Take your Canon camera to the next level

OK, so your wishing that your Canon camera had some of the functionality of the newer models coming out. Your in luck because the Canon hacker’s Development Kit (CHDK) will allow you to add that functionality to you Canon camera. This firmware enhancement supports an impressive listing of Canon cameras. According to CHDK’s FAQ, this firmware upgrade is non-permanent and non-destructive, so when your ready to use the CHDK files on your camera you just load them. And removing the CHDK features is as simple as turning off your camera. The files are stored on your camera’s memory card and to permanently delete them you simply remove the files.

Many people don’t know that you are not stuck with the functionality that your point-and-shoot came with when it shipped in the box. CHDK allows your camera to unlock advanced features way beyond the standard stuff. Such features as RAW shooting mode, motion detection, live RGB histograms, time-lapse and even games. All of this just by adding a few extra files to your existing cameras firmware.

So you say your sold and are ready to install CHDK? Before we begin lets take a look at some of the features you will get once you install CHDK.

* Improved Image Capture: Support for the RAW format as well as JPG. Recording time for videos is increased to one hour. Additional compression options.

* Updated On-Screen Menus: CHDK allows you to create an on screen display to fit your needs. This includes adding information such as battery life, depth of focus, histograms, and more.

* The Ability to add Programs: A number of scripts are available which allow your camera to perform routine based on the conditions of the program. These scripts/programs provide functionality such as motion-sensing photography (yup, you can now take pictures of lightning strikes), and interval time-lapse photography.

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Additionally, new updates are always being created for the kit, which means you will get all the goodies from future development.

Installation Requirements
1. You will need a supported digital camera from Canon.
2. You will need an SD memory card (If you have the camera then you should have the card.)
3. You will also need to determine if you cameras firmware is supported.
A. In order to determine your firmware version, you need to create an empty file on your computer called ver.req and copy the file to the root directory of your SD card.
B. If your camera shows up on your computers with a drive letter then all you need to do is copy the file over to that drive letter.
C. If you don’t see a drive then you will need to stick your SD card into a card reader.
D. If you cannot use either of these options then you will need to use a program called uploader.
E. Once the file is copied over turn your camera on in review mode while pressing the Function/Set button. Hold the Function/Set button and press the Display (DISP) button. You will see information flash on the screen that includes a line that looks like this,”Firmware Ver GM1.01B”. This is the firmware version.
4. Now go to the CHDK download page at http://mighty-hoernsche.de/. Find your model and firmware version and click the appropriate link to download the file.
If you do not see your firmware version then in all likelihood your camera is not supported.
5. Now unzip the file containing the two files called BOOTDISK.BIN and PS.FIR. Copy these files to the root of your camera’s SD card.
6. Turn your camera on in review mode, hit the menu button, scroll to the bottom of the screen and locate the firm Update option (if its not there, either your not in review mode or CHDK isn’t installed correctly). Hit SET on the update and then press Select to load CHDK.

You should now be up and running. In the next article we will show you how to use your installed CHDK.

Lee King is a senior editor for OneWebNews.com . You can send an email to Lee, the author of this post, at admin@onewebnews.com