The only modification Magic lantern created was the ability to run software from the memory card. Each time you start your camera, Magic Lantern is loaded from your memory card. Magic Lantern is not a “ hack“, or a modified firmware, it is an independent program that runs alongside Canon’s own software. Magic Lantern created an open framework, licensed under GPL, for developing extensions to the official firmware. Magic Lantern is a software enhancement that offers increased functionality to Canon DSLR cameras. Magic Lantern was originally written by Trammell Hudson in 2009 for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II after he managed to reverse engineer the camera’s firmware.

It quickly became the go-to tool for budget filmmakers and it wasn’t long till people wanted to get more out of their cameras. It was the first affordable full frame sensor camera capable of capturing video.

In 2008 the Canon 5D Mark II changed everything. The first public post from ten years ago about my homebrew firmware for the Canon 5D Mark 2 DSLR marks the very humble beginning of the Magic Lantern project: /UfcCd8bD0w- Trammell Hudson ⚙ A bit of history

Get magic lantern canon t5i