Magic Lantern 2.3 update - even better than before

Oh giggle and snort - this software was cool at version 2.2 this version 2.3 really should be considered a 3.0 or better level upgrade. Sean, thanks for the first post that turned me onto this software.

I contributed the $50 to get the download now vs. post 8/13 when it will be free - as I want to support the ML crew and show the smallest appreciation to there very considerable efforts and contribution to the greater artistic community

If you are into video, this is a simple must. There are so many features I use in still photos as well. (intervalometer, HDR bracketing, focus peaking in live view, etc)

Hurray, hurray, yes I am an unashamed cheerleader.

Mike

I downloaded and installed the update on my 5D Mark II this week and I've been impressed by the stability. There have been a couple of times I had to pull the batteries out because the camera wouldn't turn on, but otherwise everything I've tested works well so far.

I posted this last week in another thread:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by btaylor

FYI

Magic Lantern v2.3 (unified) was released yesterday (for supporters - i.e. those willing to donate as little as 5 euro) for the 5D Mark II. It now includes a lot of the features not previously available in the old version for the 5D2 which was more centred around video users.

Some of the key features include:

Zebras: shows areas of the frame where highlights are blown out or shadows are crushed. This has been improved on previous versions whereby it was a bit slow.

Automatic HDR Bracketing: unlimited number of bracketed shots, bulb mode enabled, fixed or bracketed ISO

Timelapse: included intervalometer, improved bulb ramping for time lapse in changing light conditions, dedicated sunrise and sunset modes, full manual ramping when required.

Advanced FPS Control: full control over FPS in video, from 0.2 FPS to 35 fps

Advanced ISO Control: mostly for videography, slight improvements in shadows and highlights. Alternate ISOs available.

There's a bunch of other features too. Looks pretty good. The free version will be released on August 13th.

I'm going to download it tonight and have a play, particulartly interested in the time lapse stuff.

Will report back after the weekend.

Ben

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by btaylor

Ok so magic lantern is the greatest thing that has happened to my 5D2 since I strapped the 70-200mm f/2.8 II to the front of it. There's some amazing features.

The intervalometer works perfectly, haven't had a chance to play around with the bulb ramping features yet but I will next sunset/sunrise.

The in-camera HDR is also very nice. I hand held a shot in the lounge room and set it to bracket at 0.5ev and let magic lantern automatically decide how many shots were required. It took 15 shots, aligned and merged them to a pretty damn good shot - especially hand held.

There's a million other features and it's going to take me some time to get my head around them all but so far I am highly impressed.

Oh - there's a function in there to prevent you having to touch the camera at all to trigger it, hence reducing camera shake. You wave your hand three times in front the the LCD ambient light sensor and the shutter triggers, amazing! :D

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Since then I've been playing with it a bit and haven't had the camera hang, except that little option that says "Do not press this" or something like that. Naturally, I did press it and it just pixelates the LCD until you power off the camera - cheeky buggers.

I'm enjoying it though, lots and lots of good options there.

I think I thought the post was still 2.2 and didn't get the 2.3 update - There are times and I slow and my wife tells me even worse.

I went back and forth w/ Alex a bit on Sunday - clearly an approachable guy - about deleting the A-Dep to movie mode remapping of the function wheel - it was very handy for me as I do 99% in manual and just one notch vs. the back and forth.

I have played w/ the FPS and did some time lapse of my family walking about the house - (they don't let me post them on the net) it seemed to work pretty good. I am going to Idaho Salmon River Range next week and plan to do some overnight time lapse w/ the battery grip (two little batteries are better than one) and see what I get.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by btaylor

I posted this last week in another thread:

Since then I've been playing with it a bit and haven't had the camera hang, except that little option that says "Do not press this" or something like that. Naturally, I did press it and it just pixelates the LCD until you power off the camera - cheeky buggers.

I'm enjoying it though, lots and lots of good options there.

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Just FYI - I get around 8 hours out of two batteries in the grip at night (normally 30sec exposures one after the other) on the 5D2 so you will have plenty of juice to keep you going for a while. Out here the night sky starts to shine at around 11pm so that gives me enough time to go through until dawn. I'm particularly interested to see how the bulb ramping goes on sunrise with ML 2.3.


My shutter count is getting extremely high I think. In the back of my mind I'm secretly hoping my shutter will fail and I'll have an excuse to buy the 5D3 :D