Can a Canon DSLR show the previous photo as a transparent overlay in Live View for stop-motion or alignment?

Question

I want to shoot a sequence where each new frame lines up with the previous one, like stop-motion or onion-skinning. Specifically, I need to:

- take a first photo
- prepare the second shot while seeing the first image semi-transparent in Live View
- repeat this for the whole sequence without constantly compositing images later on a computer

I have Canon 1100D, 600D, and 60D bodies. Is there a Canon feature, computer tethering option, or firmware add-on that can show a previous image as a transparent overlay during Live View?

user9161 · Accepted Answer

As far as I know there are two possible solutions. I will explain both of them below.

EOS utility

This software is supplied with your camera. It can be downloaded from the internet, but it's a hassle. It's better if you install it from the CD and update it. When you have it on your computer do the following:

Connect your camera through USB.
Start EOS utility.
Go to Camera settings/Remote shooting.
Click on Live view shoot.
Click on Compose and enable the overlay image.
You can adjust the position, scaling and transparency of the overlay.

Now you can just shoot using Live view while seeing the overlay image. Depending on the settings of EOS utility the photos are stored on your camera or computer (or both). This blog post has some screenshots.

Magic Lantern firmware

Magic Lantern is custom firmware for a range of Canon cameras. Both the 60D and 600D are supported. It adds a range of fantastic features like focus peaking, a built-in intervalometer, dual-iso, audio-triggered shooting and (useful for you) in-camera overlay images. While it is "hacked" firmware, it is never installed on your camera and always runs from the SD card. If you don't like Magic Lantern, just format the SD card and the camera will just use the built-in firmware.

Once you've installed ML on your camera(s) you can add an overlay image as follows:

Make sure the image to overlay is on your camera.
Bring up the ML menu by pushing the Erase button on your camera while in shooting mode.
You'll most probably start in the Audio menu. Use the arrow keys to go to the Overlay menu.
Set Global Draw to anything but Disabled
Enable the Ghost Image.
Go to the Play mode, find the overlay image and press the Live view button.
You can move the overlay with the arrow keys.

_{I'm not taking any responsibility if your camera breaks when using ML, nor do the developers. However, I have been using the firmware non-stop for the past two years withouth any problem.}