Open firmware for Canon DSLR

For a long time cameras are, in fact, specialized computers. For example, Canon devices use the ARM processor and the DRYOS operating system. Naturally, enthusiasts came up with the idea of ​​modifying the software part of these cameras. I want to please the owners of Canon devices of the 1100D, 500D, 550D, 600D, 50D, 60D, 5D Mark II series. Now you can flash your device, improving its functionality. Get a device that has capabilities that are included only in expensive professional photo and video equipment. Or maybe, armed with an ARM-Toolchain, to develop new features.

Meet Magic Lantern- An open project designed to modify the firmware of Canon cameras. Initially, his main idea was to expand the functions associated with shooting video. But gradually, functions related to both video and photos were added. These features include audio, focus, assistance, bracketing, motion detection, and more. The license used to develop extensions is the GPL. It is also interesting that the developed extensions are easy to uninstall. It is enough to remove the USB flash drive and reboot the device to get the original firmware.

What can I get by installing Magic Lantern?

• A whole bunch of focusing tools - capturing focus, following the focus, focus bracketing, face detection, and more.
• Video: Bitrate control, additional autofocus algorithm, video clip logging, automatic restart of recording when buffer overflows, display of remaining recording time, LiveView blank screen mode, and other functions.
• Crop: All kinds of grids and frames for cropping, including custom ones that you can draw in any graphics editor.
• Audio: sensitivity control, digital filters (Hi, Lo-pass), input signal indicators, manual input sensitivity settings, audio monitoring via USB (!).
• Exposure: Zebra (illustration below), Luma histograms, RGB, spot timers.
• Timelapse: intervalometer working in photo and video mode, silent (shutterless) frames, combining with bracketing.
• Information displays about focus, depth of field, sensor temperature, shutter-release counter, clock.
• Flash operation: wide exposure compensation, flash “bracketing” (even frame with flash, odd frame without flash)
• Optional: advanced ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and other controls.

Naturally, this is not a complete list of Magic Lantern features. More details about the features of this firmware can be found in the manual .

"Zebra" on the "overexposed" and "overexposed" parts of the frame:

Cropmarks, Histograms, Waweform, Follow Focus:

Audio Control:

Additional functions in Live View:

Additional video functions:

Additional photo functions:

Additional Exposure functions:

Additional Focus functions:

Tweaks :


A small review in English:



I would also like to note that Magic Lantern allows you to do Live View control over the process of shooting video in Full HD mode on an external display.



Installing Magic Langern is very simple and requires only recording the boot module on the SD card and turning on the boot mode from the SD card in the camera itself. All necessary utilities are included in the installation kit. To get started, use the instructions .

Well, for those who want to look at the sources and develop a couple of three new functions, links to the main forums and assembly instructions