In Camera Software for Canons

[Regulus (Trevor)]

Anyone used this Canon software addon in their camera?
"Magic Lantern is a free software add-on that runs from the SD/CF card and adds a host of new features to Canon EOS cameras that weren't included from the factory by Canon"
"Tools like on-screen overlays and headphone monitoring allow you to capture footage with confidence"
It has some excellent features inc. Intervalometer.
Compatable cameras at the moment are: 550D 1.0.9, 60D 1.1.1, 600D 1.0.2, 50D 1.0.9, 500D 1.1.1, 5D2 2.1.2 and 1100D 1.0.5.

http://www.magiclantern.fm/

[PeterEde (Peter)]

using it right this minute

[coldknights (Cathy)]

Been using it for yrs with my canon 5 d mark 2 !

[pluto (Hugh)]

Yep it's awesome. Having an intervalometer and a bulb timer built in is really useful, not to mention the more advanced features.

If your card/camera can handle it, and you can live with the workflow, the raw video is pretty amazing - with a fast card the 5DmkIII will do 1080p@30fps and every frame is 14bit just like a raw still. It can do crop video too so good for planetary imaging.

And even if your camera/card won't handle raw video you can still crank up the bitrate on the h264 recording and get much better quality video out of it.

[Regulus (Trevor)]

Yes I have been using an after market Bulb/Intervalometer and have noticed the lead is seperating from the hand unit. I have been thinking I need to replace it and this turned up. Loading it on my 600D now.
Cable release always has a place of course but now it will be used far less.

[raymo]

I seem to recall that it contains a shutter count feature, is that right?
I went to the website download section, but couldn't find the actual
download, just some other thing that I don't want.
raymo

[adman (Adam)]

One feature I would love to see is to be able to set a lens to its hyperfocal point at any given aperture

[pluto (Hugh)]

Originally Posted by raymo

I seem to recall that it contains a shutter count feature, is that right?
I went to the website download section, but couldn't find the actual
download, just some other thing that I don't want.
raymo

I've never noticed a shutter count in it anywhere before, though I haven't looked too hard.

This is the download page:
http://www.magiclantern.fm/downloads.html

If your camera isn't on there it may be that support for it hasn't reached the stable release yet so your best bet would be to look under the Alpha Builds section at the bottom of that page. However alpha builds may not work properly and could cause damage to your camera (though probably not if other people haven't had issues) so be careful!

[raymo]

Thanks Hugh, my camera is on the list. I'll try your link.
raymo

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

worth it just for the intervalometer!!
have used it for a few time lapses and plan on using it for the upcoming luna eclipse.
haven't tried upping the bitrate on video but might look into that for planetary - thanks hugh.

russell

[Regulus (Trevor)]

The Intervalometer is the feature I most want as well Russell, though I am willing to try the HDR system on some things as well.
My dream software is to be able to set 3 or more focus points and then have the camera take the series of photos for stacking (or stacking in camera like HDR series would be nice). Focus stacking would be so useful in the macro fungi shots I do.

[Tony_ (Tony)]

I'm mostly interested in the intervalometer too - but does it work like a regular intervalometer. It seems to be mostly for timelapse? Is it easy to set it for multiple exposures > 30 seconds. The instructions on how to do this don't seem clear. It's a pity camera manufacturers don't include this in their software.
I am also a bit scared of the warnings that it can destroy your camera - even if it is unlikely. Has anyone had any issues with this?
I'm considering it for my 60d.

Regards,
Tony.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by Regulus

The Intervalometer is the feature I most want as well Russell, though I am willing to try the HDR system on some things as well.
My dream software is to be able to set 3 or more focus points and then have the camera take the series of photos for stacking (or stacking in camera like HDR series would be nice). Focus stacking would be so useful in the macro fungi shots I do.

Hi trevor - yes focus stacking would be very useful for macro shots. I would love to have the HDR feature it looks like genius how they came up with that (some pixels high iso some low iso - that is in fact if its the same function we are talking about could be different). unfortunately that is not supported on my camera. that function would have been terrific for the Saturn/moon occultations.

Originally Posted by Tony_

I'm mostly interested in the intervalometer too - but does it work like a regular intervalometer. It seems to be mostly for timelapse? Is it easy to set it for multiple exposures > 30 seconds. The instructions on how to do this don't seem clear. It's a pity camera manufacturers don't include this in their software.
I am also a bit scared of the warnings that it can destroy your camera - even if it is unlikely. Has anyone had any issues with this?
I'm considering it for my 60d.

Regards,
Tony.

Hi Tony,

I can't remember if it can go past 30 seconds to be honest, you have to set the exposure length, and then set how often you want a picture taken in seconds - I think from memory you take a 7 second exposure and want a gap of 3 seconds you would say a photo every 10 seconds.

As for busted cameras I haven't heard of any, but they do state some of the functions are riskier than others - such as the dual iso photographs being a high risk. The good thing is that it doesn't override the camera in anyway it is on the SD card, so if you don't want to run magic lantern you put a SD card that doesn't have it on.

Cheers

[Regulus (Trevor)]

Just installed and went smoothly. Busy printing out the 56 page manual and looking forward to flattening a few batteries playing with it.
It has a motion detection thingy. Will take a photo if the exposure changes, or the scene changes from the last 2 pictures.
This will be fun learning, but it adds a lot to be learned.
Trev

[Redshift13 (Rohan)]

Originally Posted by Regulus

It has a motion detection thingy.

I tried using the motion detection for lightning pics during a storm, but getting the settings right seemed quite fiddly and I couldn't get it to work properly - was either way too sensitive or not sensitive enough (but of course I didn't read any of the documentation, just dived right in and tried it out ).
I've been using ML since the beginning of this year on my 600D - love it!

[Regulus (Trevor)]

Rohan that is an idea that never crossed my mind but definitely deservesd consideration and more experiment.
I don't think much about lightning storms these days since Tasmania very rarely has them but, it is something I have wanted to do.
Trevor

[Redshift13 (Rohan)]

Hopefully you have some luck getting a few lightning pics - be sure to post them if you do!