1.2.3 vs 1.1.3, Lua_fix stability vs Nightly build, and dual card in the camera?

[FTP]

Hi,

I have some few questions 

My context: I want to use my 5D Mark III as a webcam, for video calls and maybe streams one day, as its image quality is much higher than the one of ordinary webcams.
My only problem: the 30mn limit.

I've already successfully tried the following options:

• Using EOS Utility + OBS Virtual Camera. With the appropriate settings there's a clean image, no 30mn limit, but the image quality is not that good as OBS is just copying a preview with lower resolution and fps than 1920x1080 30fps.
• Using EOS Webcam Utility 1.1. It could have been the easiest & best option if it was not limited to 1280x720p.
• Using the HDMI signal + Cam Link + OBS Virtual Camera + EOS Utility. This time the image is great but we have to manually go to EOS Utility every 29mn to change a small setting in order to extend Live View by an addtional 30mn.
• Using the HDMI signal + Cam Link + OBS Virtual Camera + SparkoCam. Again, great image, SparkoCam is here to lift the 30mn limit, using the HDMI signal we avoid the watermark, but OBS and SparkoCam often have a conflict where they fight to control the shutter (in some context the shutter keeps on opening>closing every 2 to 3s). It can work fine in some context, but it's not very stable.

At last, the Magic Lantern + Cam Link + OBS Virtual Camera option.
I've (I think) carefully read the documentation on the website and forum, and here is what I've already done:

• Found that Magic Lantern could be the solution
• Identify that I probably need the 1.2.3 firmware version as I need clean HDMI video
• Identify that I probably need the Lua_fix build as the "Powersave in LiveView > 30-minute timer > Disabled" setting is the up-to-date best way to lift the 30mn limit
• Successfully downgraded my 1.3.6 firmware to the 1.2.3 one
• Successfully installed the Magic Lantern Lua_fix build version 1.2.3 on the SD card
• Set Powersave in LiveView > 30-minute timer to Disabled
• And controlled that indeed, everything is now working very well, with no 30mn limit any more.

Perfect! 

However, I still have some few remaining questions for which I could not find detailed answers.

1/ 1.2.3 vs 1.1.3?
The 5D Mark III is the only camera for which Magic Lantern is available for 2 versions of firmware. It should deserve somewhere, anywhere, an explanation of the pros and cons of each option.
Ok, I've read several time from DeafEyeJedi that the 1.1.3 is advised against 1.2.3, except for clean HDMI.
1.2.3 to get the clean HDMI ok, fine. But why advising the 1.1.3 for any other use? What's wrong with the 1.2.3?
There's never any supporting argument. Where can we find the 1.2.3 vs 1.1.3 table, discussion, FAQ or wiki? The list of pros and cons to make our own opinion?

2/ Stability of the Lua_fix build vs the Nightly build?
Same. Ok, I've read in the FAQ that the Lua_fix build and its "Powersave in LiveView > 30-minute timer > Disabled" setting is the up-to-date way to lift the 30mn limit.
But this also means advising to use an experiment build!
Some people are already a bit concerned by installing Magic Lantern, there's disclaimers everywhere saying to use it at your own risk, it can damage our camera, so what more recommanding people to use an experiment build?!
So regarding the stability of the Lua_fix build, is there any summary of the specific current issues of this build vs the equivalent more stable Nightly build?

3/ What about dual card in the camera?
I've nearly seen no where this topic discussed or seen any advises regarding the issue (except one advise with no supporting argument and a contrary argument immediately after).
For my personal setup, I've installed ML on a new dedicated SD card and plan to insert back my CF card with all my pictures and videos.
But what's the recommendation?

• With ML, use only 1 card not 2, or 2 cards is perfectly fine?
• In any case, install ML preferably on the SD or CF card?
• We can mix ML and pictures/videos or should preferably separate them on 2 different cards?

Thanks for your help!

[Walter Schulz]

First: Thanks for your post! Is a pleasure to read such a write-up!

1/ 1.2.3 vs 1.1.3?
The 5D Mark III is the only camera for which Magic Lantern is available for 2 versions of firmware. It should deserve somewhere, anywhere, an explanation of the pros and cons of each option.
Ok, I've read several time from DeafEyeJedi that the 1.1.3 is advised against 1.2.3, except for clean HDMI.
1.2.3 to get the clean HDMI ok, fine. But why advising the 1.1.3 for any other use? What's wrong with the 1.2.3?
There's never any supporting argument. Where can we find the 1.2.3 vs 1.1.3 table, discussion, FAQ or wiki? The list of pros and cons to make our own opinion?

https://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=14704.0
1.2.3 provides clean HDMI out-of-the-box. 1.2.3 has the ability to use HDMI output and LCD at the same time.
ML enables all supported cams to do clean HDMI.

