Stupid Question: What is raw recording?

[zenpmd]

And what is this Magic Lantern Canon hack about?

[Andrew Reid]

Raw is the 'raw data' from the sensor. The sensor captures light, translates it into analogue data then to digital. In order to create an image that digital data must be debayered and processed. Usually this would be done on the camera, but DSLRs don't have as powerful processors as a desktop computer, and need to process the data in real-time at 24fps or even 60fps.

 

Also when raw image data is compressed into a video file, or a JPEG still, it gets baked. It is like cooking a stake. It isn't raw any more :)

 

With raw video you do your cooking later, with all the flexibility to cook the original image in post. You can change and grade the image far more than you can when the camera has already cooked it for you in-camera, and served up a much less tasty dish.

 

The camera is a bad chef.

[zenpmd]

Oh I see, so its as simple as raw video never previously existed? I had no idea!

 

Does this have anything to do with, or related to, filming a video and every frame of the video being as good as a photograph?

[Julian]

It is exactly like you say. Every frame of the video is a photograph. With the Canon hack you get 24 DNG's (an universal raw standard) per second. The resolution is lower than photographs though, but still you have much more sharpness and dynamic range.

 

It existed before, but until recently a camera that would film in raw would cost you like $20K to $100K.

 

Last year, Blackmagic released the BMCC, it films in raw for $3K. That was a big break though.

Beginning this year, Blackmagic announced the Pocket Cinema Camera, raw for $1000 (smaller sensor though), another break trough.

 

Now recently Magic Lantern discovered how make almost every Canon dslr with live view film in raw! The 5D3 works best, bit pricey.. but awesome if you have one already :)

 

The cheaper models like the 550D/600D can do it in low resolution only because of the slower SD card controller.

The 5 year old Canon 50D which cost like $300 on eBay can do it in decent resolutions... which is pretty amazing.

 

Exciting times :)

[zenpmd]

Thanks Julian. So what is the res of each frame captured in video vs a still shot?

 

Does it also mean you can manipulate the video much better in PP as with photos?

[zenpmd]

Also, does this mean if they used this hack on, say, the 6d, you can kiss goodbye to the moire?

[Julian]

Also, does this mean if they used this hack on, say, the 6d, you can kiss goodbye to the moire?

Sadly, no. Browse the Magic Lantern forums or the topics here. You'll find answers to your questions and there are plenty of samples.

[zenpmd]

Why can't they hack the OMD? Makes more sense that these Canon dinosaurs!

[Julian]

Magic Lantern is a Canon project and it has been going for years. It's not really an easy thing to do. It takes time. When a new camera is released, maybe a year later you can expect a stable Magic Lantern version. Maybe the OMD is hackable, who knows. Probably everything is hackable in a way. The few talented people who can actually do these kind of things and make amazing things come true can't just hack every camera for everyone. Magic Lantern is by far the most advanced hack on any camera, but it's very unlikely they will start working on other brands. There is always a lot to do and improve. The fact that they just discovered raw recording on 5 year old camera's are a perfect proof of that.