MagicLantern + manual lenses = ❤

• News
• Why?
• How?
• Known issues
• Configuration options
• Generated MANUAL.SH
• EXIF data examples
• Useful links
• Comments

News ↥

2019-08-20

Added new lens parameter called note, which is used in the list of available lenses, when you need to differentiate between various pieces of the same type. When present, it's appended to the lens name - see the (#1) and (#2) in the first screenshot below.
{ make = "Helios", name = "44-2 58mm f/2", focal_length = 58, manual_aperture = 2, serialN = "7765411", aperture_max = 2, aperture_min = 16, f_values = {"2","2.8","4","5.6","8","11","16"}, note = "#1"}

2019-08-05

Fixed couple bugs related to autoloading the lens configuration and setting the previously saved output format. Check the updated lua.zip.

Why? ↥

Since i've started using manual lenses, i've always wondered how to add correct EXIF data to my images. At first it was just for some statistical purposes and generally a "good feeling" of having the pictures "complete". Then i've realized, that i could use these values to find matching lens profiles in DarkTable and correct chromatic aberration, distortion and vignetting. But aren't these imperfections exactly the reason why we love old lenses? ;)

My first attempt resulted in a simple bash script with set of predefined lenses, which i've run and set the right values to different exif keys.

But i knew there must be a better way. And there really was ;) One day i've found this thread at MagicLantern forum. I've been occasionally using ML before, but didn't explore its features, nor did i knew about the possible scripting, which opened a whole new world to me. After a bit of playing with it, i've found out, that neither Gimp nor DarkTable care about the sidecar files the script was creating..

Since we can't easily and reliably modify the exif data directly during shooting, i've decided to modify the script and let it output something similar to what my old script was doing - a bash script, which will modify the exif data ex-post.

How? ↥

1. Head to MagicLantern experiment releases and grab a "Non-CPU lens info" build for your camera.
2. Follow the how-to to install ML.
3. Grab lua.zip and unpack it in the ML/scripts/ directory on your memory card. When prompted to overwrite xmp.lua, confirm it as you need the defined templates for the output file.
4. Edit the lens2.lua script and add/comment out any lenses you'd like to use within the "lenses = ...." part. All the configurable lens parameters are described there.
5. Insert the card to your camera, start it and if there is a manual lens attached, you should be prompted with a lens-selection dialogue.
6. Within ML configuration locate the menu with general configuration of the script (screenshot to be added here....) and from the format dropdown select Exiv2.
7. Enable image-previews in the camera menu.
8. Go out and make some pictures ;)
9. Once you're back home, you should see a file called MANUAL.SH in the image folder of your memory card. Contents of that file should be similar to whats shown below
10. Execute the script (i'm using simple bash ./MANUAL.SH) and open the images in your favorite viewer or editor.

Known issues ↥

1. The resulting script is using exiv2 and is meant to be used on Linux (i'm a debian user), but since Exiv2 has some builds for other operating systems, i assume, that it may work in couple other enviroments as well ;)
2. You have to turn on the post-capture image preview to have the MANUAL.SH written/updated.
3. Adapters with chips seem to enforce focal length and aperture values and these are then used instead of values set with this script.
4. There is a difference in lens name used by LensFun and ACR for Samyang 85mm f/1.4, so you have to use the one, which matches the software you are going to use for postprocessing.

