Hack Your Canon Camera

Posted on 03 April 2008 by


Got a Canon point-and-shoot? If the answer’s yes, you might have a more powerful camera on your hands than you realise. Wired How-To Wiki has a great article today on how to apply custom firmware on a Canon camera to super-charge its capabilities. The Canon Hacker’s Development Kit (CHDK) can add new features to your camera – like adding the RAW file format and the ability to run scripted actions – as well as enhancing the existing hardware (such as boosting shutter speed from 1/1,600 to 1/60,000 of a second).

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Check out the article for details on how to install the CDHK firmware. Unfortunately my Canon Ixus 80 isn’t supported, so it would be great to hear from someone who’s applied the hack to their camera.

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  • Augie

    wow where did you find this? I wonder if there are any for Nikon point n shoots

  • http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

    My G9 isn’t included, either. Mannnnnnn! :razz:

  • http://www.magnusson.ca/blog.html Chris Magnusson

    Neither is my G9. :wink: Soon to be my G9, that is.

  • http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

    Oooh! You are going to love it! :-D

  • http://www.geardiary.com Jenneth Orantia

    Ooh, I want a G9! He he – no, I should probably work on learning how to use my EOS 40D (or whatever you guys call it in the States!) first! :P

    @Augie: I’ve got Wired in my RSS feeds, so that’s how I found out how about this cool hack. No idea if there’s anything similar to this for Nikons, but they’ve got a huge enthusiast community so I’d be surprised if there wasn’t. Post back here if you find anything! :)

  • http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

    Yeah, I know. I still need to learn the 5D better, too. :-P

  • Augie

    Chris, did you already get yourself a storage card? I’ve got 2 Sandisk Extreme III 8gb SDHC cards I’m letting go for $50 each.

    Jenneth, I’ll see what I can find, I’m totally interested in firmware hacks. I had ordered a cheapo point and shoot earlier today (Nikon Coolpix L18 blue) and when I saw this my eyes popped.

    Judie, you’re so lucky to have the 5D. I wonder why all DSLR are not full frame :?: My budget only allows for the new XSI but I’m still researching it. BTW do you need another SDHC card?

  • http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

    Hey Augie, I have an 8GB SDHC, so I’m good. Thanks for checking, though. :-)

  • http://www.magnusson.ca/blog.html Chris Magnusson

    @Augie I ordered a 4GB Extreme III SDHC card because the only 8GB card the place I ordered from was an Extreme II and I figured I should go for the speed. I’ll take one of the Extreme III off your hands. :smile: Do you ship to Canada? Do you do PayPal? Thank you!

  • Augie

    yes and yes. do you have access to my email address?

  • http://www.magnusson.ca/blog.html Chris Magnusson

    Nope. Maybe one of the admins can help with that?

  • http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

    Augie, I’ll send you and Chris each other’s email shortly. :-)

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