The capabilities of an average Canon point and shoot camera are severely limited as compared to the technical specification of a Canon SLR. But do you know this fact that if you have a consumer grade point-and-shoot Canon digital camera, you’ve got hardware in hand that can support advanced features way beyond what shipped in the box? By using a quick and easy software you may be able to turn on all sorts of features usually reserved for more expensive SLRs. These advance features include live histograms, depth-of-field calculation, under and overexposure highlighting, high exposure brackets ,extremely long exposure, ultra-fast shutter speed, removal of video size limits and -- best of all -- shooting your pictures in RAW. The secret is CHDK, an enhanced, software replacement firmware which can be downloaded FREE of cost from http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK. Let's transform your point-and-shoot into a super camera just by adding a little special sauce to its firmware.
CHDK is a free firmware for Canon point and shoot digital cameras. It is supported by a large number of Canon cameras, and adds the above features to all of them, no matter their original limitations. The official list of supported Canon digital cameras can be found at the CHDK website address given above.
CHDK is an open-source project, with many authors working independently or in loose cooperation to add additional cameras and additional functionality. It can seem like there are an overwhelming number of versions and builds for various makes and models of Canon PowerShot Digic II and Digic III cameras scattered about the net.
What is CHDK?.
CHDK is a firmware enhancement that operates on a number of Canon cameras. CHDK gets loaded into your camera's memory upon boot up (either manually or automatically). It resides on the SD card, taking up around 320k of space. It provides additional functionality beyond that currently provided by the native camera firmware. The existing firmware stays intact, while the CHDK software is loaded on demand from an SD card.You decide how it is loaded (manually or automatically) and you can always easily remove it. CHDK does not replace the existing firmware on your Canon, so the process is completely reversible.
How does it work?
Try to understand the fact; it’s cost effective for Canon to have one processor serve its whole product line. The current processor is the DIGIC III. The previous processor was, not surprisingly, the DIGIC II. Almost all Canon cameras sold today have either the DIGIC II or III processor as their “brain (top of the line DSLRs may have two processors), with the DIGIC III phasing out the DIGIC II. These processors are pretty impressive chips and Canon “turns off” certain features on certain cameras depending where they stand in the product line. CHDK simply “turns them back on”. CHDK can not “make” the processor do anything it wasn’t designed to do. As for Example, on a standard Canon, 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. You have just to unlock (turn on) this feature and camera will work accordingly.
What Can CHDK Do For You?
Now that you're convinced that CHDK is easy to install and use, let's consider what makes it worth doing so.
Enhanced Image Capture: CHDK supports RAW format for pictures (in addition to JPEG), longer recording time and length for videos (up to 1 hour or 2GBs), and several new compression options.
Additional Information On-Screen: With CHDK, you can customize your on-screen display to your heart's content, including worthwhile information like remaining battery life, histogram, depth of focus, and more.
Additional Photographic Settings: CHDK takes many of the features already available on your camera and gives you way more options, including longer exposure times (up to 65 seconds), faster shutter speeds (1/25,000 sec or faster), automatic bracketing of your photos, and more.
Support for Small Programs/Scripts: CHDK can run small scripts that will allow your camera to perform a set of actions based on the conditions of the script. Tons of scripts are available, and they provide functionality like motion-sensing photography (which reportedly works for lightning strikes) and unlimited interval time-lapse photography.
Even better, CHDK is being actively developed, which means that new features are always on the horizon. There are actually several versions of CHDK in development, but the version called the Allbest build incorporates many of the best features available in other builds .
If you're eager to add these cool features to your cheap digital camera, follow the next instructions to install the firmware, and don't worry -- this is all non-destructive and highly unlikely to damage your camera. Nevertheless, if you are under warranty or are prone to accidents, proceed at your own risk.
What You'll Need for CHDK installation
Supported Canon Digital CameraMini USB cableSD cardCHDK DownloadA card Reader
How To Install
Step 1: Make sure you camera is a supported model. This firmware will only work with Canon digital cameras, and required the model to be a supported version. Over two dozen versions are supported, so you should be okay with your point and shoot. Step 2:
Remove the SD card from your camera and put it in the card reader of your PC.
