For more tools, including gui frontends and third party contributions, please see our postprocessing forum. But since they have to essentially reverse engineer everything from scratch for every single camera, its availability for a new camera is kind of a big deal. Sep 07, 2018 comment on the forum magic lantern proof of concept code is running on the 5d mark iv. Not only does the zone of sharpness drastically fall. The new alpha version of the firmware addon introduces a slew of new features to the camera, including. With focus bracketing, you can use a computer software to do focus. Posted by jim denham in featured photo, magic lantern, tutorials 24 comments. One thing it can do is to control auto focus lenses so that you can shoot a focus stack very precisely through a graphical user interface on your computer. Contentsshow user manual introduction this manual is designed to be a laymans introduction to magic lantern release no. Aug 03, 2017 this is another feature that aids in achieving critical focus in a specific area of a scene. It adds features for dslr filmmaking and still photography, and is free and opensource magic lantern was originally written for the canon eos 5d mark ii by trammell hudson in 2009 after he reverse engineered its firmware.
By enabling follow focus, you are free to set the start and endpoints of where you want your lens to focus over a sequence. Focus stacking is an intermediate photography technique that combines the use of a camera and a postprocessing software such as adobe photoshop. Dec 16, 2014 other thirdparty software also exists for zerene stacker or other focus stacking software controlmynikon. Combinezp freeware alternative to lightroom and photoshop. I tried out jon s extension tubes while on holiday in south africa last month, and of course that got me back onto focus stacking. Focus stacking is an interesting development of digital photography, and, more specifically, digital postprocessing. Magic lantern has many other features and can be difficult to learn, so were providing here a quick recipe for how to use just the. Comment on the forum magic lantern proof of concept code is running on the 5d mark iv. As good as dslrs are these days, they have yet to make one that does everything a photographer might want it to do. Q about focus bracketing macro talk in photographyon. Magic lantern is a firmware addon that runs on top of your cameras. Magic lantern is a firmware addon for various canon digital singlelens reflex dslr cameras and the eos m. If i were doing a lot of macro focus stacking i would break out the 5diii over the iv just for magic lantern.
Magic lantern ml is a third party software that resides on an sd or cf card and runs on top of the canon firmware to expand your canons photo and video capabilities, including up to 9 aeb brackets. Without a remote i have hardware options for example the promote and an incamera software option using magic lantern s focus stacking, however the promotes remote input is incompatible with the hardware i want to use to trigger each focus stack a kessler second shooter and the magic lantern focus stacking can only be triggered from. Soon after that, a community grew around the cause and people generously chipped in with both money and resources to help him in his endeavor. The image shows a screenshot with commonly used ml features enabled. Canon has introduced focus bracketing with eos rp, but you will need to stack the images in dpp4 or another software. Magic lantern for hdr extending your cameras bracketing. Magic lantern is a software that enables a ton of features on canon dslrs that dont come in the original package things like focus peaking. I know helicon focus or other will still be needed to finish the job after the images are captured in camera. Magic lantern focus stacking tutorial with post production in lr4. For you canon users, magic lantern might be worth a look, as it will help you take focus bracketed shots to be able to make stacks with them. Focus bracketing software is bound to increase in the next few years as its obvious software whose time has come. Both give superb results in the right hands, although in my opinion, the focus stacking software of choice does tend to be zerene stacker for photographers interested in quality rather than speed.
How to unlock canon camera features with magic lantern. Focus stacking with magic lantern and hugin i have tried focus stacking before, but ive never really focused on the topic, because i dont have a macro lens. Usually 23 is enough to bring something the size of a small model into focus. Think photoshop started with focus stacking in cs4. Deflicker images for focus stacking with magic lantern and lightroom. I was particularly interested in focus stacking because i sometimes like to take. Magic lantern is a custom firmware addon for canon dslr cameras. Using magic lantern with focus peaking for freelensing. Magic lantern has many other features and can be difficult to learn, so were providing here a quick recipe for how to use just the focus stacking feature.
