A Canon EOS 550D DSLR can now run the 1993 classic Doom—provided it has the right firmware. The unusual port turns a 16-year-old camera into a compact demon-slaying machine.
A camera that plays Doom
The Canon EOS 550D, also sold as the Rebel T2i, is an entry-level DSLR released in 2010. Developer lauris-nl has created a working version of Doom for the camera.
Running classic games on unexpected hardware is a long-standing hobby, with an entire Reddit community devoted to the subject. This camera port is particularly curious because its controls and built-in speaker make it more than a purely theoretical experiment.
How the controls work
The 550D’s directional pad moves the player, while the Set button fires the weapon. The Menu and Display buttons open and close Doom’s in-game menu.
Audio is also supported. Since the camera includes a built-in speaker, players can hear the game’s gunfire and zombie groans. The volume can be lowered, although discreet gaming may be difficult when the camera is also making its presence known with demon-blasting sound effects.
Only one camera and firmware version qualify
This is not a general-purpose DSLR modification. The port works on the Canon EOS 550D only, and the camera must be running firmware version 1.0.9.
The project uses Magic Lantern, an open-source firmware add-on originally created to provide Canon cameras with additional photography and video features. Its capabilities include functions such as enhanced video recording and focus peaking, but this project takes the software in a much stranger direction.
Anyone looking for a suitable second-hand camera should check the model and firmware carefully. The developer specifically warns against installing the port on another camera model or firmware version. Ignoring that advice could risk permanently damaging, or “bricking”, the camera.
Another Canon port exists
The EOS 550D is not the only Canon camera to receive this treatment. Developer DaneBentley has worked out a similar method for the Canon PowerShot SD1000, a 2007 point-and-shoot camera.
For arcade enthusiasts, projects like this show how far creative software tinkering can push older hardware. If you prefer playing classics on purpose-built equipment, RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog covers more unusual gaming stories, while the arcade machine range offers a more conventional home for retro games.
A curious side effect of open firmware
Magic Lantern was designed to expand what Canon cameras can do as cameras. The fact that the same software can also host a 1993 first-person shooter is the entertaining surprise.
It is a reminder that old consumer electronics can become fascinating hardware projects when developers understand their limits. Just remember that this experiment is tightly limited to the specified Canon models and firmware, so a careful buying guide is a safer starting point for anyone shopping for a dedicated retro-gaming setup.
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