Extract the files from the firmware zip file that you have downloaded.
Copy the files PS.fir and Diskboot.bin into the root folder of your SD card.
If you are on a Mac, read and follow this link
Put the SD card back into the camera
How To Use It
Switch the camera into View (not Shoot) mode, and turn it on. When you press the Menu button, you should notice a new menu option: Firm Update. Select this option (remember, it's non-destructive) and the CHDK software will be loaded on your camera, which should reboot itself. Immediately, you'll see a display of battery percentage and storage remaining.
The extra features can be accessed and configured via "Alt mode," an alternate mode into which you toggle by pressing a particular key. Generally it is Print key; it may be different on your camera. It is also configurable with the Alt menu.
You can tell you're in Alt mode when there's a littledisplayed at the bottom of the screen.
After entering Alt mode, press the Menu key to bring up the menu. This reveals all sorts of options: customizing the on-screen display (called the "OSD"), playing games, you name it. Use the camera's directional keys to navigate the menu.
Does using the CHDK program void your warranty?
First, please bear in mind that CHDK comes with no warranty for any use; you use it at your own risk. What follows is just a few thoughts, and is not a legal opinion. Many believe that using the CHDK does not harm your warranty, since it is said to be loaded into the memory only temporarily (turn off the cam and it's gone completely) and that it leaves the original camera firmware untouched. Canon Tech Support says: "Unfortunately, any upgrades to the software of the camera not performed by an authorized Canon Repair Facility, would void the warranty." ... and ... In further discussion with Canon about this specific hack, their response is: "If it is not Canon firmware the warranty would be void." Is it an "upgrade" of the camera firmware when the firmware remains untouched? It's up to you to decide. Don't use it if you are not willing to take the slightest chance. Many many people have used CHDK on their cameras and there is no report of any permanent malfunction. Thus, CHDK appears to be quite safe to use as long as you make sure that it's the CHDK and not a real firmware update. Addressing their second comment (i.e. "if it is not Canon firmware"): CHDK is NOT firmware. By very definition, FIRMware is software that remains in the memory of the device when it is not using any power-source.
However, this is not a legal opinion and the user accepts all risk of using it. And as a practical matter, if you send your camera in for warranty service, you can just wipe or remove the card.
CHDK is a free firmware for Canon point and shoot digital cameras. It is supported by a large number of Canon cameras, and adds the above features to all of them, no matter their original limitations. The official list of supported Canon digital cameras can be found at the CHDK website address given above.
CHDK is an open-source project, with many authors working independently or in loose cooperation to add additional cameras and additional functionality. It can seem like there are an overwhelming number of versions and builds for various makes and models of Canon PowerShot Digic II and Digic III cameras scattered about the net.
What is CHDK?.
CHDK is a firmware enhancement that operates on a number of Canon cameras. CHDK gets loaded into your camera's memory upon boot up (either manually or automatically). It resides on the SD card, taking up around 320k of space. It provides additional functionality beyond that currently provided by the native camera firmware. The existing firmware stays intact, while the CHDK software is loaded on demand from an SD card.You decide how it is loaded (manually or automatically) and you can always easily remove it. CHDK does not replace the existing firmware on your Canon, so the process is completely reversible.
How does it work?
Try to understand the fact; it’s cost effective for Canon to have one processor serve its whole product line. The current processor is the DIGIC III. The previous processor was, not surprisingly, the DIGIC II. Almost all Canon cameras sold today have either the DIGIC II or III processor as their “brain (top of the line DSLRs may have two processors), with the DIGIC III phasing out the DIGIC II. These processors are pretty impressive chips and Canon “turns off” certain features on certain cameras depending where they stand in the product line. CHDK simply “turns them back on”. CHDK can not “make” the processor do anything it wasn’t designed to do. As for Example, on a standard Canon, 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. You have just to unlock (turn on) this feature and camera will work accordingly.
