Magic Lantern - Any basic guides?

[nheather]

Still looking at cameras and torn between the Canon 650D and 60D.

Should add that I'm tied to Canon because of my current lens collection.


I understand the differences between the 650D and 60D in general, but one area I don't fully understand is Magic Lantern.

It is available for the 60D, but not the 650D (though it is for the 600D so it may come along in the future).

I've watched the official Magic Lantern video in which it demonstrates audio improvement and a meter to help with colour key (green screen) lighting levels.

It's not that I don't understand them, it's just that I think that it is for serious film users rather than enthusiastic amateurs.

For example, in the video they show that it improves the audio hiss but it does this by disabling the camera amplifier and using a high grade external amplifier instead - not the sort of thing I would be doing.

So is Magic Lantern a bit of a red herring for me?

Is it just for film?

Is there a complete list of features somewhere?

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[Ugg10]

A quick google came up with the official user guide/site -

userguide [Magic Lantern wiki]

Magic lantern has a number of other "photo" features including time lapse, noise and movement detection firing, extended bracketting and bulb feature without a remote controle.

Not sure about 650 compatibility but the wiki site should tell you or give you a link to contact and ask.

Hope this helps

 

[Dancook]

iirc I use the 'unified' Magic Lantern for the 5dm2 - I use it for focus peaking, picture in picture zoom, intervalmeter, hdr bracketing. There are quite a few other still photo helpers, but those are what I've used.

 

[loz]

Magic Lantern is brilliant, but I have mainly used it for video - focus peeking is a great function. I would say essential for video. (Not that this is limited to use in video)

But things like the various auto bracketing options are good for stills too.
Also, I have used the neat stack focus option for macros.

There's lots of usual features - if you need them of course. e.g. things like Motion Detection could be very useful in the right circumstances.

 

[nheather]

Thanks,

I think the fact that when I read the features I have to research what each one means probably answers my question.

I did find the list of features and found terms like bracketing, focus peaking and zebras, none of which meant anything to me without further research.

Still not sure about zebras - my wife really likes giraffes - does it do them too?

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[dave_bass5]

iirc I use the 'unified' Magic Lantern for the 5dm2 - I use it for focus peaking, picture in picture zoom, intervalmeter, hdr bracketing. There are quite a few other still photo helpers, but those are what I've used.

Same here. While it does have way more than ill ever use the basic core features that i use i find invaluable.
I mostly use the HDR feature as i find its a lot more configurable than the Canon way of doing things, and whenever i use Live view i love having the camera show me what's in focus all the time, it makes tweaking the focus a lot easier.
This latest release (2.3) seems to be a nice improvement over 2.2. Its certainly more stable on my 60D

Between the 600D and 650D id' go for the 650D, its newer and is more advanced. I could live without ML if i had to.

 

[nheather]

Between the 600D and 650D id' go for the 650D

The 600D isn't in the equation - dismissed it a while ago.

It's the 60D and 650D that I'm torn between, but probably leaning towards the 650D given my needs.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[dave_bass5]

Sorry, i miss read it. That makes it a bit harder then.
I think i would also go with the 650D if it ticks all the right boxes. Other than size ergonomics (mainly the real wheel) i cant see many minus points.

If it was me i might wait and see if the 60D is replaced this sept first.