you'll be able to swap between custom looks in just a few minutes.
If you're continuing to learn the Canon R6V, I also recommend exploring the camera's other video features so you can get the most out of everything it has to offer. And if you have any questions about the LUT workflow, leave a comment—I always do my best to help.
