On future 5D3, can Magic Lantern up the resolution?

Gene Sung

Veteran
Early reports on the up coming 5D3 seem a little underwhelming. Many clips are showing that the 5D3 is still doing 700 lines of resolution instead of true HD resolution at 1000 lines where the c-300, FS-100 and GH2 are at.

Could Magic Lantern conceivably hack a 5D3 and increase the resolution from 700 lines to 1000 lines of resolution? Or is something like that too deep for a firmware hack?

This is obviously a crippling of the the 5D3 probably to protect the upcoming 4k DSLR. If this is the case for the 5D3, I would definitely wait for the 4K VDSLR.

But the final production 5D3 model is not out yet, so who knows what the final specs will be. Keeping my fingers crossed.
 
Early reports on the up coming 5D3 seem a little underwhelming. Many clips are showing that the 5D3 is still doing 700 lines of resolution instead of true HD resolution at 1000 lines where the c-300, FS-100 and GH2 are at.

Could Magic Lantern conceivably hack a 5D3 and increase the resolution from 700 lines to 1000 lines of resolution? Or is something like that too deep for a firmware hack?

This is obviously a crippling of the the 5D3 probably to protect the upcoming 4k DSLR. If this is the case for the 5D3, I would definitely wait for the 4K VDSLR.

But the final production 5D3 model is not out yet, so who knows what the final specs will be. Keeping my fingers crossed.


Stop pixel peeping...... The 5D3 has an image that looks BETTER than anything I have ever seen shot with a GH2. Resolution isn't everything, now go out there and make some Movies and stop worrying about things that mean nothing on final image quality.
 
If resolution is what you are after just save yourself the grief and get a gh2. Look at all the fun you're missing out on
But for the Canon look, Full Frame, and great lowlight shooting ability I say get a 5D Mark III and wait it out until they figure out how to hack it (IF they can even do it)
 
probably not
on the old models, it could never change the way the image itself is processed (apart from the q-scale parameter, which is not a great success either)
basically, ML plays with the ARM side of the digic processor, whereas all the image processing happens in the ASIC side of the digic processor, that nobody outside canon knows how to program
 
Stop pixel peeping...... The 5D3 has an image that looks BETTER than anything I have ever seen shot with a GH2. Resolution isn't everything, now go out there and make some Movies and stop worrying about things that mean nothing on final image quality.

He's not asking for anyone to tell him how to be. He's curious about the possibilities of pushing the tech further.

If you feel like the image is adequate enough that's great. He has a valid inquiry.

Early reports on the up coming 5D3 seem a little underwhelming. Many clips are showing that the 5D3 is still doing 700 lines of resolution instead of true HD resolution at 1000 lines where the c-300, FS-100 and GH2 are at.

Could Magic Lantern conceivably hack a 5D3 and increase the resolution from 700 lines to 1000 lines of resolution? Or is something like that too deep for a firmware hack?

This is obviously a crippling of the the 5D3 probably to protect the upcoming 4k DSLR. If this is the case for the 5D3, I would definitely wait for the 4K VDSLR.

But the final production 5D3 model is not out yet, so who knows what the final specs will be. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I'm also curious about it, but not the resolution. The resolution/definition may actually be alright, if the bitrate can be hammered on it could prove to be pretty decent. ML could do that if the processor can handle it and people are willing to get super fast XQD (are those the new ones?) cards.

What's gonna happen is people won't want to buy the fastest to get the best. GH2 Patch people are still trying to get the greatest Driftwood stuff out of 16gb 30mb/s cards and Driftwood is CLEARLY aiming for people with 64gb 95mb/s in his best stuff.
 
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As Kholi notes, it will all be about whether the processor can handle it. On the MK2 enough of a bitrate bump to matter overwhelms the processor.
 
I have a hunch that the GH-2 hack made its rounds…even to Canon. I’ll also add that the 90+ data rate this camera currently does was a last minute add on and is now being used as a marketing tool.

Still makes some pretty looking images though.

....just sayin...
 
It would be a SHAME if Canon crippled the 5D3 to 700 lines. After nearly a 4 year wait and if Canon does that to us, that just means they really are just trying to juice their customers for every penny. For me, I have no problem buying the 4K VDSLR, but was hoping that the 5D3 would at least be a real HD camera.
 
It would be a SHAME if Canon crippled the 5D3 to 700 lines. After nearly a 4 year wait and if Canon does that to us, that just means they really are just trying to juice their customers for every penny. For me, I have no problem buying the 4K VDSLR, but was hoping that the 5D3 would at least be a real HD camera.

I think Mico in another thread had it right, and I had drawn the same conclusions the day after the release: Basically, Canon has a video camera that does what people want. If you want video as a primary functions, they're saying you should buy that and that their 5D is primarily a stills camera with video tacked on for videographers.

If you can't afford their prime rib, you can always get the salisbury steak... just, you're gonna need to add gravy to make it taste better. xD

I'm so hungry right now.

But, for serious, NAB is right around the corner and you never know what kind of mind melting surprises are in store. =X

I wanted to get another Full Frame video option but until ML gets ahold of the camera I am not gonna spring. Saving my money up for NAB announcements, and if those don't sound nice then it's another GH2 body until GH3 comes around.
 
I feel you on being "Hungry Right Now," especially after such a long wait. Like I said, if the 4K VDSLR came out tomorrow, I would have no problem dropping 6K on it, especially since I work in TV and it's a tax write off. The problem is Canon has a history of taking a really long time to release anything, so who knows when the 4K VDSLR is going to come out.

But yes, NAB is in a month or so. Keeping my fingers crossed.
 
