How to match color between multiple cameras in DaVinci Resolve without looking flat?

Hey! Great question. The key is to normalize each camera's log footage to a common working color space before you start matching. I'd suggest using the Color Space Transform (CST) effect on each clip. For the Sony, set Input Color Space to S-Log3 and Input Gamma to S-Log3. For the Canon, set Input Color Space to Canon Cinema Gamut and Input Gamma to Canon Log2. Then set both to the same Output Color Space (e.g., Rec.709) and Output Gamma (e.g., Rec.709 Gamma 2.4). This will give you a solid baseline. After that, use the Color Match tool with your scopes to fine-tune. Make sure you're using a calibrated reference chart like a ColorChecker for the white balance and exposure. That should eliminate the flat look.

Solid advice from shortsflow53. One thing I'd add: when you're using the Color Match tool, don't rely solely on the automatic matching. Use the RGB parade scope to manually adjust the lift, gamma, and gain for each clip until the skin tones line up. Also, check your scopes after the CST—if the waveform looks too low, you might need to add a slight contrast curve. For the flat look, it's often because the CST is set to a gamma that's too flat for Rec.709. Try 'Rec.709 Gamma 2.4' instead of 'Rec.709 Gamma 2.2' for a punchier image. And don't forget to enable 'Use OETF' and 'Use Gamut' in the CST settings to avoid double transforms.

I second that! Another tip: use the HDR palette's Global Hue vs. Sat to match skin tones more precisely. After the CST, you can select the skin tone range and shift the hue to match between cameras. Also, consider using the 'Color Space Transform' in the clip's Input Sizing—wait, no, that's not right. Actually, you can apply a CST on a node, but avoid stacking too many nodes. For multi-cam, I like to create a group and apply the CST to the group, then use individual clips for fine-tuning. That saves time and ensures consistency.

Thanks everyone for the detailed replies! I followed your advice and it worked perfectly. The CST to Rec.709 Gamma 2.4 made a huge difference, and using the RGB parade to manually adjust skin tones really helped. My footage no longer looks flat, and the skin tones are matching across both cameras. I appreciate the help!