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

fe50

Pier
...I forgot to select true letter G for the card, and sellected C drive Die !!

That's VERY bad...but i'm sure, you know that NOW 😉

The bootable.exe for CHDK writes into the first 512 bytes of the medium, this area is called "boot sector", Master Boot Record MBR on x86 architecture. I think the winbootabel.exe should do the same, only from a Windows GUI - if you mean the tool from the russian forum (i never used it by myself).
You could only access your drive c: when the MBR contains a vaild partition table.

If you don't have a backup of your harddiscs boot sector (i don't think you have that), you can try to write a new MBR to your disc, but first stop and read this:

If the files on your drive are really important you can give it to a data recovery company,
they could normally recover most or all of your files, but you'll pay money for it ! Wikipedia: Data Recovery

...if you want to try it by yourself, don't forget:

All actions can destroy all your data, after that a data recovery specialist can't help you anymore !!!

So - if you're REALLY sure that you want to try to repair it by yourself:
- boot your system from a MS Windows XP installation CD
- select "r" ("Recovery console")
- select your drive, your Windows installation & insert your administrator password
- on the recovery console you can get a list of all commands with [tt]help[/tt]
- you can use [tt]diskpart[/tt] to have a look to the partition table (but do not try to change something there !)

On the prompt of the recovery console call each of the following commands, read & confirm the messages...

[tt]fixmbr c:
fixboot c: [/tt]

Then type [tt]exit[/tt]and your system will shutdown...with some luck it starts up again, otherwise you can try other ways to recover your data, e.g. with a Linux Live CD or a recovery software...

You can also use a Windows PE system (a Windows system running from CD), e.g. made with BartPE

Good luck !

*EDIT: a free & powerful data & partition recovery tool is TestDisk, could also be helpful...

acseven

A heads up: I have added this text to the registration agreement:

**************************************************************************
DEAR NEW MEMBER, BEFORE READING THE REGISTRATION AGREEMENT, LET ME REMIND YOU THAT YOU SHOULD VISIT THE WIKIA PAGE AND THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PAGE TO LEARN ABOUT CHDK (LINKS BELOW)
**************************************************************************

USEFUL LINKS FOR BEGINNERS:

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

**************************************************************************

doozen

Hi

I am struggling to try to figure out how to do time lapse photography with a Canon A620 for a demolition and construction project my company is doing (starting Tuesday!) I am seeing all of this stuff with Canon Hacker software, but this stuff seems way out of my league. Can any one send me to a step by step instructs or a simple script to do this? NO experience on my end!

blue652

Hi Everyone,
I found the CHDK site awhile ago but was a bit scared of downloading it. Finally after much searching for information about it I decided to forge ahead. I am so glad I did as it works great on my sx10is. Now I just have to learn how to use it.
Thanks for this forum as I am sure I will be using often.

fe50

Hello & welcome, blue652 !

You'll find a nice pdf manual here: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_guide_pdf

Have fun with your SX10 & CHDK !

Ultraderecho

hi everyone

i just got a question, i have been looking for CHDK and i'm seeing that this is only for still cameras, i got a Canon HV30....i just want to now if the CHDK works on this camera and the new features works with the video mode.... and how install in it???

Thank You

fe50

Hello & welcome, Ultraderecho !

Ultraderecho
i have been looking for CHDK and i'm seeing that this is only for still cameras, i got a Canon HV30....i just want to now if the CHDK works on this camera and the new features works with the video mode.... and how install in it???

CHDK is not available for DV camcorders, so there's nothing to install...

cyril

Hello all and THX for your usefull msg.
here is my concern:
Is there an way to get "continuous shooting mode" from the CHDK for my PowerShot S90 ?
THX!

reyalp

cyril
Hello all and THX for your usefull msg.
here is my concern:
Is there an way to get "continuous shooting mode" from the CHDK for my PowerShot S90 ?
THX!

Continuous shooting means shoot pictures for as long as you hold the button down. If this is what you mean, then it is supported in the camera firmware without need for CHDK. Consult your camera manual.

filipemb

I'm a newby too... I have a S5 IS and I would like to use F16 and more shuter time, however it still with the original F8 and 15''
What's wrong? :-/

fudgey

filipemb
I'm a newby too... I have a S5 IS and I would like to use F16 and more shuter time, however it still with the original F8 and 15''
What's wrong? :-/

CHDK doesn't alter Canon's menus or Canon's on-screen display. To get past Canon's limitations, go to CHDK menu -> extra photo operations -> shutter speed override / aperture override or use a suitable script.