I feel you on being "Hungry Right Now," especially after such a long wait. Like I said, if the 4K VDSLR came out tomorrow, I would have no problem dropping 6K on it, especially since I work in TV and it's a tax write off. The problem is Canon has a history of taking a really long time to release anything, so who knows when the 4K VDSLR is going to come out.

But yes, NAB is in a month or so. Keeping my fingers crossed.

You took Barry's words right out of his head. xD

I'd say hang tight... you may be surprised, man. And if not, try out the MKIII, don't like it? Get a GH2 Hack it and see how you like that... those things are cheap enough to just buy and try.
 
My local rental house has the MK2, 7D, t2i, t3i, and 60D ALL for rent. I have no doubt they'll have an MK3 as soon as they street, so for about $75 I should be able to give one a weekend trial run.
 
Stop pixel peeping...... The 5D3 has an image that looks BETTER than anything I have ever seen shot with a GH2. Resolution isn't everything, now go out there and make some Movies and stop worrying about things that mean nothing on final image quality.
Give me one reason (aside from iso performance since) why I should buy a 5D3 when I have a 5DII + ML + VAF5DII AA filter?

Resolution isn't everything, but it is clearly relevant, especially for Bluray release and even HQ vimeo/youtube streaming. I can notice a difference between cameras that resolve real 1080p and Canon DSLR's even with the web compression (granted, the higher setting web compression stream, but you get the gist).
 
Give me one reason (aside from iso performance since) why I should buy a 5D3 when I have a 5DII + ML + VAF5DII AA filter?

Resolution isn't everything, but it is clearly relevant, especially for Bluray release and even HQ vimeo/youtube streaming. I can notice a difference between cameras that resolve real 1080p and Canon DSLR's even with the web compression (granted, the higher setting web compression stream, but you get the gist).

We don't know yet because we haven't seen enough of what it can do. IF (and it's still an "if" for sure) it does everything advertised as far as improvement to rolling shutter (as well as the aliasing and moire) that's a pretty big deal. 60 fps 720P is huge. It eliminates the need for a second body (t2i, 7D, etc...) to record slo mo.
 
We don't know yet because we haven't seen enough of what it can do. IF (and it's still an "if" for sure) it does everything advertised as far as improvement to rolling shutter (as well as the aliasing and moire) that's a pretty big deal. 60 fps 720P is huge. It eliminates the need for a second body (t2i, 7D, etc...) to record slo mo.

Sure, but if I just buy a used GH2 for 600 bucks this summer and hack it, I have 60fps covered with minimal rolling shutter and I still have my old camera with ML and the AA filter, not to mention a thousand bucks in my pocket compared to selling my 5D II for a 5D III. And I have better resolution in 1 of my cameras. With the other, I have the full frame look. Granted, 700 of those dollars in my pocket get eventually thrown towards that Canon Birgen mount for Panasonic cameras, but you get the point. That still leaves me with $300 dollars to blow on french fries, and a second camera.

I want to love this 5D III so much, but I'm just not seeing it :/

In my opinion, a second camera is essential anyways for most shoots that involve dialogue, so I personally don't agree with your notion that the elimination of having a 2nd body is good.

Ok, question for those who have shot with the GH2: what kind of lattitude flexibility can I get with picture profiles compared to Canon cameras? Because if I am forced to play with an ultra contrasty image, I won't exactly be happy. Is there a relatively flat solution for the GH2? Not Technicolor, even I think that's overboard... but something equal or slightly greater than Neutral with contrast and sharpness dialed all the way down?
 
Certainly not written in stone, you could argue it a lot of different ways. I mean, I didn't pre-order one. I'm going to sit on my mk2 until at least Christmas and see if we get any specials that bring it down more into the $3000 to $3200 range.

The only time I EVER shoot two cams is when I rent a 7D to shoot slo mo for music videos. I never use two cams for narrative, ever.
 
Certainly not written in stone, you could argue it a lot of different ways. I mean, I didn't pre-order one. I'm going to sit on my mk2 until at least Christmas and see if we get any specials that bring it down more into the $3000 to $3200 range.

The only time I EVER shoot two cams is when I rent a 7D to shoot slo mo for music videos. I never use two cams for narrative, ever.
Yeah I think I'm going to sit on what I have for a while. Who knows, maybe something insane comes out this summer that surprises all of us. I think this is going to be a good year... lots of competition will be brewed due to the 5D III being released, so maybe a company with more incentive to prove their worth will release something insane. The technology is there, it just comes down to who has the balls to release it at a reasonable price.
 
Yeah I think I'm going to sit on what I have for a while. Who knows, maybe something insane comes out this summer that surprises all of us. I think this is going to be a good year... lots of competition will be brewed due to the 5D III being released, so maybe a company with more incentive to prove their worth will release something insane. The technology is there, it just comes down to who has the balls to release it at a reasonable price.

I just hope panasonic go mad with the GH3. It could just be absolutely absurd if they don't do a canon and save the af100's pride.
 
I just hope panasonic go mad with the GH3. It could just be absolutely absurd if they don't do a canon and save the af100's pride.

I'd consider the GHx line of cameras with an APS-C (s35) sized senor (or bigger), never going to buy one with 4/3s. The 2X crop is too much of a turn off.
 
Ok, question for those who have shot with the GH2: what kind of lattitude flexibility can I get with picture profiles compared to Canon cameras? Because if I am forced to play with an ultra contrasty image, I won't exactly be happy. Is there a relatively flat solution for the GH2? Not Technicolor, even I think that's overboard... but something equal or slightly greater than Neutral with contrast and sharpness dialed all the way down?

You might want to check out this link:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?270990-5DtoRGb-Information
 
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