Focus stacking and hdr in the magic lantern firmware. My first try with focus stacking using magic lantern, take a look on the results. While the highly anticipated full frame mirrorless camera has an impressive spec list to begin with, the magic lantern software is aimed at the dedicated, advanced videographer. This manual is designed to be a laymans introduction to magic lantern release no. Using canon eos utility to step focus canon eos utility is camera support software that comes bundled with every canon dslr. Magic lantern was first reported in a column by bob sullivan of msnbc on 20 november 2001 and by ted bridis of the associated press. The trojan horse is activated when the suspect uses pgp encryption, often used to increase the security of sent email messages. This feature allows you to select a magnification of 1. Magic lantern has many other features and can be difficult to learn, so were providing here a quick recipe for how to use just the focus stacking. You focus, choose how many pictures in front and behind, the steps between each picture, and thats it. The usual risks apply, if not more so as this is in such an early proof of concept stage with the aim to discover and reverse engineer camera functions. This mounts the entire camera on a rail attached to a tripod and the rail allows the entire camera to slide forwardbackward my rail has about 11 cm worth of travel. The net result of this is a change of exposure and color temperature between images when focus stacking with it.
I tried out jon s extension tubes while on holiday in south africa last month, and of course that got me back onto focusstacking. The basic principle is that you first make sure all the pictures are. Using magic lantern to step focus on canon dslr zerene. Focus stacking is a feature that macro photographers will love and is a great feature from magic lantern. When activated, the trojan horse will log the pgp password, which allows the. Beginners guide to focus stacking for macro photography petapixel. Fixed focus, variable camera position a perennial favorite for macro shooters is the use of a focusing rail to move the camera forwardbackward at set intervals. Nikonhacker brings magiclanternstyle firmware hacks to. Focusing rails are typically adjusted by rotating a screw on which the camera platform sits or otherwise the platform freely slides along the rails until clamped into position with markings provided to make precise interval shooting. The focus stacking is not intuitive, but if you spend some time with it, it is good. Check visually that the size of focus step you have chosen is appropriate to the subject and magnification. Stacking software needs images to be acquired in a logical sequence, i.
For trial software use either zerene stacker or helicon focus. When the attachment is opened, it installs a trojan horse on the suspects computer. Canon 5d mark iii, canon 5d classic, canon 1100dt3 users guide. Extreme macro software focus stacking and post processing. Magic lantern is keystroke logging software developed by the united states federal bureau of investigation fbi. Both of these packages have easy tools to retouch the final image when necessary, but zerene stackers tools are more extensive.
If i can get an easy to use focus stacking for the canon 6d as easy as fuji has i can use the 6d and dump the fuji stuff completely. Magic lantern is a program that has been developed by canon 5d mark ii users to provide video and still enhancements. The magic zoom feature can be set up to function is several different ways. Magic lantern is a free and open source firmware addon that extends the functionality of many canon dslrs to provide automatic acquisition of focus stacks by controlling the motor inside automatic focus lenses. Magic lantern is a software that was first designed by a person named trammell hudson in 2009 by reverseengineering canons own software. Some cameras come with an internal focus stacking function, which allows you to define a start and endpoint of your stack and the amount of images you want it to take. September 12, 2012 magic lantern is an open gpl framework for developing enhancements to the amazing canon 5d mark ii and 550dt2i digital slrs. Cant help with ml settings but for focus stacking software for free try combinezp. A tutorial on how to create a focus stacked image using magic lantern for canon dslrs including a brief overview of a post production. When you use bulb ramping, magic lantern will save a log file with the exposure parameters, metered values and so on. Is there a way to make my canon dslr bracket focus automatically. Mar 04, 20 magic lantern is by far the best thing to happen to the dslr cameras. The ultimate focus stacking guide capturelandscapes.
