The Return of Magic Lantern -- New Developer Team

[FHDcrew]

**Haven't been active a while but have been lurking often, just not posting.  Hoping to get back to posting much much more regularly now and actually being involved in this awesome community.  Hope everyone is doing great and making awesome art that plays in sequences of frames 😉

 

"_names_are_hard" from the magic lantern forum made a post yesterday announcing a new official development team; I am not 100% sure but seems as though this was not the case sine a1ex left a few years ago.  Obviously, awesome developments have still occurred in the mean time, such as the incredible work done to the EOS M, 5d Mark iii and more to sd overclock, implement new binning modes that provide more image detail and less moire, and enable excellent previews in modes that previously rendered almost unusable to monitor.

 

Now an official development team is back, and their aim, according to the post, is to implement features into main builds; finally we do not need to dig through forum posts anymore lol...

What is even more exciting is the announcement of great improvements towards Digic 6 and Digic 7 cameras.  The Canon 200d/SL2 has an OFFICIAL build with WORKING RAW VIDEO.  This excites me, as supposedly this camera has an entire stop better dynamic range at ISO 200 than the 5d mark iii does...and DPAF to boot.  Makes me want to get one just to play around with and rig into a poor man's interview b-cam for my Nikon Z6.  The 7d mark ii, 6d mark ii and 750d/t6i also have official builds, though more work needs to be done to implement RAW video.  Still, even this is exciting news, because it looks like a point will be reached in which the aforementioned cameras all have stable RAW video.  Man...the 6d Mark II is gonna become absolutely killer and I believe might overtake the legendary 5d mark iii as the ML king...why?  Full-frame AND Dual Pixel Autofocus.  So exciting.

 

Imagine if they progress on the EOS R and we get RAW video on that...we shall see.

 

Anyways, wanted to share as I think it is exciting that the ML community is getting active again.  Although I have never personally owned a ML camera, it has always fascinated me and I want to pick up a ML-compatible Canon body, even if it's the dirt-cheap Canon 50d that makes it possible to shoot continuous 14-bit RAW video for only $86 US on ebay haha.

 

Exciting times.  Screw modern camera releases.  My 7 year old Nikon Z6 is still alive and kicking.  And these old cameras are about to become beasts.  And to me 5d mark ii/5d mark iii/eos m crop mood stuff looks just as good as your youtube shill Sony FX2 bs anyways lol...

 

https://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=27315.0

 

Also here's the dirt cheap Canon 50d...I might buy one.   Literally the cheapest half decent ML RAW cam in existence:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326652260011?_skw=canon+50d&epid=100134403&itmmeta=01JYD74BEKB8BK43GTP64YXEYE&hash=item4c0dfdeeab:g:zH4AAeSwaqVoO8fg&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1dPuUUXNiquWqTtYdpH3VhCftZqA2312R5f5VSKqv6B737uadt8L7po3UhjQmLj7p22fLaKrov1%2FdF7%2FPis094b98Wz%2FnMbwS7WtRhqTqfyUhYZCMMmhc9OdIad%2FLodvcJXSllJYh90xsUWRTm7vGW5QqKQBbevi0jxouClCZ%2Fbk6QKRNa9LTJsvkdX56eaU7F7IwVfBdZCHZOygCtMLm6H3MlF0YovoZEHjhhYqNq10jPFnlPCjhOBrGydgfrK%2BKuCTwN1sGX5Pb3KDZ5MpxcA|tkp%3ABk9SR7i3kafzZQ

[maxJ4380]

Didn't magic lantern get a cease and desist from canon ?   I always thought magic lantern was doing some incredible stuff for canon. After magic lanterns advances I vaguely remember some of canons cameras having issues with timing and overheating which turned out to be software related. 

Which makes me wonder how long the cripple hammer in one form or another has been in active service with canon. In hindsight canon probably could have done all the stuff magic lantern did except they prefer to segregate their market and maximize profit margins it would seem. 

[eatstoomuchjam]

3 hours ago, maxJ4380 said:

I vaguely remember some of canons cameras having issues with timing and overheating which turned out to be software related. 

The EOS R5 was sort of famously software-limited for overheating, but that was changed years ago, largely due to widespread shaming (especially from our gracious host).

3 hours ago, maxJ4380 said:

Which makes me wonder how long the cripple hammer in one form or another has been in active service with canon. In hindsight canon probably could have done all the stuff magic lantern did except they prefer to segregate their market and maximize profit margins it would seem. 

Modern Canons have been hit a lot less by the hammer.  They've had to scramble to catch up with Sony.  Competition is the antidote for market segregation.

