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Magic Lantern Is Back

magiclantern.fm

81–90 of 170 posts

Re: Magic Lantern Is Back

#81
post #78

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 relevan…

I wish there are similar projects for other camera brands like Fujifilm. With abilities of ML on old Canon cameras we know there is a lot of potential in those old machines across other brands. It is also "eco" friendly approach that should be supported.

I just switched from Canon to Fujifilm due to enshitification. Canon started charging $5/mo to get clean video out of their cameras. We're plenty screwed if manufacturers decide that cameras are subscriptions and not glass.

Re: Magic Lantern Is Back

#83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I stand by my statement! Compare the length of the C standard to JS / ECMAScript, or C++! :) Maaaaybe I'm hiding a tradeoff around complexity vs built-in features, but volunteers can work that out themselves later on. You honestly don't need much knowledge of C to get started in some areas. The ML GUI is easy to modify if you stay within the lines. Other areas, e.g., porting a complex feature to a new camera, are muc…

I stand by my statement! Compare the number of strings a violin has to the keys on a piano! :)

I know it's all at least semi- tongue-in-cheek, but IRL a piano's discrete, sequential keys are what make it almost inarguably the easiest instrument to learn.

Re: Magic Lantern Is Back

#84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I stand by my statement! Compare the number of strings a violin has to the keys on a piano! :)

I know it's all at least semi- tongue-in-cheek, but IRL a piano's discrete, sequential keys are what make it almost inarguably the easiest instrument to learn.

That's exactly his point. Languages aren't easier to learn simply because their specification is short, any more than instruments are easier to play because they have fewer strings.

Re: Magic Lantern Is Back

#85
post #35

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 docu…

Uh, sure, maybe in a professional setting where you’re getting paid. But this was unpaid volunteer work. If, as a community, we start enforcing professional grade standards on people who are just contributing their free time to give us neat toys and tools, I kinda worry it makes the whole thing the whole thing less fun or sustainable. And if that happens, we probably stop getting these free toys altogether.

Think of it as a non-profit club. If you volunteer to be the treasurer, are you then free to ignore everything and do whatever you like, just because you aren’t paid? Of course not. It’s the same with being a software project maintainer; you have willingly taken on some obligations.

Re: Magic Lantern Is Back

#86

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 AA…

I would love to add it to my 1Ds3. I recall reading that once upon a time Canon wrote ML devs a strongly worded letter telling them not to touch a 1D, but a camera that old is long obsolete.

(I literally only want a raw histogram)

(I also have a 1Dx2 but that's probably a harder port)

Re: Magic Lantern Is Back

#88
post #65

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 relevan…

Funny, when i saw it uses a .fm TLD i thought it's some online radio.

last.fm

Re: Magic Lantern Is Back

#90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know it's all at least semi- tongue-in-cheek, but IRL a piano's discrete, sequential keys are what make it almost inarguably the easiest instrument to learn.

That's exactly his point. Languages aren't easier to learn simply because their specification is short, any more than instruments are easier to play because they have fewer strings.

The analogy is completely invalid. Languages with small specifications are easier to learn.

It's sad that the dev, who has done great work, has to spend time defending the C language from critters living under a bridge when it's a fixed element that isn't going to change.

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