CHDK what? Help me, I'm a newbie!

[andrewhazelden]

could you plz link me to appropriate resources ? or is the manual just fine ?

Very IMP Remark: When I took the 64 sec images of the night sky, I had this particular "blue" light on the upper right corner of every image i took. You can check it out here:

Is it related to vignetting  ?

A blue or pinkish glow in the image is common with different CCD and CMOS imagers when taking long exposures. You can remove those types of artifacts with image stacking and post-processed dark frame subtraction.

You may want to look into shooting a series of raw images (DNG) with CHDK and converting them on your desktop computer into either uncompressed FITS or TIFF files and then doing stacking and image processing to enhance the clarity and detail. If you have the time to learn the free astronomy software program IRIS, it does a good job processing astro-photographs.

Newer versions of Adobe Photoshop can also perform image stacking and alignment.

Also, If you aren't using an autoguider you are usually limited to about 30 seconds before the sky's rotation causes noticeable star trail streaks in astrophotos. If you are on a low budget, a home made barn door tracker can work. There are many pages like this one that discuss how to make simple autoguiders.

Just recalled: in a previous post i mentioned about reading about something that makes the cam work on its self after setting it to do so. The "something" I meant was the "Intervalometer": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervalometer. CHDK is mentioned in the 2 lines under Photography.

thx

A simple script like this one will act as an intervalometer and continuously shoot photos. Just save it in a plain text file in your /CHDK/SCRIPTS folder and give it a name like RAPID.BAS

Code: [Select]

@title Rapid Photo v2
while 1
  press "shoot_full"
  release "shoot_full"
wend

end

Good Luck!

[mickrj]

OK, I am an absolute noob here so please go easy on me.

My main problem is not knowing how to partition my SDHC 8Gb card. I have seen numerous posts about it but they all seem to be determined to baffle one with technical terminology, or assume that the person doing the partitioning knows how to do it.

I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

I am fairly intelligent but not too PC literate. I can pick things up fairly quickly once shown how a thing is done.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[fe50]

Hello & welcome, mickrj !

My main problem is not knowing how to partition my SDHC 8Gb card.

Partitioning is only needed when you want to start CHDK automatically on power-on or when your camera does not support the manual loading method (with the "Firmware Update" menu item from the Canon menu).

You can do the partitioning with the SDMInstaller tool for Windows, read more here:
* http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/quick.htm (SDM homepage)
* http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/download.htm (SDM downloads, the SDMInstaller is included in the "common_files.zip" archive)

If manual loading is supported you can also do the partitioning with CHDK on the camera:
* http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php/topic,2468.msg36022.html#msg36022

Since MS Windows only let you access the first partition, there are several ways to swap partitions:
* http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php/topic,2468.msg30911.html#msg30911
* http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php/topic,3910.msg36763.html#msg36763

[SkyWalker9]

I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit...Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I updated a tutorial that I created a while back on how to setup various sizes of SDHC cards and install CHDK. Most of the instructions were from the sources mentioned by fe50. The tutorial includes photos during the process to make it easier to understand. I uploaded the turorial (PDF) to a file sharing site (hotfile.com) in order for you to download. Just use the "Regular Download". Good luck!

http://hotfile.com/dl/77514584/643404c/Installing_CHDK_on_SD_Cards_using_Windows_OS.pdf.html

[shayger]

Please help!
Hello,

I want to be able to run a script from my computer and be able to read txt files in real time from my camera (or print straight to files on my PC). Basically, I need real-time communication between my camera and PC.

Is there a way to send information/commands through USB in real time? Can this be done using C/Matlab/etc?

Thank you!
SG

[jlouis]

I am trying to download CHDK, however the links to the server http://mighty-hoernsche.de/ appear to be broken.

Is this server down? No longer active?

Is there an alternative mirror server where the CHDK software can be downloaded from?

Thanks

jlouis

[msl]

The server seems to be down at the moment.