Magic lantern for focus stacking 6d canon eos1d 5d. First enable the post deflicker module and file manager module in magic. Its no secret that you can hack canon cameras firmware with 3rd party hackers like magic lantern to push higher dynamic range and bitrate. Magic lantern is a free software addon that runs from the sdcf card and adds a host of new features to canon eos cameras that werent included from the factory by canon. Magic lantern uses the available screen space to display operational information in a clear and practical manner. Other thirdparty software also exists for zerene stacker or other focus stacking software controlmynikon. Magic lantern for focus stacking 6d canon eos1d 5d 6d. Has been using internal focus bracketing with my 6d and 7d together with magic lantern. Canon 5d mark ii, 550d, 60d, 600d, 50d and 500d ports in progress. Both of these packages have easy tools to retouch the final image when. Focus stacking is commonly used in various forms of photography but is most known within the genres of landscape and macro photography. After months of dedicated hacking, magic lantern has finally been released for the canon 7d. Im just wondering what alternatives are available right now i have never done focus bracketingstacking but recognize its value for macro. Theres also more advanced options like setting it to the rack focus range.
Luckily, there is a technique called focus stacking, that allows us to work around. Many olympus cameras have this feature and most canon dslrs can obtain it by installing a third party firmware called magic lantern. Magic lantern is a free and open source firmware addon that extends the functionality of many canon dslrs to provide automatic acquisition of focus stacks by controlling the motor inside automaticfocus lenses. Will loading this program cause any problems with the 6d body in use. If you are interested in focusstacking specifically for macro photogoraphy, the common solution is to use a focus rail. On thursday i bought a 600d for surice and myself, and before friday i had installed magic lantern. Magic lantern unleash your cameras full potential for free.
It offers so many options not given to you by the normal canon firmware that it should be sin not to install it. Deflicker images for focus stacking with magic lantern and lightroom i have a portable flash that isunreliable. Stacking works best with a series of approximately equal focus steps between top and bottom settings. In the past, the offmarket software has added videofriendly display overlays, uncompressed raw, and focus stacking. Magic lantern successfully tested on 5d mark iv eoshd. Without a remote i have hardware options for example the promote and an incamera software option using magic lanterns focus stacking, however the promotes remote input is incompatible with the hardware i want to use to trigger each focus stack a kessler second shooter and the magic lantern focus stacking can only be triggered from. When activated using live view, a focus box shows up on the lcd screen at the magnification you select.
Canon eos utility is camera support software that comes bundled with every canon dslr. Ml recommends focus step sizes of 1 or 2 with a small value for the step delay, increasing step delays if the motion is not as smooth as you like. Magic lantern for hdr extending your cameras bracketing capabilities. I was particularly interested in focus stacking because i sometimes like to take pictures of very small things. Magic lantern is by far the best thing to happen to the dslr cameras. It is not a hack, or a modified firmware, but it runs alongside canons own firmware, booting from the card every time you turn the camera on. One thing it can do is to control autofocus lenses so that you can shoot a focus stack very precisely through a graphical user interface on your computer.
Postprocessing tools required for various ml features. I suspect that it is only a matter of time that a form of focus stacking will be present in most digital cameras, as its such an obvious thing to do. Beginners guide to focus stacking for macro photography. Download the source code and help develop the code. Get the most out of your camera with the latest magic lantern features. These log files can be used to see how well the ramping went and to finetune the algorithm. Yes, the stepper motors have gotten better, but even with magic lantern, the process of setting and timing out your rack focus points takes more time than it is worth. One of the greatest challenges in macro photography is the depth of field, or dof for short. However, focus stacking must take place in external software. Magic lantern has a step focus feature in it designed for folks who do a lot of focus bracketing for stacking purposes. Feb 04, 2014 my first try with focus stacking using magic lantern, take a look on the results. Focus stacking lets you take several photos of a landscape, focused at different points, and combine them together into the sharpest possible image. The developers are looking for volunteers to install it on their cameras and help with the research and testing process. It works best with the camera on a tripod, and you do have to do the following steps.