YOU CAN TURN A USED CANON INTO A CAMERA THAT SHOOTS RAW LIKE A CINEMA CAMERA
Free software that runs from the SD card unlocks RAW video recording on old Canon cameras you can buy cheaply used.
Open-hardwarePhotography
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- an evening
- license
- GPL-2.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE540 stars
●●●○○ · an evening · GPL-2.0 · 540 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
COMPAREE VERDICT
Magic Lantern is the project that refuses to die. After years of dormancy it came back to life in 2025, and the community is still pushing what decade-old Canon sensors can do. On the Canon EOS M, a small mirrorless body that sells cheaply on the used market, community builds record 14-bit RAW video, the kind of uncompressed image data that dedicated cinema cameras capture. That gives you enormous latitude in colour grading and a cinematic workflow on inexpensive used hardware. The catch: RAW on the EOS M is not in the stable release. You need a 'crop mood' build from the forum, a fast SD card, and the understanding that you are running unofficial software on your camera at your own risk, which Canon will not support. If you are comfortable with that trade-off and want to learn RAW grading without buying a cinema camera, this is the project. The single thing most likely to go wrong is buying a camera model that does not support the features you want — check the compatibility information on magiclantern.fm before you buy anything.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —Magic Lantern is GPL-2.0 firmware that runs alongside Canon's own software from the SD card.
- —The project was dormant for years, then revived in 2025 and is actively developed again.
- —RAW video on the EOS M requires community 'crop mood' builds from the forum, not the official stable release.
- —You need a compatible Canon EOS camera (list at magiclantern.fm), a fast SD card (95MB/s+ recommended), and you run it at your own risk.
- —The linked repository (reticulatedpines/magiclantern_simplified) is the official Magic Lantern repository maintained by the current team; magiclantern.fm hosts the forum and builds.
- —No hardware BOM or CAD files — this is software-only, you buy a used Canon body and compatible lens separately.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Videos
No official Magic Lantern YouTube channel. A widely viewed community walkthrough is FoxTailWhipz' 'This 200-dollar Cinema Camera Can Record 14 Bit RAW'.
More builds like this
All projectsStart here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Check compatibility(Go to magiclantern.fm and confirm your camera model supports the features you want (RAW video, crop modes, etc). The EOS M is popular for RAW but other models have different trade-offs.)
- 2.Buy or locate a compatible camera(MPB, KEH, or your local used market. For RAW on the EOS M you will need a 'crop mood' build from the forum, not the stable release.)
- 3.Download the firmware (This is the official Magic Lantern repository. Builds and the camera compatibility list are on magiclantern.fm; experimental community builds (such as crop mood) live on the forum.)
- 4.Follow the install guide(Instructions are on the project site. You copy files to the SD card and run the installer from the camera's firmware update menu. Read the warnings.)
- 5.Test with a fast SD card(RAW recording writes at high speed. If your card is too slow, the camera will drop frames or stop recording. SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s or faster is recommended.)
KNOWN ISSUES
- Buying a camera model that does not support RAW video or the feature you want — the compatibility chart is camera-specific and mode-specific. Check before you buy.
- Using a slow SD card. RAW video pushes the camera's card interface to its limit, so a cheap card will drop frames or stop recording.
- Expecting the stable release to do everything. RAW on the EOS M requires a community 'crop mood' build from the forum, not the official download.
- Not reading the install instructions. The process is straightforward but you need to enable firmware update mode and follow steps in order.
- Ignoring the warranty and risk warnings. Canon will not support a camera running Magic Lantern, and there is a small but real chance of bricking it during install.
- Skipping RAW workflow research. Recording 14-bit RAW is only half the job — you need software that can import CinemaDNG and a monitor that can show you what you are grading.
Does this work on all Canon cameras?
No. Magic Lantern supports many EOS models (5D Mark III, 50D, 600D, EOS M, and others) but each camera has different capabilities. The compatibility chart at magiclantern.fm is the authoritative list.
Will this void my warranty?
Yes. Installing unsigned firmware voids Canon's warranty. The software is designed to be removable, but Canon will not support the camera once you have run it.
Can I brick my camera?
There is a small risk during install. Thousands of people run Magic Lantern without issue, but if the install is interrupted or done incorrectly there is a chance of a non-functional camera. Do not install it on a camera you cannot afford to lose.
What SD card do I need for RAW video?
A fast UHS-I card, 95MB/s write speed or higher. SanDisk Extreme Pro is widely used. The camera will warn you if the card is too slow, but it is better to buy the right one from the start.
How do I edit the RAW files?
Magic Lantern records RAW into its own MLV format. Convert the files with MLVApp (free) to CinemaDNG or ProRes, then grade them in DaVinci Resolve (free version) or any editor that handles those formats.
Is the EOS M the only cheap option?
It is popular because it is small, cheap, and crop mode RAW builds are mature. Other models (50D, 600D, 700D) also support RAW but with different limitations. Check the forum for recent community builds.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
Magic Lantern can turn an old Canon body into a RAW video camera, at the price of a convert-and-grade workflow and community builds. Would you take that trade-off, or save for a dedicated cinema camera?
Magic Lantern team
Magic Lantern started in 2009 as a community project to unlock features Canon left in the hardware but did not expose in the official firmware. It went dormant for years, then was revived in 2025 by reticulatedpines and other contributors who are still pushing builds for decade-old cameras.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM12d agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository linked here, reticulatedpines/magiclantern_simplified, is the official Git home of Magic Lantern since the 2025 revival, maintained by the current team, actively developed and licensed GPL-2.0; its README points to magiclantern.fm for wider project information. Magic Lantern loads from the memory card and runs alongside Canon's own firmware rather than replacing it. RAW video is recorded as .MLV files, which you then convert to CinemaDNG or ProRes in a tool such as MLV App, so plan that step into your workflow. Support and features differ a lot between camera models, and builds for specific models such as the EOS M are discussed on the Magic Lantern forum. The honest path: check what is supported for your exact camera first, find the right build second, buy the camera third. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.