Alternatively, you can test CHDK-DE or SDM. CHDK-DE is quite identical with CHDK. SDM has the basic features of CHDK with some extensions for stereo imaging.

Autobuild CHDK-DE

Download SDM

msl

[fudgey]

The server seems to be down at the moment.

Close, but not quite: http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=6263.msg64230#msg64230

[jlouis]

Thanks fugey & msi

Added Mighty-Hoernsche.de to the hosts file - all good now 

Cheers

John

[marcelinho]

Hello!

I have found CHDK so usefull and my creativity is now so less restricted on my G12 from "factory settings" camera mode 
Thanks a lot!

Now a bunch of (maybe) silly questions:

My 32GB card is now formatted into 2 partitions (according to some info I found to auto-load CHDK). In some situations (e.g. turning on the camera with display closed) camera only recognize (and enables saving) the tiny little partition and runs out of space in no more than 2 or 3 shots. Questions as follows: Is it common to have CHDK disabled whenever camera is turned on with LCD closed or memory card unlocked? When CHDK is disabled, I will never be able to read&write to second (large) card partition? Do I have to always open LCD to turn on the camera using this partitioned memory card?

When choosing a filetype either in camera and CHDK settings, I found out that CHDK RAW format for G12 is unknown to Bibble 5 software, and I am at the moment using Canon internal RAW (CR2 file extension) nocely with this tool. What I am in doubt is that this may not probably be the fastest option as internal Canon JPG (appearently shoots at higher FPS), and maybe CHDK RAW format may be even faster. Any hints on this subject, what is fastest, how to set it (either in Canon and CHDK settings menu) and how to operate/convert this G12 CHDK RAW filetype under linux will be really appreciated.

Thanks a lot!!
marcelo

[reyalp]

Questions as follows: Is it common to have CHDK disabled whenever camera is turned on with LCD closed or memory card unlocked? When CHDK is disabled, I will never be able to read&write to second (large) card partition? Do I have to always open LCD to turn on the camera using this partitioned memory card?

LCD shouldn't matter.

Which one the camera sees without CHDK depends on which on is "active" (technically which one is listed first in the partition table) You can use the "swap partitions" function in CHDK to change this, but if you make the large partition active, CHDK will not autoboot. To get back, you'll need to load CHDK manually and use swap partitions again.

When choosing a filetype either in camera and CHDK settings, I found out that CHDK RAW format for G12 is unknown to Bibble 5 software, and I am at the moment using Canon internal RAW (CR2 file extension) nocely with this tool.

I would be surprised if Canon raw was slower than CHDK raw. You can find information about CHDK Raw format here: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Raw

[lemec]

Hello newcomer!

CHDK is a sort of complicated business, but some valuable members have made the trouble of making things simple for you...

See these threads for guidance:

Thread: Newbie issues, still - [CHDK for Dummies - The Very First Steps]
Thread (WIP): CHDK End-User's Guide 03  - 16-MAY-08
Wikia (WIP): User:Intrnst - CHDK Wiki

Also, and very important:

http://chdk.wikia.com
Sections: FAQ and Firmware usage.

Finally, please ask your newbie questions at the board below, and here only!!The "Hello, I'm a NEWBIE - HELP!! (Newbies assistance, User Guides and thank you notes)" BOARD

Have fun!

[lemec]

Newbie found it hard to post. I have a Canon A550, got the version and downloads but I don't have a "firmware update" in my camera, confirmed by Canon. Am I still able to install CHDK?

[fe50]

Newbie found it hard to post. I have a Canon A550, got the version and downloads but I don't have a "firmware update" in my camera, confirmed by Canon. Am I still able to install CHDK?

Unzip the full CHDK package to the root of your SD card, start the camera in playback mode (!) & the "Firmware Update" menu item should be visible from the Canon menu...

On a Mac read http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ/Mac and especially http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ/Mac#Still_Having_Trouble.3F

See also http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Manual