2/ Stability of the Lua_fix build vs the Nightly build?
Same. Ok, I've read in the FAQ that the Lua_fix build and its "Powersave in LiveView > 30-minute timer > Disabled" setting is the up-to-date way to lift the 30mn limit.
But this also means advising to use an experiment build!
Some people are already a bit concerned by installing Magic Lantern, there's disclaimers everywhere saying to use it at your own risk, it can damage our camera, so what more recommanding people to use an experiment build?!
So regarding the stability of the Lua_fix build, is there any summary of the specific current issues of this build vs the equivalent more stable Nightly build?

Sorry, but how did you came to the conclusion lua_fix is less stable than nightly build? Cannot see any data backing that opinion.

[Offtopic] A little bit of context: I was not happy with a1ex' decision to make experimental builds open to public in that way. I expressed it (not very subtle) by adding
"Ceterum censeo experimental build page esse delendam!" to every post about experimental builds for some time.
As I wrote before: IMO there is some major redesign in order to clean up ML site content and make it user friendly (not in an Illiad way!). [/Offtopic]

3/ What about dual card in the camera?
I've nearly seen no where this topic discussed or seen any advises regarding the issue (except one advise with no supporting argument and a contrary argument immediately after).
For my personal setup, I've installed ML on a new dedicated SD card and plan to insert back my CF card with all my pictures and videos.
But what's the recommendation?

• With ML, use only 1 card not 2, or 2 cards is perfectly fine?
• In any case, install ML preferably on the SD or CF card?
• We can mix ML and pictures/videos or should preferably separate them on 2 different cards?

There is no recommendation. You can follow whatever workflow you like. Canon put 2 slots into the cam and ML doesn't restrict your freedom of choice.
The only restrictions:

• 
  You should not use SD-card for fast RAW/MLV recording without additional CF. SD-card interface bandwidth is limited to 25 MByte/s (without overclocking) and that's only sufficient for very restricted resolutions/frame rates.
• If you want to run on the very edge of performance in RAW/MLV (and have the build supporting it) you may find combined recording useful.

Summing it up: To use your camera as a streaming device you don't need two cards.
It may come handy to have different cards with different configurations if you want to (or must) use camera with different builds. But this is the same for all ML supported cameras.

[FTP]

https://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=14704.0

Perfect, thanks!
And sorry for not finding this topic by myself.

For the 1.2.3 providing clean HDMI out-of-the-box, I knew. That's why I said "ok, fine".
The problem was the specific issues of ML 1.2.3 to lead many to advise to stick to the 1.1.3.
So now it's clear.

Sorry, but how did you came to the conclusion lua_fix is less stable than nightly build? Cannot see any data backing that opinion.

Just by reading how both build are presented:
Nightly builds are often described like this, as the "Main", "somewhat stable" builds, "unlikely to cause major issues"...

...the nightly builds can now be considered somewhat stable...

Main Builds
These builds have been around for some time, and they are unlikely to cause major issues.

While all Experiments builds are described as "experimental builds", "Work under progress", "known to have rough edges", with "major issues" to be ironed out...

The following builds are works in progress, known to have rough edges.
Please test thoroughly before considering them for serious work.
The functionality from this page will be integrated in the main builds as soon as all major issues will be ironed out.
...Each experimental build...

And it's precisely because all this stays quite vague, Lua_fix builds now exists since March 2017, they are now even sometimes recommanded (like to fix the 30mn limit), that I ask if those builds are still really "experimental", and if "yes" what's the main remaining issues, or if they can now be considered stable enough to be recommanded in the FAQ and used safely instead of the Nightly builds?

There is no recommendation. You can follow whatever workflow you like. Canon put 2 slots into the cam and ML doesn't restrict your freedom of choice.

Ok, thanks. This answer could be a new entry in the FAQ.

Summing it up: To use your camera as a streaming device you don't need two cards.

Ooops sorry. I should have been more clear in my introduction.
I'll still be using my camera for what I purchased it in 2012, taking pictures. But I also want to be able in the future to also use it as a webcam 

Thanks for your answers!

[Walter Schulz]

@a1ex
I think experimental build readme and disclaimer could have a make-over. At least for lua_fix.