Astrobob

Hello fellows,

I am new to CHDK. I did manage to install CHDK on my SD & run it manually but couldn't figure out how to take an exposure in manual mode longer than the default 15 sec of canon. I am in a testing phase to check CHDK's capabilities specially when it comes to long exposures & dark subtraction as I am a humble amateur astronomer < www.astrobob.tk > & astrophotographer < http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrobob >

In Alt mode I entered to the "Extra Photo Operations" & edited:

Override shutter speed: 32
value factor: 1
shutter speed enum type: Ev step

& tried it in each of the 3 modes for "Disable Overrides", that is in "Disable", "On" & "Off"

but it never took an image with an exposure greater than 15 seconds 😖

any help please ?

thanks in advance

fe50

Hello & welcome, Astrobob !

Astrobob
...couldn't figure out how to take an exposure in manual mode longer than the default 15 sec of canon.

[unknown]

I want to be able to use my camera to take night shots (very long exposures) witn no flash.

* disable (close) the flash
* adjust the Canon camera settings, e.g. like this:
P mode, fix ISO (100 or 200), select the longest available Canon exposure time (15 seconds)

Now, set up the CHDK overrides:
You can either choose one of the values in [tt]Override shutter speed[/tt] - or you can use this setting in combination with the next menu item, the [tt]Value factor[/tt], for this set [tt]Shutterspeed enum type[/tt] to [tt][Factor][/tt]...

Sample:
[tt]Override shutter speed [64]
Value factor [1]
Shutterspeed enum type [Factor][/tt]
gives you 64 x 1 = 64 s exposure time.

The Canon OSD don't know anything about the CHDK overrides, it only shows values from the internal Canon list,
so on exposure times beyond the Canon limit of 15s the Canon OSD will always show "15s"...

You can enable the additional CHDK OSD values from the [tt]OSD[/tt] (Misc...) menu to see the "real" override values...

See also:
* https://chdk.setepontos.com/d/4101/3
* http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Manual#Dark_Frame_Subtraction (Dark frame subtraction)
* http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Manual#Disable_Overrides (the "Disable Overrides" menu item"

manit708

Hi Guys,
I am new for CHDK. I have SX20 IS & tried to check the firmware as per the instruction given on the CHDK site. I got below details from the camera.
P-ID:31E4 PAL D
version is 1.00F ,
Firmware Ver: GM1.00F
E18
Jun 15 2009 15:28:22

Here instead of "No Error" i am getting E18 just want to know what does this number means. Is there any problem or I am doing something wrong.

Thanks in advance for helping me.

whim

Hi Manit708,

Welcome to the forum !

E18 means "zoom lens error", and is usually caused by the user accidentally turning on
the camera: if the lens motion is obstructed by for instance a hand, or the carrying case.
The camera always remembers the last error, so this could have happened long ago;
in short, no reason to worry, unless of course your lens behaves abnormally ...

hope that helps,

wim

PS Hint: type "E18 error" in the search box at the top of the page for more info

manit708

Hi Whim,
Thanks for the help. My Zoom is working fine only i get this error, so i am bit relax now.
Also I like to thanks to all the CHDK user who helps to newbies.

Keep up the work guys.

Astrobob

[unknown]

I want to be able to use my camera to take night shots (very long exposures) witn no flash.

* disable (close) the flash
* adjust the Canon camera settings, e.g. like this:
P mode, fix ISO (100 or 200), select the longest available Canon exposure time (15 seconds)

Why the P mode ? What if I need to use different ISO ?

Now, set up the CHDK overrides:
You can either choose one of the values in [tt]Override shutter speed[/tt] - or you can use this setting in combination with the next menu item, the [tt]Value factor[/tt], for this set [tt]Shutterspeed enum type[/tt] to [tt][Factor][/tt]...

Sample:
[tt]Override shutter speed [64]
Value factor [1]
Shutterspeed enum type [Factor][/tt]
gives you 64 x 1 = 64 s exposure time.

Why wouldn't it work if I choose something other than [Factor] ? I dont have my cam at hand to check what it is , but I think its [Ev step] or something as indicated in the manual.

The Canon OSD don't know anything about the CHDK overrides, it only shows values from the internal Canon list,
so on exposure times beyond the Canon limit of 15s the Canon OSD will always show "15s"...

aha

You can enable the additional CHDK OSD values from the [tt]OSD[/tt] (Misc...) menu to see the "real" override values...

Regarding this, would the image I take with an exposure above 15 sec be embedded within the metadata of the image ? When I checked the details of a 64 sec image (in playback mode) i took within G9 it shows an exposure 15 sec. Will this also be in the metadata. This would make it a pain to take countless image a night in the dark & cold withouht being able to check what the real settings were when I took this or that image. It will also coz lots of issues when downloading & processing the images. Any tips/suggestions/ in this regard ?

