Here is how to start with Magic Lantern (Canon steroids for free)

Magic Lantern Is one of the more powerful pieces of software ever released for Canon cameras. ML was released a good few years ago, but I am still getting quite a bit of mails asking us for more information about it.

Good! Because videographer Jake Coppinger just released a Magic Lantern for Dummies guide. It only covers the installation of ML onto a Canon DSLR and turning some of the features on, but it’s a great starting point if you’ve been wanting to play with ML.

ML has quite a bit of powerful features like video RAW, and dynamic range boost, but it also has a few basic features that are almost a must if you are using a Canon camera to shoot video.

Canon does not officially support Magic Lantern, and there is some risk of harming the camera (especially if stopping the update mid-way, or falling on an April’s fool’s joke). But generally it is considered fairly safe, and many videographers use it regularly.

Here are three of ML’s most useful features:

• Focus Peaking – will overlay lines on focused areas in the photo
• Zebras – will show you overexposed areas
• Histogram – will give you an overlay histogram

You can find these three features in most external monitors, but in a pinch, having them in camera can be a tight solution.

[Upgrade your Camera for free – Getting Started with Magic Lantern | Jake Coppinger]