Generated MANUAL.SH ↥

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 135/1 135/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 135/1 135/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 135 135 1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 288" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 194698/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake Pentacon" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 28/10" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 95" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 135/1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber 6327811" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel auto 135mm f/2.8 MC" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel auto 135mm f/2.8 MC" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 95" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 95" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 194698/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens Pentacon auto 135mm f/2.8 MC" IMG_7154.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake Carl Zeiss Jena DDR" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 288" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber 8333263" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 95" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 50/1 50/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 194698/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm f/2.8" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 95" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 95" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 194698/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 28/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 50/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 50 50 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 50/1 50/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel Tessar 50mm f/2.8" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel Tessar 50mm f/2.8" IMG_7155.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake E. Ludwig" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 256" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber 1610554" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 98" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 50/1 50/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 201334/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens E. Ludwig Meritar 50mm f/2.9" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 98" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 98" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 201334/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 29/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 50/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 50 50 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 50/1 50/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel Meritar 50mm f/2.9" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel Meritar 50mm f/2.9" IMG_7156.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake Helios" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 256" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber 7765411" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 64" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 58/1 58/1 20/10 20/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 131072/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens Helios 44-2 58mm f/2" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 64" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 64" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 131072/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 20/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 58/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 58 58 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 58/1 58/1 20/10 20/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel 44-2 58mm f/2" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel 44-2 58mm f/2" IMG_7157.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake KMZ" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 256" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber 7149595" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 116" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 50/1 50/1 20/10 20/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 236894/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens KMZ Industar-50-2 3.5/50" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 116" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 116" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 236894/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 35/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 50/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 50 50 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 50/1 50/1 20/10 20/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel Industar-50-2 3.5/50" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel Industar-50-2 3.5/50" IMG_7158.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake KMZ" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 256" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber 8707286" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 95" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 50/1 50/1 20/10 20/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 194698/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens KMZ Industar-61L/Z-MC 2.8/50" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 95" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 95" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 194698/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 28/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 50/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 50 50 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 50/1 50/1 20/10 20/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel Industar-61L/Z-MC 2.8/50" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel Industar-61L/Z-MC 2.8/50" IMG_7159.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake Meyer-Optik Gorlitz" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 288" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber 1728275" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 157" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 180/1 180/1 20/10 20/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 322363/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Telemegor 180mm f/5.5" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 157" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 159" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 325770/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 55/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 180/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 180 180 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 180/1 180/1 20/10 20/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel Telemegor 180mm f/5.5" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel Telemegor 180mm f/5.5" IMG_7160.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake Meyer-Optik Gorlitz" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 288" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber 2224344" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 98" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 50/1 50/1 29/10 29/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 201334/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 98" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 98" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 201334/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 29/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 50/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 50 50 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 50/1 50/1 29/10 29/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel Trioplan 50mm f/2.9" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel Trioplan 50mm f/2.9" IMG_7161.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake Pentacon" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 288" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber 6308110" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 95" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 29/1 29/1 29/10 29/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 194698/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens Pentacon auto 29mm f/2.8" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 95" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 95" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 194698/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 28/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 29/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 29 29 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 29/1 29/1 29/10 29/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel auto 29mm f/2.8" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel auto 29mm f/2.8" IMG_7162.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake Pentacon" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 256" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber 7710425" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 54" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 50/1 50/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 111149/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens Pentacon Prakticar 50mm f/1.8 MC" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 54" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 54" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 111149/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 18/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 50/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 50 50 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 50/1 50/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel Prakticar 50mm f/1.8 MC" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel Prakticar 50mm f/1.8 MC" IMG_7164.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake Samyang" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 288" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber A217D0264" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 31" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 85/1 85/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 63626/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens Samyang 85mm f/1.4 IF UMC Aspherical" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 31" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 31" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 63626/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 14/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 50/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 85 85 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 85/1 85/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel 85mm f/1.4 IF UMC Aspherical" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel 85mm f/1.4 IF UMC Aspherical" IMG_7165.JPG

exiv2 -k -M"set Exif.CanonCs.LensType 65535" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensMake Zeiss" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture 288" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSerialNumber " -M "set Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture 95" -M "set Exif.Image.LensInfo 25/1 25/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.ApertureValue 194698/65536" -M "set Xmp.aux.Lens Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/25 ZF.2" -M "set Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue 95" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture 95" -M "set Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue 194698/65536" -M "set Exif.Photo.FNumber 28/10" -M "set Exif.Photo.FocalLength 25/1" -M "set Exif.CanonCs.Lens 25 25 1" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensSpecification 25/1 25/1 28/10 28/10" -M "set Exif.Canon.LensModel Distagon T* 2.8/25 ZF.2" -M "set Exif.Photo.LensModel Distagon T* 2.8/25 ZF.2" IMG_7166.JPG

EXIF data examples ↥

All these black images made by old lenses were taken and later updated using the script described above. Feel free to download, test them on your own and let me know if they worked for you or not. You can easily find me on ML Forum and/or IRCnet/freenode as zLOST ;)