Moreover, is it possible to speed up that saving of images time ? The time the cam takes to process & save the image. In astrophotography, you miss lots of stuff during this time (e.g.; if i am taking a series of images of a celestial event & need the nearly the same with different settings to then use in processing, the time for waiting for the cam would make it harder & harder the greater the exposure is).

See also:
* https://chdk.setepontos.com/d/4101/3
* http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Manual#Dark_Frame_Subtraction (Dark frame subtraction)
* http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Manual#Disable_Overrides (the "Disable Overrides" menu item"

thx for the links 😁
any post regarding how to preconfigure my cam to do some work on its own ? I think i read something about this but cant figure where.

thx

reyalp

Astrobob
Why the P mode ? What if I need to use different ISO ?

Then use different settings. e.g. means example. You probably want to use P mode (assuming your camera doesn't have M) because it lets you control the most settings in the canon firmware.

Regarding this, would the image I take with an exposure above 15 sec be embedded within the metadata of the image ? When I checked the details of a 64 sec image (in playback mode) i took within G9 it shows an exposure 15 sec. Will this also be in the metadata.

Depends on the camera and which part of the meta data you are looking at. The canon "maker notes" are generally more reliable than the regular exif.

If you are shooting using a script, you can log the values your script set.

Moreover, is it possible to speed up that saving of images time ? The time the cam takes to process & save the image.

The actual saving time cannot be changed, this is obviously a hardware limit. On some cameras the "iso3200" or other high iso mode has shorter saving time, but resolution is reduced. If you mean the canon dark frame subtraction (long "busy" screen after shooting a long exposure) this can be controlled as fe50 described.

any post regarding how to preconfigure my cam to do some work on its own ? I think i read something about this but cant figure where.

Script.

SkyWalker9

reyalp

Astrobob
Moreover, is it possible to speed up that saving of images time ? The time the cam takes to process & save the image.
The actual saving time cannot be changed, this is obviously a hardware limit. On some cameras the "iso3200" or other high iso mode has shorter saving time, but resolution is reduced. If you mean the canon dark frame subtraction (long "busy" screen after shooting a long exposure) this can be controlled as fe50 described.

In addition to @reyalp's info, there is something else you may want to check. I ran benchmarks & real world tests on the SDHC class of cards I was using and found that for the SX20 a class 4 improved my times moderately. You may want to test using a higher class of SDHC card to see if it will reduce your times as well. Here is a link to my benchmark/real world test posting: https://chdk.setepontos.com/d/5665/1

Astrobob

reyalp

Then use different settings. e.g. means example. You probably want to use P mode (assuming your camera doesn't have M) because it lets you control the most settings in the canon firmware.

Well my Canon G9 does have a manual mode M & it's the mode i have been using to do astrophotography.

Depends on the camera and which part of the meta data you are looking at. The canon "maker notes" are generally more reliable than the regular exif.

I took a couple of images with 64 seconds & downloaded them to my computer but the properties, nevertheless, show a 15 sec exposure. [Plz check the remark at the end. its very imp]

If you are shooting using a script, you can log the values your script set.

I didn't (up to my knowledge) use any script but the default one, which runs along with CHDK. I am still clumsy about using CHDK & the menus but slowly learning. I did a bit of shallow reading about scripts in CHDK but havent totally grasped the idea of how to use it or how to load them onto the card. Anyways, for time being, I would like to make sure that the basics I need (i.e.; longer exposures & exif & metadata are possible) without any backdraws. I still can't understand why CHDK or the cam would not (by default) register the correct exif like the exposure ?!

The actual saving time cannot be changed, this is obviously a hardware limit. On some cameras the "iso3200" or other high iso mode has shorter saving time, but resolution is reduced. If you mean the canon dark frame subtraction (long "busy" screen after shooting a long exposure) this can be controlled as fe50 described.

Aha. well its not just about the dark frame subtraction. I tried both on & off for the subtraction with no big saving time difference, up to what i recall.

any post regarding how to preconfigure my cam to do some work on its own ? I think i read something about this but cant figure where.

Script.

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:

IMG_8459.JPG by BOB Merhebi, on Flickr

Is it related to vignetting ?

SkyWalker9
In addition to @reyalp's info, there is something else you may want to check. I ran benchmarks & real world tests on the SDHC class of cards I was using and found that for the SX20 a class 4 improved my times moderately. You may want to test using a higher class of SDHC card to see if it will reduce your times as well. Here is a link to my benchmark/real world test posting: https://chdk.setepontos.com/d/5665/1

thx SkyWalker9. I will recheck your post sometime later. Its interesting, though I will currently stick to learning CHDK & how to use scripts, before I move on. But one question I have is: do the new types of cards like extreme work on cam's that haven't been certified for its use, maybe coz the cam was manufactured before this new card type was introduced ?

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

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