Magic Lantern Firmware - Good or Bad?

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The new issue of Pop Photo (Oct 2012, top of p.98, "Don't Go There") highly discourages owners from installing third-party firmware modifications. I have just become aware of Magic Lantern's add-on firmware and wonder if anyone has any feedback on camera damage, etc.
 
After a bit of research, I just answered my own question. The answer is, yes, there is a strong possibility that it will damage your camera. Those interested, visit ML's own website, where you will find an over-abundance of issues and problems with the firmware mod.
 
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Can't you (or a Canon service center) reinstall the original software/firmware if something goes wrong?

Sure, there's always a risk with 3rd party software, but there are also rewards. You do the research and weigh the pros and cons. Anyone who says all 3rd party software is bad is making uneducated assumptions.
 
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JumboShrimp said:
After a bit of research, I just answered my own question. The answer is, yes, there is a strong possibility that it will damage your camera. Those interested, visit ML's own website, where you will find an over-abundance of issues and problems with the firmware mod.
Well that is a bunch of nonsense. I've been using Magic Lantern for over a year and a half and it's a major wonder why Canon just doesn't put these features in them selves.

You can't point to a single camera that can be documented to have been damaged by the software.

The list of incredibly useful features it brings is so extensive that it's impractical to list them all here.

http://www.magiclantern.fm/
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_Lantern_Firmware_Wiki
http://vimeo.com/groups/magiclantern
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?248171-Magic-Lantern-Firmware

Don't know where you're getting your information, but it's completely false.

Cheers,
Pete
http://vimeo.com/petecarney
http://www.youtube.com/user/c3hammer
 
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JumboShrimp said:
The new issue of Pop Photo (Oct 2012, top of p.98, "Don't Go There") highly discourages owners from installing third-party firmware modifications.

Don't know the article, but the conclusion is plain nonsense. The latest, stable version of Magic Lantern is as likely to brick your camera as it is being damaged by a satellite falling of the sky and hitting it. Btw you can uninstall it anytime and even if not Canon service never refuses a warranty due to the boot flag set, they acknowledged the right of users to extend their camera.
 
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ML team warnes using their software as this is a usual practice. I'm a big fan of Magic Lantern and if you want to be the one as well, you should accept it's limitations, no warranty and no responsibility for it's use. Current version is stable although it can hang on anyway. You are warned, that in the case the camera stops to respond, you should remove the battery immadietaly. This is the only case I see, that something wrong could happen if it's in LV mode - sensor may be active, may heat up but nothing would prevent it from overhitting. I haven't broken my camera, neither have heard, that anybody did although s..t happens.
Maybe this add on software is simply just not for you?
 
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JumboShrimp said:
After a bit of research, I just answered my own question. The answer is, yes, there is a strong possibility that it will damage your camera. Those interested, visit ML's own website, where you will find an over-abundance of issues and problems with the firmware mod.

even for a forum dealing with rumors this is so what of nonsense...
 
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dirtcastle said:
Can't you (or a Canon service center) reinstall the original software/firmware if something goes wrong?

Sure, there's always a risk with 3rd party software, but there are also rewards. You do the research and weigh the pros and cons. Anyone who says all 3rd party software is bad is making uneducated assumptions.

Oh my.. Better get rid of photoshop!! It's 3rd party software - on both Mac and pc.
 
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pdirestajr said:
dirtcastle said:
Can't you (or a Canon service center) reinstall the original software/firmware if something goes wrong?

It doesn't replace the Canon firmware. It runs alongside side it off of the CF card. It doesn't install anything "into" your camera, so shouldn't be a problem.

This is about as true as the original post. ML involves having to change the firmware on your camera so that it will boot the ML software off the SD/CF card. However, that's the only change to the firmware which is made, so it almost certainly wont cause any problems, I've installed various versions of ML onto three cameras and its always been fine.

If you don't install the software onto the card you're using you'll be able to use the camera without ML if you decide you don't want to use any of the additional features.

FWIW I still have moments with my 5DIII where I get slightly confused as to why it doesn't do something I feel it should before remembering that it's one of the many extra features ML provides, not something built in (the last one was increasing the gain on the headphone output).
 
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I put ML on my 60d, and it worked fine, no problems. I have since removed it just because I dont do anything with video, and for stills it is not that useful. Update your factory firmware first even if the version is the same (i had to do this to my 60d)
 
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Marsu42 said:
Drizzt321 said:
Agreed. Especially by now, unless you're living on the bleeding edge, should be just fine.

Speaking of bleeding edge: ml alpha for 5d3 is out :-) ... but this is the kind that can brick your camera, unlike the very stable release versions. Still: "Good news, everyone!" ... http://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=2602.0
Too bad, a error message on that page. Not much information for ML on 5D3. I really miss ML after I upgrade my 5D2 to 5D3.
 
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