Custom firmwares for Canon cameras

After some random browsing on photo-related sites I started to see references to a "new" phenomenon called Magic Lantern for Canon cameras. Apparently some clever hobbyist have reverse-engineered the firmware found in most major Canon models (5D, 550D, etc.) and built extensions on top of the standard functionality. The following is list of new stuff relevant to both shooting video and photos:

• Bit rate control (QScale parameter) for the H.264 encoder


• Zebra stripes for overexposed / underexposed areas


• Spotmeter, histogram


• Cropmarks (16:9, Cinemascope, Fisheye)


• Intervalometer (classic or HDR)


• Trap Focus: camera takes a picture when something comes in focus


• Remote release with either the LCD face sensor or audio trigger


• Rack focus


• Stack focus (Live View only)


• Lens data computation


• Onscreen audio meters


• Manual audio gain, selectable input source, disable AGC and digital filters


• Display time remaining during video recording


• Debug functions (display CMOS temperature, screenshot, logging)


• Fine tuning for ISO and shutter speeds; also ISO 25600


• Kelvin white balance


• Clean LiveView display without any overlays (selectable)


• On-demand auto tuning for ISO, shutter & kelvin white balance


• Quick access to some useful settings like HTP, ALO and contrast

Below a visual example of a really neat feature, focus assist:

Introduction video to Magic Lantern (a bit long)
Vimeo group for Magic Lantern here

This project is apparently built on the Canon Hack Development Kit where they have added some really interesting capabilities to the Point-and-Shoot range. I have an old Ixus 750 that I'm thinking of upgrading - shooting RAW-files seems really neat :) Primary added features:

• Professional control - RAW files, bracketing, full manual control over exposure, Zebra-Mode, Live histogram, Grids, etc.


• Motion detection - Trigger exposure in response to motion, fast enough to catch lightning.


• USB remote - Simple DIY remote allows you to control your camera remotely.


• Scripting - Control CHDK and camera features using ubasic and Lua scripts. Enables time lapse, motion detection, advanced bracketing, and much more.

Mountain ranges

Two things about the movie below:
(1) whoa.
(2) I want to go hiking in/near mountains again with my camera gear! And soon! That scenery is just amazing.

Early summer

Those light-green hues are just amazing, but it takes some fiddling on the back-end to make them "pop" as they do in reality. Apparently the camera still thinks its winter...

More video

Still trying to sort out how to drive a video workflow. Below, two videos from the same event but with very different styles. Both shot with Canon 7Ds, at the Holi festival in Spanish Fork, Utah.

I want to be here again

My current background - zen during workshops (with a black background)

Trying out the "video"-mode

Tried to shoot some video today, using the new lens. First useless attempt included below - fiddling around with the settings I managed to locate the full manual controls for the video mode and had very limited success in capturing one of our cats. Manually controlling focus using the screen on the back of the camera is difficult to say the least, one of those z-finders would be nice, or to arrange the scene for fixed focus/using high f-stops.


Technical test - it can only go up from here..! Shot in 50fps, a bit jerky when playing it back.

After an hour or so of experimenting the battery was severly drained - any more serious attempt at shooting something would probably require one or two additional batteries or one of those battery grips.

I currently dont have any solution for editing videos, searching for open source software yielded nothing and my current hypothesis is to use Adobe Premiere Elements 9, a scaled down version of their full offering.

First prime - 50 mm 1,4

Purchased my first prime! 50 mm 1,4 - this thing is delicious and almost pure glass. Very easy to get nice DOF-effects, but also very easy to misplace the focus. As shown below, with a small aperture things that you never had to worry about before such as noses and ears can now be out of focus.



Will work a bit more with that DOF-calculator mentioned in an earlier post, need to find some comfortable ranges for some standardized scenarios. Need to take more shots!