WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF MAGIC LANTERN ??

Itervalometer is my number 1 used function. I just used the auto dot-tune feature on my 6D. I have to get out this weekend and see how good of a job it did. The settings were only slightly different than my manual dot tune. So I am curious to compare against my previous photos.
I like the focus peaking, but still have to get used to it.
I just started playing with the audio and motion based shot triggers in ML. So there are always interesting things. The cool thing is, if you don't like it, you can always uninstall and be none the worse for trying it.
I have always told people to try it, if they don't like it. Uninstall and you are back where you started. I think only one person (maybe 20 people total tried it) has decided to just go back.

frugivore wrote in post #17052887
I suspect that Canon has already developed all the features that we would ever want in a perfect camera and just release a few new ones with every new model. It's like we are rats in a science lab having experiments performed on us. And the Magic Lantern devs are the animal activists that broke into the lab and freed us from our cages.

yes i am with you on that one - i reckon its a canon crime that the current 7 D cant AF at f8 - reckon its 110 % certain it a simple firmware upgrade for "con"an to do that if and when they so choose

thank you guys for the imputs - so i reckon i will download ML onto the 600D this weekend and see how it goes from there but probably will hold off putting it on the 7D for now

still be interested to hear from anyone else who is using it regularly on a 7D succesfully

cheers rob

I found focus peaking useful for getting more accurate focus for my manual-focus Rokinon 85/1.4 on my 60D, athough it works only with live view using my un-chipped lens. It is not perfect, but better than using the viewfinder, and more convenient than using live view with 10X zoom on either my 60D or 70D.

But I have found a better solution by installing the Canon EFS focusing screen in my 60D. My "hit" rate is about as good as using focus peaking or 10X zoom. But this is a subject for another post, which I will write soon in the lens samples forum.

One feature I REALLY like is "Auto adjust Kelvin". It is only available in Liveview but it makes for perfect WB in difficult Tungsten or Fluorescent lighting.

I do a quick "Auto adjust Kelvin" in Liveview and then switch back to normal viewfinder shooting and it nails the WB for the rest of the shots. This is very useful when shooting JPEGs where you have to get it right the first time.

http://wiki.magiclante​rn.fm …uide#kelvin-white-balance

travisvwright wrote in post #17052735
I was thinking about this recently as considering upgrades to newer models not all have ML yet. One stupidly simple things I use the most is auto 10x zoom on playback. That is after you take a shot you hit Play to review and then the zoom in button goes all the way in so you can check focus. You can zoom back out through the steps to something in between but two presses play zoom and you have a "100% crop"-ish view of the subjects eye to be sure your focus was dead on.

Again stupidly simple but I'd miss it.

I'd forgotten that was even ML. Yes, it would be annoying to go back.

Your 5d3 has that option without ml, btw

TeamSpeed wrote in post #17054488
Your 5d3 has that option without ml, btw

I was wondering that and was about to edit my post but my computer froze. I got so used to using it on my other cameras as well I don't even think about it. I guess it also zooms to the focus point and keeps the zoom as you scroll thought images too without ML.

I also remember though that when using bulb mode only my T1i would actually show me the time elapsed in a way I could see it (on the rear LCD). I mean if you are taking a 5min exposure you are probably in a pretty dark place (at least I am), so turning on a flashlight to check the time on your watch, never mind touching the camera to turn on the top LCD light is not really useful.

RodneyCyr wrote in post #17054390
I found focus peaking useful for getting more accurate focus for my manual-focus Rokinon 85/1.4 on my 60D, athough it works only with live view using my un-chipped lens. It is not perfect, but better than using the viewfinder, and more convenient than using live view with 10X zoom on either my 60D or 70D.

But I have found a better solution by installing the Canon EFS focusing screen in my 60D. My "hit" rate is about as good as using focus peaking or 10X zoom. But this is a subject for another post, which I will write soon in the lens samples forum.

can u pm me how u use focus peaking with your rokinon,i have same lens and cam and i am struggling to get sharp shots with the 1.4,the fisheye is no prob but the 85 isn't a user friendly haha thanx

genesimmons wrote in post #17054920
can u pm me how u use focus peaking with your rokinon,i have same lens and cam and i am struggling to get sharp shots with the 1.4,the fisheye is no prob but the 85 isn't a user friendly haha thanx

If I understand this sms-speak correctly...

genesimmons wrote in post #17054920
Could you please pm me on how you use focus peaking with your rokinon. I have the same lens and camera, and I am struggling to get sharp shots with the 1.4. The fisheye is no problem, but the 85 isn't user friendly, haha. Thank you.

then these links might help:
- https://fstoppers.com …peaking-free-lensing-3180
- https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=Hc1y-J_Wdjk

In addition to the uses mentioned above, I recently had some success with the focus trap feature. I got a hummingbird about 2 feet from my 50mm lens when ML detected that one had come into focus.

msowsun wrote in post #17054398
One feature I REALLY like is "Auto adjust Kelvin". It is only available in Liveview but it makes for perfect WB in difficult Tungsten or Fluorescent lighting.

I do a quick "Auto adjust Kelvin" in Liveview and then switch back to normal viewfinder shooting and it nails the WB for the rest of the shots. This is very useful when shooting JPEGs where you have to get it right the first time.

http://wiki.magiclante​rn.fm …uide#kelvin-white-balance

This.

I don't have ML yet but was just re-learning how to set WB from a neutral photo and setting the option to my custom menu.

Is using ML faster - fewer button presses - than the standard non-ML way?

I don't think it is really less button pushes than using Canon's "Custom White balance". It just seems more intuitive for me because you stay on one menu, and you don't need to have a reference photo taken first.

To use "Auto adjust Kelvin" you first open LiveView, then press the ML menu button to bring up the "Exposure" menu, then hit the "Q" button to enter the WB menu, and then hit the set button to activate "Auto adjust Kelvin" and it does it all automatically for you.

Once the auto WB is set the camera stays in Kelvin mode with the new setting until you choose another WB mode, or run the Auto WB again. You can switch back and forth between LiveView or Viewfinder and the setting will stay.

The best part is that it does't just set the Kelvin, it also adjusts the Green-Magenta as well. I guess Canon's "Custom White balance" also sets G-M but you don't see what the setting is. With ML the B-A and G-M shift is visible on the WB shift display.

Loaded ML this morning.

Is there a way to assign the Auto Kelvin to a shortcut key? It's a neat feature. I just have to remember to be aiming at something neutral when I use it

I dot tuned two lenses and the values were only a point away from what I had set. Very comforting