Magic Lantern for T2i/550D - Feature Set And User Manual

Luke Gates · January 3rd, 2011, 02:13 PM

Newest update, released today is hands down the best one so far! Far less glitchy and my camera hasn't shutdown or had an remove battery errors yet (before I would get that error on first record after power up). New displays show custom iso on, aperture, shutter speed, all on screen. Loving it!!

Update is middle of page posted by Alex Magic Lantern 0.2.0 RC1 for 550D firmware 1.0.9 - Magic Lantern firmware development | Google Groups

Matt Martin · January 5th, 2011, 12:42 AM

I downloaded the lastest version and used it for the first time on a shoot today. Being able to actually see the audio levels the camera is recording is a huge deal. I use a Juiced Link adapter so that I can plug in nice XLR mics. Now that I've installed ML and am able to turn off the camera's audio Auto Gain Control, I was able to put the Juiced Link into a mode where it can just work as a preamp and not have to send a tone signal on the right channel so as to try to disable the camera's internal auto gain. The audio that I recorded using ML today was way better than any audio I have ever recorded using the Juiced Link before.

This, along with being able to see a histogram and zebras while shooting, is a huge deal. I have a T2i and 7D. I used to really prefer to shoot on the 7D, but now that I've got Magic Lantern installed on the T2i I'll be shooting video with it almost exclusively. I wish Canon would issue a firmware update that enables these types of features - but I'm sure not holding my breath.

Big ups to Tramm and the others who have developed Magic Lantern - great job you guys, thank you so much.

Osmany Tellez · January 9th, 2011, 07:06 PM

Hey, I just install ML and so far looks very good...

I have one question thou... don't know how to select iso lower without having to got all the way to the end and start again. Its there a way to do this? If I'm trying to choose proper iso and wants to got back one step...is very slow to go around..for live events and more.

Any ideas?

Thanks

George Strother · January 9th, 2011, 07:12 PM

This is the first line in the user guide - "GUI menus: press the ERASE button to display them, SET/DISP to change values"

Set goes higher, Disp goes lower

Osmany Tellez · January 10th, 2011, 09:45 AM

sorry... I missed that.

Thanks a lot for your help George.

Russ Ivey · January 15th, 2011, 04:02 PM

I have a question about Magic Lantern. I have not used it and not sure if I want to, because one of the things mentioned in the user manual is that it "can destroy your camera". Also, isn't this just in the testing stages at this point or what? I don't want to add this feature if it's going to create problems and I'm not sure what to do. Can people give advice on it or not? I really would like to have the zebra and historgram features, that's for sure.

Stelios Christofides · January 16th, 2011, 02:48 AM

Russ, I feel exactly the same. To my opinion, it is dangerous to install any software that is not backed by Canon. What happens if something goes wrong? Canon will wash there hands and your guarantee goes out of the window...

Stelios

Gianni Paolella · January 16th, 2011, 07:08 AM

I agree at all, due that is not the official Canon Firmware for me it's a big risk!!!I also would like to have the Audio control, Zebra,and the AGC,but I hope that Canon in the next firmware will give us all.
I also read that if you want you can unistall the Magic Latern due that is on the SD card and not inside the Camera.Is it true?
Sombody know if how its possible?
Gianni

Denis Pupkevicius · January 17th, 2011, 05:32 AM

Of course it's risky, bet I'm already using it about one month and had no problems and there's even any bad words in global internet, so seems like, that none of canon cameras was burned. Before ML was not very stable, but now with every new update its working perfect. I don't like only one thing, that every time, when turning on you camera, all your ML settings are restarted and you must to set them again.

Gianni Paolella · January 17th, 2011, 06:09 AM

Thanks Denis,
but, do you confirm that you have not prblem at all and that you have to install the ML on every SD u use otherwise you have not the Firmware, or if I put inside the camera one SD without the ML what happen?
Did you try to record at the max quality is possible without any problem?You never need to switch off and turn off the battery to avoid problem?
Thanks
Gianni

Russ Ivey · January 17th, 2011, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denis Pupkevicius

Of course it's risky, bet I'm already using it about one month and had no problems and there's even any bad words in global internet, so seems like, that none of canon cameras was burned. Before ML was not very stable, but now with every new update its working perfect. I don't like only one thing, that every time, when turning on you camera, all your ML settings are restarted and you must to set them again.

