Make Your Canon Camera Have More POWA

[Xaroxantu Zero]

Wired posted a tutorial on installing a custom firmware for Canon cameras utilizing a DIGIC II or III processor that adds or enhances features never before available.


Digital cameras have powers beyond what is immediately available to the user. On a standard Canon, for example, the fastest shutter speed option offered is 1/1,600 second, but the hardware can handle much more than that -- up to 1/60,000 of a second.

CHDK, the Canon Hacker's Development Kit, is an open-source software project that can be loaded on cameras using Canon's DIGIC II or DIGIC III firmware platforms. It unleashes new features including RAW file format, live histogram display, a battery readout, and the ability to run scripted actions on a camera.

CHDK does not replace the existing firmware on your Canon, so the process is completely reversible. The existing firmware stays intact, while the CHDK software is loaded on demand from an SD card.
The list of cameras supported are here (http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ#Q._What_camera_models_are_supported_by_the_CHDK_program.3F).
Full tutorial here (http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Supercharge_Your_Camera_with_Open-Source_CHDK_Firmware).

[Ichigo]

That's awesome!!!!

[voodoo]

damn thats sick

[RickDaTuner]

no rebbel ecsTi support?

[Xaroxantu Zero]

Technically, it should work with any camera with a DIGIC II or III processor, but you'll have to modify the firmware yourself.

[FiveFreshFish]

Nice, I'll check this out for my old G7. :thumbsup:

[962 kid]

Originally posted by Xaroxantu Zero
Technically, it should work with any camera with a DIGIC II or III processor, but you'll have to modify the firmware yourself.

still no S5 support :(

[Thaco]

yay for sd1000 support, wish it also supported the S5, but it's such a kick ass camera, it probably can't be improved by firmware :)

[gofastmerc]

Cool!

I'll have to play with that later.

[AccentAE86]

been using this for a while. it's nice, but it's kinda a pain to use the advanced features because the user interface isn't designed for it...

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally posted by RickDaTuner
no rebbel ecsTi support?



Originally posted by Xaroxantu Zero
Technically, it should work with any camera with a DIGIC II or III processor, but you'll have to modify the firmware yourself.

I'm going to assume that CHDK is not intended for DSLR's of any kind. If you try to make your Rebel XTi do a 1/60000 shutter speed, you'll shorten the life of your shutter assembly considerably, if not wreck it outright.

[soupey]

does it let u do super long exposures? (>15secs)

[Gibson]

Originally posted by BerserkerCatSplat

If you try to make your Rebel XTi do a 1/60000 shutter speed, you'll shorten the life of your shutter assembly considerably, if not wreck it outright.

I foresee a collapsing of the universe in the near future.

[Mitsu3000gt]

This seems to be an appropriate place to post this without making a new thread. Apparently you can get your D300 to fire at 8FPS without the grip, and without the EN EL4 battery.

http://sportsphotoguy.com/overclock-your-nikon-d300/

I've read of lots of people claiming to have done this without any issues, but haven't yet tried it myself just in case.

[hoamic11]

So how many people have tried this software and what are your opinions of it now?

[962 kid]

I had it on my parent's S3, thought it was great. Camera worked perfectly normal unless you activated the hack, and then the features just showed up when you press menu. There was some really neat stuff, but one of the best things about it was a real battery life meter haha

[Ichigo]

Originally posted by hoamic11
So how many people have tried this software and what are your opinions of it now?

I tried this on my SD800 and got the battery meter.. its too bad the sd series have no shutter control.. I want 1/60,000 shutter speed..

[AccentAE86]

Originally posted by hoamic11
So how many people have tried this software and what are your opinions of it now?

it unlocks some cool stuff, but it's very cumbersome and slow to use it all because the interface wasn't designed to handle it. I find myself just using the normal firmware most of the time....