There are a lot fewer things on modern Canon where I'd be excited for ML.  Open gate?  Maybe.

For me, at least, I'd be a bit more excited if they added "official" support for some of the newer EOS M bodies that are 4K-capable and have faster SD card slots than the original one.  I don't remember any of the EOS M series having 10 bit recording - but if ML could enable a 10-bit (or more!) mode and keep DPAF working, something like the M200 could become a really fun ultraportable.

[FHDcrew]

47 minutes ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

Modern Canons have been hit a lot less by the hammer.  They've had to scramble to catch up with Sony.  Competition is the antidote for market segregation.

Agreed modern Canon bodies really are not very crippled. The fact that the $649 R50V has CLOG3 10 bit is proof. But still, advancements on these older cameras is always exciting, and those old canon sensors certainly have a unique look that I think isn’t quite the same on the newer bodies. 

[TrueIndigo]

You mentioned the 50D, so here is a ML RAW video test I shot with that camera in 2013, just using the 18-55mm kit zoom lens. The location is Weymouth Harbour, which I have often used for other tests so I can compare different cameras. The CinemaScope frame size was 1584 x 662, then enlarged to FHD for YouTube. I bought the camera secondhand purely for ML RAW shooting. Although I was using a battery grip, the camera still got very hot (really hot -- sometimes you couldn't keep your hand on top of the pentaprism hump). Also, as I'm sure you know, the camera is not capable of recording sound, so you'll have to make a separate arrangement for that. With all that said, the images have a retro feel, and (unlike with plastic cameras) just holding the solid body made it fun to use.    

 

[zlfan]

On 6/23/2025 at 5:36 AM, FHDcrew said:

Agreed modern Canon bodies really are not very crippled. The fact that the $649 R50V has CLOG3 10 bit is proof. But still, advancements on these older cameras is always exciting, and those old canon sensors certainly have a unique look that I think isn’t quite the same on the newer bodies. 

I always suspect that the current crop of high dr sensors tuned for high dr but sacrificed other aspects. 

Using OM1 as an example, it is very nice in 60p photo mode, especially the dr is impressive. Yet, when I use some vintage lens on 5d3 with ml raw, something just looks different, scientifically not explainable, yet it is there. Aesthetically, I really like this subtlety.  

[zlfan]

I remember a story I learned from a famous photo forum. A group of veteran photogs prepare a set of chosen photos for Leica photo exhibition. Only photos taken from Leica lenses are allowed. Some smarties think they can trick Leica Reps by using best lenses from other brands. They intentionally put these best photos of theirs into the chosen set, yet all are sieved out by Leica Reps. They then believe that Leica taste exists. 

[Ty Harper]

Always great to hear the ML community is still pushing along. I cut my teeth on the 5D MKII ML and still have two 5D MKIIIs with ML that I refuse to sell! All that said, the R50V is $650 brand new and once those hit the used market they'll be $500 and under vs the 5D MKIII which is still going for roughly the same price. So nostalgia aside, the R50V's price, specs - not to mention form factor and access to RF and EF lenses - really makes it hard to argue that anything ML related is the prudent way to go in 2025, imo.

[EduPortas]

6 hours ago, Ty Harper said:

really makes it hard to argue that anything ML related is the prudent way to go in 2025, imo.

Different technologies.

Just wait a few years for Gen Alpha to discover old used DSLRs are almost indestructible and take even better pictures than newer more expensive MILCs and phones that break more frequently.

The R50 in its different itinrations is cute, but it will never outlast a 5D. 

Does if offer better video quality? Yes, but only if you know what you're doing from the get go and that knowledge is becoming scarcer every day.

[zlfan]

i doubt r50 has better video quality than 5d3 ml raw. 

[stephen]

On 6/25/2025 at 7:34 AM, zlfan said:

I remember a story I learned from a famous photo forum. A group of veteran photogs prepare a set of chosen photos for Leica photo exhibition. Only photos taken from Leica lenses are allowed. Some smarties think they can trick Leica Reps by using best lenses from other brands. They intentionally put these best photos of theirs into the chosen set, yet all are sieved out by Leica Reps. They then believe that Leica taste exists

Those are urban legends. Every blind test I personally witnessed and those we know from youtube shows exactly the opposite. Color science, micro contrast and any other  superiority claims falls short. Even professionals can't distinguish between different cameras and lenses. 
Like this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZjIz8sB2vg

Or even older and much more professional Zakuto Great Shootout from 2011. Does anybody still remember it ?

1 hour ago, zlfan said:

i doubt r50 has better video quality than 5d3 ml raw.