Thanks Denis. I guess my next question is, is the rebooting problem and having to pull the battery out due to the camera overheating or something?

George Strother · January 17th, 2011, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denis Pupkevicius

I don't like only one thing, that every time, when turning on you camera, all your ML settings are restarted and you must to set them again.

You can save your settings in ML. When you have the camera on and you have set all of the options the way you want them, use the right arrow key to bring up the DEBUG menu. Use the down arrow key to highlight SAVE CONFIG. Press the camera SET button. Next time you start the camera, your saved settings will be selected.

George Strother · January 17th, 2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gianni Paolella

Thanks Denis,
but, do you confirm that you have not prblem at all and that you have to install the ML on every SD u use otherwise you have not the Firmware, or if I put inside the camera one SD without the ML what happen?

You have to install a DISKBOOT flag and ML AUTOEXEC.BIN on every SD card you want to use with ML features. Any card just formatted in the camera will not have ML features.

Any card with the DISKBOOT flag installed but no ML AUTOEXEC.BIN file will cause the camera to hang on startup, looking a for bootable file but not finding one. This requires removing the battery, fixing the card and putting the battery and card back in the camera.

This is all in the ML User Guide, which is updated frequently - 550D/UserGuide - Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki

If you want to know what ML does or how to use it, this is highly recommended reading.

Panagiotis Raris · January 18th, 2011, 01:10 PM

i have ML up and running on our T2i's; no problems at all. Zebras, manual audio control, and peak focus assist is wonderful to finally have.

in fact, it is the main reason i am considering selling our XH A1 units.

Russ Ivey · January 18th, 2011, 01:35 PM

Thank you very much for the input. I do have another question. Is it safe to say that the more of these functions you turn off in the menu, the less likely to damage your camera? The reason is, I don't need the audio functions, because I would never run directly into the camera anyhow. The only functions I would need would be the Zebra, Histogram, and Focus Assist features.

January 5th, 2011, 12:42 AM	#32
Matt Martin New Boot Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 21	Loving Magic Lantern - audio, histogram, zebras are a big win I downloaded the lastest version and used it for the first time on a shoot today. Being able to actually see the audio levels the camera is recording is a huge deal. I use a Juiced Link adapter so that I can plug in nice XLR mics. Now that I've installed ML and am able to turn off the camera's audio Auto Gain Control, I was able to put the Juiced Link into a mode where it can just work as a preamp and not have to send a tone signal on the right channel so as to try to disable the camera's internal auto gain. The audio that I recorded using ML today was way better than any audio I have ever recorded using the Juiced Link before. This, along with being able to see a histogram and zebras while shooting, is a huge deal. I have a T2i and 7D. I used to really prefer to shoot on the 7D, but now that I've got Magic Lantern installed on the T2i I'll be shooting video with it almost exclusively. I wish Canon would issue a firmware update that enables these types of features - but I'm sure not holding my breath. Big ups to Tramm and the others who have developed Magic Lantern - great job you guys, thank you so much.

January 9th, 2011, 07:06 PM	#33
Osmany Tellez Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Panama City Posts: 190	Ml Hey, I just install ML and so far looks very good... I have one question thou... don't know how to select iso lower without having to got all the way to the end and start again. Its there a way to do this? If I'm trying to choose proper iso and wants to got back one step...is very slow to go around..for live events and more. Any ideas? Thanks __________________ FCPS2, G5 Dual core 2.0 GHz, 2.5 Ram, Dell 2408, M-audio DX4, DVX 100A, Sachtler DV6, Manfrotto 561B, Zoom H-4, RE-50, AT890 shotgun, steadicam Merlin,

