HN Reader

For folks who don't know what Magic Lantern is:

> Magic Lantern is a free software add-on that runs from the SD/CF card and adds a host of new features to Canon EOS cameras that weren't included from the factory by Canon.

It also backports new features to old Canon cameras that aren't supported anymore, and is generally just a really impressive feat of both (1) reverse engineering and (2) keeping old hardware relevant and useful.

Thanks to all who are sharing their appreciation for this niche but cool project.

I'm the current lead dev, so please ask questions.

Got a Canon DSLR or mirrorless and like a bit of software reverse engineering? Consider joining in; it's quite an approachable hardware target. No code obfuscation, just classic reversing. You can pick up a well supported cam for a little less than $100. Cams range from ARMv5te up to AArch64.

> The main thing you need is knowledge of C, which is a small language that has good tutorials.

Heh, a little like saying "the main thing you need is to be able to play the violin, which is a small instrument with good tutorials".

Yes! As a software developer in the photography space, we are deeply in need of projects like this.

The photography world is mired in proprietary software/ formats, and locked down hardware; and while it has always been true that a digital camera is “just” a computer, now more than ever it is painful just how limited and archaic on-board camera software is when compared to what we’ve grown accustomed to in the mobile phone era.

If I compare photography to another creative discipline I am somewhat familiar with, music production - the latter has way more open software/hardware initiatives, and freedom of not having to tether yourself to large, slow, user-abusing companies when choosing gear to work with.

Long live Magic Lantern!

Unfortunately, they're not using a github organization- leaving it to fail again if that account disappears. Continuity is hard.

> git clone https://github.com/reticulatedpines/magiclantern_simplified

An alternative to Magic Lantern is CHDK. Unfortunately that also feels somewhat abandoned and at the best of times held together with string* so I’m glad ML is back.

*No judgement, maintaining a niche and complex reverse-engineering project must be a thankless task

https://chdk.fandom.com/wiki/CHDK

This is good news

One of those projects I wanted to take on but always back logged. Wild that they've been on a 5 year hiatus -- https://www.newsshooter.com/2025/06/21/the-genie-is-out-of-t... -- that's the not-so-happy side of cool free wares.

This news is probably my excuse to buy my forth EOS; the first three were 100% only because of Magic Lantern. Can't understand why manufacturers make this hard as it sells hardware.

Magic Lantern is amazing... I used it with a custom C script to do auto ISO in Av mode (setting minimum shutter speed based on focal length) before that was built into the newer camera models. It's good to see it back!

This is such excellent news! I was extremely sad when progress was halted, lost hope my 80D would ever get cfw.

I should give this a shot. I used to use CHDK so I could use my old crappy Canon into something that would take good time-lapse videos by snapping a photo every X seconds; I miss doing that, though now it's harder because I live in the 'burbs, and there's no particularly spots for that nearby, and anywhere that is a good spot likely doesn't have a power outlet for me to use. I wonder how long I could power my camera from a portable charger?

Cool! Am i the only one who has a really hard time finding what models are supported? It says on the frontpage that it's on the downloads page, but I can't seem to find anything? EDIT: It's on the builds page https://builds.magiclantern.fm

What would be something you can achieve using ML that you couldn't do with the stock firmware and postprocessing?

I still have my 600D - it's hand down the most user-friendly DSLR I've ever owned, thanks to Magic Lantern. I also have a Sony A7S2. But, it is nowhere near the ease of use of my 600D. 12 years ago or so, I discovered Magic Lantern and I was blown away. It literally turned my camera into a high-end unit (for its time). What blows me away is that, my 600D can capture RAW video after installing ML. My Sony still can do only 10-bit video, 12 years later. The team deserves so much more funding and credit than they receive. I'm extremely grateful to the project and the people behind. I still haven't sold my 600D - only because of Magic Lantern. Thank you team :)

Would love it if camera manufacturers were forced to open source their firmware after say 5 years of a camera’s release. The longevity of devices would be vastly improved.