Canon 5D Mark III is outdated compared to modern cameras. It is OK for fun and experimenting but that's it. 1080р is line skipped, so real resolution is somewhere around 1600px not 2K. Rolling shutter 21-22ms is OK but again far from modern standards and  dynamic range is around 10.5 stops. It is a DSLR, so no EVF, you have to use external monitor. Workflow is not optimal as you need to transcode first from mlv to Cinema DNG. Compared to the low resolution, files are relatively big and take a lot of space. 

I don't see any reason for Magic Lantern project to exists when now we have so many cameras with internal 4K RAW Video recording. 

[Al Dolega]

5 hours ago, stephen said:

I don't see any reason for Magic Lantern project to exists when now we have so many cameras with internal 4K RAW Video recording. 

I feel similar mostly. If the new team can successfully and stably move it to the new Canons that is one thing but nowadays, with ML at its current level of capability/compatibility I see it as great for those who are way short on funds but way long on free time, or are just tinkerers in general, but anyone whose priority is actual shooting instead of fiddling/tinkering is much better off just grabbing a used GH5, S5, S1 etc for well under $1K and getting to it.

[eatstoomuchjam]

I think that some of the comments here are missing the point.  I think that it's unlikely at best that most members of this forum are going to see this announcement, throw away their modern mirrorless camera, and run out and buy a 200D/Rebel SL2 to put ML on it.

On the other hand, there are hundreds or thousands of 200D's floating around in the world.  That line was pretty popular for beginning photographers at the time.  I never owned one, but if I did and it was still sitting around the house, I'd absolutely be digging it out right now and trying out ML on it.  Why not?

The exception to that, for me, is if they add support for actual 4K raw (not the weird upsampled stuff that can be done on the EOS M) on one of the newer EOS M bodies, especially one of the teeny tiny ones.  I'd totally spend $300 for a body and $20 for an EOS M to Leica M adapter to play with that.  A cute little M200 with a 35 'cron could be a lot of fun (I know they're closer to $500 in general on the used market, but with some patience and "make an offer" on ebay, I bet I could find one for less - ain't nobody buying 'em and someone's gonna wanna get theirs off the shelf (and no way that camera's worth $500, come on)).  Or if the 4K stays cropped with ML, even better - an M200 with some of my vintage C mounts would be even smaller and cuter.

Similarly, I'd be just as excited if Panasonic released an updated GM5 with 4k and 10-bit (throw in external raw and I'll be even happier).  I want a SMALL camera, like not "I guess this is about 10-15% smaller than my R5, but much less capable" small - but tiny.  Like sits next to my RX100 V or ZV-1 and looks about the same small.  Like, I put the camera on my open hand and I can see skin around every edge of the camera (exception possible for a small EVF bump).

[PannySVHS]

From what I've seen and comparing to my own 10bit footage, Magic Lantern Raw on Eos M and 5DII/ III looks magical under natural light despite less dynamic range and much less resolution. So I am exited about any news from ML. I am referring to the pure joy for the image. It is not an observation in regards to full time content production.

No, no, no! @eatstoomuchjam No 10bit GM5 flimsyness but a solid and small 10bit GX85 body. Thank you, Panasonic!:) GM5 feels hollow and viewfinder is very tiny. Sorry, but no! 10bit GX, yes please.:)

@stephenDoesn't the 5DIII allow liveview on the screen, just like the EOS M?

[stephen]

1 hour ago, PannySVHS said:

Doesn't the 5DIII allow liveview on the screen, just like the EOS M?

It does of course. Resolution of the screen is low - 720x480 and it doesn't tilt. You are forced to lift 1-1.5 kg in front of your eyes and need also a LCD shade/magnifier for those sunny days. EOS M is much lighter.  It is quite difficult and limiting to shoot this way and get stable footage and consistent results. I always preferred using it with an external monitor.  

It took me quite a lot of time to understand the simple true that my time on this earth is limited and time in general is much more valuable resource than the 1000$ difference between 5D Mark III and a decent modern camera. Agree with Al that ML is for people who like to tinker. I enjoyed doing this myself as well but now regret the wasted time. Even if they add a new camera are you willing to go through cycles of tries and errors and inevitable failures testing the hacked firmware ? I for sure am not.  

[PannySVHS]

I will be happy to use it on my Eos M hopefully or with my two Dslrs. I just like the fact that Magic Lantern is around. What is your favorite personal camera for video and photo? @stephen I like too many cameras but GX85 would be my recent pick. I enjoyed my Bmpcc last summer and the one before, the latter not for stills of course though I wouldnt mind to print out some 1080p stills enlarged for A4 format. My S1H did the occasional video and photo gig but is collecting dust at the moment.