What Can CHDK Do For You?
Now that you're convinced that CHDK is easy to install and use, let's consider what makes it worth doing so.
Enhanced Image Capture: CHDK supports RAW format for pictures (in addition to JPEG), longer recording time and length for videos (up to 1 hour or 2GBs), and several new compression options.
Additional Information On-Screen: With CHDK, you can customize your on-screen display to your heart's content, including worthwhile information like remaining battery life, histogram, depth of focus, and more.
Additional Photographic Settings: CHDK takes many of the features already available on your camera and gives you way more options, including longer exposure times (up to 65 seconds), faster shutter speeds (1/25,000 sec or faster), automatic bracketing of your photos, and more.
Support for Small Programs/Scripts: CHDK can run small scripts that will allow your camera to perform a set of actions based on the conditions of the script. Tons of scripts are available, and they provide functionality like motion-sensing photography (which reportedly works for lightning strikes) and unlimited interval time-lapse photography.
Even better, CHDK is being actively developed, which means that new features are always on the horizon. There are actually several versions of CHDK in development, but the version called the Allbest build incorporates many of the best features available in other builds .
If you're eager to add these cool features to your cheap digital camera, follow the next instructions to install the firmware, and don't worry -- this is all non-destructive and highly unlikely to damage your camera. Nevertheless, if you are under warranty or are prone to accidents, proceed at your own risk.
What You'll Need for CHDK installation
Supported Canon Digital CameraMini USB cableSD cardCHDK DownloadA card Reader
How To Install
Step 1: Make sure you camera is a supported model. This firmware will only work with Canon digital cameras, and required the model to be a supported version. Over two dozen versions are supported, so you should be okay with your point and shoot. Step 2:
Remove the SD card from your camera and put it in the card reader of your PC.
Extract the files from the firmware zip file that you have downloaded.
Copy the files PS.fir and Diskboot.bin into the root folder of your SD card.
If you are on a Mac, read and follow this link
Put the SD card back into the camera
How To Use It
Switch the camera into View (not Shoot) mode, and turn it on. When you press the Menu button, you should notice a new menu option: Firm Update. Select this option (remember, it's non-destructive) and the CHDK software will be loaded on your camera, which should reboot itself. Immediately, you'll see a display of battery percentage and storage remaining.
The extra features can be accessed and configured via "Alt mode," an alternate mode into which you toggle by pressing a particular key. Generally it is Print key; it may be different on your camera. It is also configurable with the Alt menu.
You can tell you're in Alt mode when there's a little
After entering Alt mode, press the Menu key to bring up the menu. This reveals all sorts of options: customizing the on-screen display (called the "OSD"), playing games, you name it. Use the camera's directional keys to navigate the menu.
Does using the CHDK program void your warranty?
First, please bear in mind that CHDK comes with no warranty for any use; you use it at your own risk. What follows is just a few thoughts, and is not a legal opinion. Many believe that using the CHDK does not harm your warranty, since it is said to be loaded into the memory only temporarily (turn off the cam and it's gone completely) and that it leaves the original camera firmware untouched. Canon Tech Support says: "Unfortunately, any upgrades to the software of the camera not performed by an authorized Canon Repair Facility, would void the warranty." ... and ... In further discussion with Canon about this specific hack, their response is: "If it is not Canon firmware the warranty would be void." Is it an "upgrade" of the camera firmware when the firmware remains untouched? It's up to you to decide. Don't use it if you are not willing to take the slightest chance. Many many people have used CHDK on their cameras and there is no report of any permanent malfunction. Thus, CHDK appears to be quite safe to use as long as you make sure that it's the CHDK and not a real firmware update. Addressing their second comment (i.e. "if it is not Canon firmware"): CHDK is NOT firmware. By very definition, FIRMware is software that remains in the memory of the device when it is not using any power-source.
However, this is not a legal opinion and the user accepts all risk of using it. And as a practical matter, if you send your camera in for warranty service, you can just wipe or remove the card.
Happy clicking! bye.
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