In fact make this all devices with firmware, printers, streamers etc.

Canon Hack Development Kit for Canon PowerShot cameras

https://chdk.fandom.com/wiki/FAQ

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45078315

Thanks to all contributors to the project, ML is an amazing feat of work. I've been running it on my Canon 6D since I got it in 2016, very useful for timelapses.

I just got my T2i out a few months ago and the first thing I did was check for new magic lantern versions. haha. Really cool to see this project is still living.

I've been waiting for Magic Lantern for my 6D Mark II for years now, checking the homepage every 6 months or so for an update, so this is great news!

Looks like there's still no support for the M50. I hope with the revitalized development it's on the roadmap!

This is not about the key logging spyware Magic Lantern. I thought this would be an interesting read with whatever is happening around the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Lantern_(spyware)

From a security mindset, I was thinking this had made a return: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Lantern_(spyware)

I was pleasantly surprised to find out this was something very different.

I was trying to understand what this project is. It's some sort of open firmware for Canon camera that you put on the flash card (SD). The home page has info: https://www.magiclantern.fm/

I absolutely love Magic Lantern, and I wish similar initiatives existed on Sony and Nikon! I was forced to upgrade my Sony camera purely because of software limitations.

Firmwares should be open-source by law. Especially when products are discontinued.

Very happy to see ML return, used it in my T2i for 10 years at least, this year I bought a R6 Mark II so no need but I'd be very happy to see it someday with support for ML. Congratulations on the return!

CHDK and Magic Lantern are fantastic, I really wish there was a Nikon equivalent.

It has been many moons since I used Magic Lantern. Has anamorphic desqueeze ever been a feature or could it be in the future? That's one missing feature that bums me out about shooting videos on Canon.

Amazing to see this, I haven’t thought about this since 2013. This turned my very basic entry level 550D into a crazy powerful camera for time lapse photography, I loved it!

Magic lantern is amazing. I'm still hoping a project grows for the other camera brands since I only have Nikon and Panasonic cameras.

Are there modded firmware for Sony or Lumix cameras?

Fantastic news! Congrats to the new team!

Magic Lantern Devs are GOAT < 3

If I’m to get a secondhand camera to run MM which would your recommend? 200D or 600D?

   Around 2020, our old lead dev, a1ex, after years of hard work, left the project.  The documentation was fragmentary.  Nobody understood the build system.  A very small number of volunteers kept things alive, but nothing worked well.  Nobody had deep knowledge of Magic Lantern code.

Sounds like a bit of a dick move. Part of being a lead dev is making sure you can get hit by a bus and the project continues. That means documentation, simple enough and standard build system (It's C after all), etc. As a lead dev you should ensure the people on the project get familiarity with other part than their niche too, so that one can succeed you.

The nifty thing would come from opening up the high end cameras, so why not go there? Of course Canon's legal team gonna crack down on the project, as they've previously said.

I have fond memories of squeezing so deep exposure stacking out of the auto/adaptive-HDR-bracketing script in CHDK on my old "IXUS 100IS", that the AFAIK still CCD had severe blooming around the window in the scene. Still great though!

> We're using Git now. We build on modern OSes with modern tooling. We compile clean, no warnings. This was a lot of work, and invisible to users, but very useful for devs. It's easier than ever to join as a dev.

Very impressive! Thankless work. A reminder to myself to chase down some warnings in projects I am a part of...

I was hoping it was these guys: https://youtu.be/x3Y1dAcHK5Y

But this is actually really cool because, as it turns out, I've got an old Canon Eos DSLR that I haven't used for a long time and didn't know this thing existed before.

For a look at some of the amazing output from an "ancient" EOS, you can look at Magic Lantern's Discord. It's rather shocking how far this little camera could be pushed. It is definitely a fun hobby project to fool around with these things. After awhile I stopped having the time and moved over to Sony APS-C with vintage lenses. I was able to maintain some of the aesthetic without getting frustrated by stuttering video. Still it's really a cool project.