January 10th, 2011, 09:45 AM	#35
Osmany Tellez Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Panama City Posts: 190	sorry sorry... I missed that. Thanks a lot for your help George. __________________ FCPS2, G5 Dual core 2.0 GHz, 2.5 Ram, Dell 2408, M-audio DX4, DVX 100A, Sachtler DV6, Manfrotto 561B, Zoom H-4, RE-50, AT890 shotgun, steadicam Merlin,

January 16th, 2011, 02:48 AM	#37
Stelios Christofides Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nicosia, CYPRUS Posts: 1,080	Russ, I feel exactly the same. To my opinion, it is dangerous to install any software that is not backed by Canon. What happens if something goes wrong? Canon will wash there hands and your guarantee goes out of the window... Stelios __________________ My Blog: http://steliosc.blogspot.com "I hope for nothing, I fear nothing, I am free" Nikos Kazantzakis

January 16th, 2011, 07:08 AM	#38
Gianni Paolella Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: MILAN ITALY Posts: 82	Magic Latern I agree at all, due that is not the official Canon Firmware for me it's a big risk!!!I also would like to have the Audio control, Zebra,and the AGC,but I hope that Canon in the next firmware will give us all. I also read that if you want you can unistall the Magic Latern due that is on the SD card and not inside the Camera.Is it true? Sombody know if how its possible? Gianni

January 3rd, 2011, 02:13 PM	#31
Luke Gates Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: new jersey Posts: 151	Newest update, released today is hands down the best one so far! Far less glitchy and my camera hasn't shutdown or had an remove battery errors yet (before I would get that error on first record after power up). New displays show custom iso on, aperture, shutter speed, all on screen. Loving it!! Update is middle of page posted by Alex Magic Lantern 0.2.0 RC1 for 550D firmware 1.0.9 - Magic Lantern firmware development \| Google Groups

January 9th, 2011, 07:12 PM	#34
George Strother Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 204	This is the first line in the user guide - "GUI menus: press the ERASE button to display them, SET/DISP to change values" Set goes higher, Disp goes lower

January 15th, 2011, 04:02 PM	#36
Russ Ivey Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Woodstock, GA Posts: 89	I have a question about Magic Lantern. I have not used it and not sure if I want to, because one of the things mentioned in the user manual is that it "can destroy your camera". Also, isn't this just in the testing stages at this point or what? I don't want to add this feature if it's going to create problems and I'm not sure what to do. Can people give advice on it or not? I really would like to have the zebra and historgram features, that's for sure.

January 17th, 2011, 05:32 AM	#39
Denis Pupkevicius Tourist Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Beuliau / UK - LT Posts: 4	Of course it's risky, bet I'm already using it about one month and had no problems and there's even any bad words in global internet, so seems like, that none of canon cameras was burned. Before ML was not very stable, but now with every new update its working perfect. I don't like only one thing, that every time, when turning on you camera, all your ML settings are restarted and you must to set them again. __________________ Catching some Zzzzs...

January 17th, 2011, 06:09 AM	#40
Gianni Paolella Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: MILAN ITALY Posts: 82	Ml Thanks Denis, but, do you confirm that you have not prblem at all and that you have to install the ML on every SD u use otherwise you have not the Firmware, or if I put inside the camera one SD without the ML what happen? Did you try to record at the max quality is possible without any problem?You never need to switch off and turn off the battery to avoid problem? Thanks Gianni

January 18th, 2011, 01:10 PM	#44
Panagiotis Raris Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Reading, PA USA and Athens, Greece Posts: 269	i have ML up and running on our T2i's; no problems at all. Zebras, manual audio control, and peak focus assist is wonderful to finally have. in fact, it is the main reason i am considering selling our XH A1 units.

January 18th, 2011, 01:35 PM	#45
Russ Ivey Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Woodstock, GA Posts: 89	Thank you very much for the input. I do have another question. Is it safe to say that the more of these functions you turn off in the menu, the less likely to damage your camera? The reason is, I don't need the audio functions, because I would never run directly into the camera anyhow. The only functions I would need would be the Zebra, Histogram, and Focus Assist features.