Canon Eos - Magic Lantern addons

Olivier · Expire: 2015-08-06

Purpose of this topic is to share experience with the software addons "Magic Lantern" available only for several Canon Eos Dslr.
Please post samples, advice, tricks about features.

I know Gary, aka Sonicscott, uses it quite much for his photos : focus peaking, trap focus, advanced HDR, intervalometer and other features.
We both think Magic Lantern is worth his own topic for MF lenses Canon Eos owners.

Poilu showed us interests of Magic Lantern for macro shots :
http://forum.mflenses.com/focus-peaking-macro-test-on-5dii-with-magic-lantern-firmware-t48044,highlight,%2Bmagic+%2Blantern.html

He explained very well the Magic Lanterns addons :
magic lantern is a hack who add features to Canon dslr
in the begin, it was for video features like audio control, zebras for luminosity or setup for blue screen
as it is open source, many features have been added and it is interesting also for photography
a stable version is available for free, with a small donation you can access beta version
this soft will certainly be improved, magic lantern is even able to defish and preview the samyang 8mm in real time
if you can, give a small donation to help developers

magic lantern boot from the compact flash, if the CF is not prepared, the dslr work normally
if you don't use the latest betas, nothing can go wrong
if something should block, just remove the battery to reset everything

my macros test the focus peak mode
the window zoom mode or Canon 5x-10x mode are more precise than the peak mode
but if you want more than 1 zone in focus, you need a tripod otherwise focusing 1 zone will put the others zone oof
with peak mode you can see what is in focus for the whole screen
it is not precise as optical manual focusing but it is more accessible to non trained photographers
also work at F11 and more is a challenge with OVF if the lens doesn't have coupled aperture
focusing with peak mode is like flying on instrument vs visual
zone in focus turn red but sometimes slightly oof also turn red or focused don't turn red if there is not enough sharp edges
you will still miss shots but it is a nice addon to have

for non macro use, it will work better a wide aperture, otherwise you get red dots everywhere
the zoom window is more practical, you frame all the subject and use the zoom to focus the head

SonicScot · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 11:01 am Post subject:

The list of Canon cameras that can use Magic Lantern is as follows:
5Dc, 5D2, 5D3, 6D, 7D, 40D, 50D, 60D, 500D (T1i), 550D (T2i), 600D (T3i), 650D (T4i), 700D (T5i), 1100D (T3), EOS M, 100D (SL1)

There are some models, including the 7D, which have a beta or alpha version of the firmware which is still in development. Eventually it is hoped they will all become full version ports. I use the alpha2 version on my 7D and it's probably 75% complete.

The focussing aids alone are a good enough reason for MF users to try this out, we all know that NEX users, for example, enjoy the benefit of focus peaking, well now Canon users can enjoy this too.

Check out the homepage here http://www.magiclantern.fm/ the first image shows the rear of a Canon camera where you can use the arrow buttons to scroll through the Magic Lantern menu. The rest of the page gives all the basic information about this firmware.

REMEMBER, this firmware runs alongside Canon's, it does not interfere with Canon's at all. You always have access to Canon's menu, just like you always have. After installing Magic Lantern you just gain an extra menu (accessible by pressing the 'trash' button). Any features you don't wish to use can be turned off via the menu.

Here's a bunch of videos on YouTube showing various aspects of Magic Lantern http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=magic+lantern+tutorial&oq=magic+lantern+tutorial&gs_l=youtube.3..0l8j0i5l2.1216.3460.0.3804.9.9.0.0.0.0.89.756.9.9.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.jTbWEpOMp0k

SonicScot · Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 3:59 pm Post subject:

I just came across a very simple and clear video on how to install Magic Lantern: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXha5arV6-Q&feature=youtu.be

enzodm · Joined: 11 Sep 2010 Posts: 350 Location: Italy

Since few weeks I have Magic Lantern on my 60D, after having discovered it has focus peaking. Although not perfect, it is really a good aid in manual focusing.
Since much more time I have Magic Lantern ancestor, CHDK, on my compacts - mostly for RAW output. On my extra cheap A1200 the RAW provides some more room for denoising, although one somewhat unexpected fact is that there is a lot of barrel distortion correction on camera that gets lost when shooting RAW.

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

The latest version (2.3) on their website is not for 5D classic? Anyone know what i can do or where i can download this for the 5Dc? Because on the front page of the site it's listed....

SonicScot · Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:58 pm Post subject:

inombrable · Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 545 Location: Salamanca, Mexico

I've tried several times to install magic lantern on my 5Dc without any success, I've followed the instructions and video as they said but nothing. Anyone that can give me some advice? (I've downloaded and installed the official latest firmware several times, and the beta version of ML too).

When I try to install, the blue led keeps flashing instead of being on all the time, when I restart the camera, in fact the capture of the image is incomplete and the resolution affected, after a clean install of the canon firmware everything gets back to normal.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

I did it. I have just installed ML for 5Dc. It worked. Now, I will try to find out what I can do with it. Wink

How does focus peaking in review work??

inombrable · Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 545 Location: Salamanca, Mexico

SonicScot · Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 3:58 pm Post subject:

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

inombrable · Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 545 Location: Salamanca, Mexico

[quote="LucisPictor"][quote="inombrable"]

inombrable · Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 545 Location: Salamanca, Mexico

Well, now it worked !!!!

let's see what can we do with it

SonicScot · Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 12:20 am Post subject: