M. Gilden
Canon DSLR Moderator
So, you've got a DSLR camera capable of surprisingly good looking HD video. Yet, it lacks the basic video camera features you're used to because it is clearly designed to be a still camera first.
So what do you do if you intend to use this as a video camera, and just can't live without some of those features?
You install Magic Lantern, that's what!
What IS Magic Lantern?
For the whole story, I recommend reading their Wiki here:
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_Lantern_Firmware_Wiki
But in a nutshell:
Its a custom software suite of additional features written by some users who were brilliant enough to be able to reverse-engineer some of the code Canon uses to control the camera's functions. It doesn't actually REPLACE your camera's firmware, but sort of runs on top of it, loading off the memory card upon boot (that means if you decide you don't want it for a shoot, simply remove the card that has it installed or reformat it).
What does ML add?
Too many things for me to list here, but some of my favorite examples include:
Anything of this sort will likely void your camera's warranty if they find out you did it. However, if I understand correctly, even using a third party lens like a Sigma or vintage Nikon w/EOS adapter will void your warranty.
As far as breaking your camera- there is a standard obligatory disclaimer that this may in fact cause damage to your camera. However, I have not heard of anyone causing any kind of permanent damage yet.
To quote their Wiki:
Still, if you are not comfortable with this sort of thing, no one is forcing you. If you are the sort of person who inevitably misses a step, skim reads, or otherwise finds themselves and technology not getting along, perhaps this is something you should sit out for.
But if you are motivated to do this, read all the instructions and follow them carefully (including warnings), the software is very rewarding to have.
Does Magic Lantern work on my camera?
Magic Lantern was started by Trammel Hudson on the 5D, but was soon brought to the APS-C sized T2i/550D (original forum discussion on this topic here: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?218686-Magic-Lantern-for-550D-in-progress! ), and eventually made its way to the 60D and T3i. This was after fruitless attempts to bring it to the 7D led to a brick wall (UPDATE! Progress is now being made on the 7D!).
There is now a unified Magic Lantern build for most of the current Canon video DSLRs, including the t2i/550D, t3i/600D, 60D, and even the 50D. 7D was thought impossible due to the different way the processors work, but it is now being worked on (as of 10/15/12).
This unified version is now the official version for all supported cameras, and replaces any individual builds that preceded it.
The Wiki for this unified build can be found here:
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Unified
with installation instructions here:
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Unified/Install
and the user guide here:
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Unified/UserGuide
Meanwhile, not all features from the T2i version of Magic Lantern have been successfully ported to the other cameras yet. For example, audio monitoring on the T3i does not work, and the focus tools on the 60D are unstable. For a complete list of what works (or doesn't) on each camera model, check the chart here:
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Unified/Features
UPDATE: Magic Lantern is considered stable and final for many cameras, and has now become a commercial product in its latest form. The new official site can be found here: magiclantern.fm
The 7D, despite being an iconic camera used in recent films, does NOT have a stable Magic Lantern version available yet. This is mostly due to the way Canon designed the camera- unlike the other DSLRs from Canon, the 7D uses dual DIGIC processors that change the way it executes code versus the other models being discussed here (which all use a single Digic chip).
Good luck!
So what do you do if you intend to use this as a video camera, and just can't live without some of those features?
You install Magic Lantern, that's what!
What IS Magic Lantern?
For the whole story, I recommend reading their Wiki here:
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_Lantern_Firmware_Wiki
But in a nutshell:
Its a custom software suite of additional features written by some users who were brilliant enough to be able to reverse-engineer some of the code Canon uses to control the camera's functions. It doesn't actually REPLACE your camera's firmware, but sort of runs on top of it, loading off the memory card upon boot (that means if you decide you don't want it for a shoot, simply remove the card that has it installed or reformat it).
What does ML add?
Too many things for me to list here, but some of my favorite examples include:
- Manual Audio control (with the ability to control both analog and digital gain)
- Live audio meters displayed on screen during recording
- exposure zebras
- live histograms
- live audio monitoring using headphones (plugged into the AV out jack) during filming
- focus peaking
- focus assist tools with live magnification area (this is a must IMO, if you intend to be able to pull accurate focus while using the built in LCD)
Anything of this sort will likely void your camera's warranty if they find out you did it. However, if I understand correctly, even using a third party lens like a Sigma or vintage Nikon w/EOS adapter will void your warranty.
As far as breaking your camera- there is a standard obligatory disclaimer that this may in fact cause damage to your camera. However, I have not heard of anyone causing any kind of permanent damage yet.
To quote their Wiki:
Still, if you are not comfortable with this sort of thing, no one is forcing you. If you are the sort of person who inevitably misses a step, skim reads, or otherwise finds themselves and technology not getting along, perhaps this is something you should sit out for.
But if you are motivated to do this, read all the instructions and follow them carefully (including warnings), the software is very rewarding to have.
Does Magic Lantern work on my camera?
Magic Lantern was started by Trammel Hudson on the 5D, but was soon brought to the APS-C sized T2i/550D (original forum discussion on this topic here: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?218686-Magic-Lantern-for-550D-in-progress! ), and eventually made its way to the 60D and T3i. This was after fruitless attempts to bring it to the 7D led to a brick wall (UPDATE! Progress is now being made on the 7D!).
There is now a unified Magic Lantern build for most of the current Canon video DSLRs, including the t2i/550D, t3i/600D, 60D, and even the 50D. 7D was thought impossible due to the different way the processors work, but it is now being worked on (as of 10/15/12).
This unified version is now the official version for all supported cameras, and replaces any individual builds that preceded it.
The Wiki for this unified build can be found here:
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Unified
with installation instructions here:
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Unified/Install
and the user guide here:
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Unified/UserGuide
Meanwhile, not all features from the T2i version of Magic Lantern have been successfully ported to the other cameras yet. For example, audio monitoring on the T3i does not work, and the focus tools on the 60D are unstable. For a complete list of what works (or doesn't) on each camera model, check the chart here:
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Unified/Features
UPDATE: Magic Lantern is considered stable and final for many cameras, and has now become a commercial product in its latest form. The new official site can be found here: magiclantern.fm
The 7D, despite being an iconic camera used in recent films, does NOT have a stable Magic Lantern version available yet. This is mostly due to the way Canon designed the camera- unlike the other DSLRs from Canon, the 7D uses dual DIGIC processors that change the way it executes code versus the other models being discussed here (which all use a single Digic chip).
Good luck!
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