I downloaded and installed Magic Lantern on my 60D. Can someone tell me what this does and why it is supposed to be so great? I haven't had much time to play around with it yet and would like some first hand info about it.
It can perform many, many advanced functions that a normal 60D either cannot do at all, or cannot do without being connected to a laptop.
Some examples:
Intervalometer -- take a photo every so many seconds.
Bulb ramping -- control the camera in bulb mode to provide extremely fine exposure adjustments, avoiding the 1/3rd stop 'steps' that you get when using the normal camera controls. (Can be used with the intervalometer to create timelapse sequences like this).
Focus peaking -- highlight the areas of the image that are in focus on the live view screen but putting a bright edge around them -- great when shooting video.
Focus stacking -- automatically take a sequence of shots, moving the focus very slightly between each shot. These can be combined in post-processing into a photograph with a much greater depth of field than is possible to capture in a single photo. Very commonly done by hand by serious macro photographers.
Bulb timer -- want to do a 2 hour exposure? No need to buy a remote shutter release and set a timer to remind you to stop the exposure, just tell the camera and it'll do it for you.
And much, much more. Basically it's pretty much anything that might be useful to a photographer that they can figure out how to get in there. (And a lot of it, such as focus peaking, intervalometer and bulb timing is basic stuff that Canon should really provide as built-in functionality).
The downside is that it's not the most intuitive thing in the world to use. If you are prepared to learn the quirks and foibles, I'm sure you can use it for every day photography. Personally I use it very occasionally for a specific task (and make sure I have a copy of the manual with me!)
I'm sitting in a conference in Lisbon and the photographer just listed those same virtues -- what a coincidence -- and enthusiastically endorsed its use. I was concerned about space for the intervelometer but he is using only a 2gb card and has room for the freeware on the card as well.
@abirkill This is very helpful. I have been wanting to do a time sequence shot and was just about to research what hardware I needed to buy to set the time sequence on it. Apparently it is called an Intervalometer! LOL All the other things that you mention sound good as well. Now I'm sure that I'll put it to use.
Great information. If I could rate your reply, I'd give it 10 stars!
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Some examples:
Intervalometer -- take a photo every so many seconds.
Bulb ramping -- control the camera in bulb mode to provide extremely fine exposure adjustments, avoiding the 1/3rd stop 'steps' that you get when using the normal camera controls. (Can be used with the intervalometer to create timelapse sequences like this).
Focus peaking -- highlight the areas of the image that are in focus on the live view screen but putting a bright edge around them -- great when shooting video.
Focus stacking -- automatically take a sequence of shots, moving the focus very slightly between each shot. These can be combined in post-processing into a photograph with a much greater depth of field than is possible to capture in a single photo. Very commonly done by hand by serious macro photographers.
Bulb timer -- want to do a 2 hour exposure? No need to buy a remote shutter release and set a timer to remind you to stop the exposure, just tell the camera and it'll do it for you.
And much, much more. Basically it's pretty much anything that might be useful to a photographer that they can figure out how to get in there. (And a lot of it, such as focus peaking, intervalometer and bulb timing is basic stuff that Canon should really provide as built-in functionality).
The downside is that it's not the most intuitive thing in the world to use. If you are prepared to learn the quirks and foibles, I'm sure you can use it for every day photography. Personally I use it very occasionally for a specific task (and make sure I have a copy of the manual with me!)
Great information. If I could rate your reply, I'd give it 10 stars!