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Canon A650IS Problem with CHDK software installation.

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Offline Len

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Canon A650IS Problem with CHDK software installation.
« on: 01 / July / 2008, 18:57:23 »
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I was unable to install CHDK on my 2 GB SD card even though I followed all the directions.
First the SD card was formatted for FAT16 on my Windows XP PC. Then I created an text file named "ver.req" to verify the software in my A650IS. I copied this file into my SD card. 
Then I used the 1.70-148-a650-100d-57.zip to obtain the "PS.FIR" and "DISKBOOT.BIN" files which I also wrote onto my SC card. I was unable to use the "allbest-a650-100d-50.zip" because it did not contain the "PS.FIR" file.

When I place the SD memory back into my A650IS and turned it on in the "Review" mode I was able to scroll down but could not see "Firmware Update" choice.  I tried this procedure several times with not success. I even re-formatted the SD card again to FAT16 and placed the "PS.FIR" and "DISKBOOT.BIN" again into the SD card. No
success.

I would appreciate any help.  What am I doing wrong?
Thank you.
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Offline BB

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Re: Canon A650IS Problem with CHDK software installation.
« Reply #1 on: 01 / July / 2008, 19:08:04 »
The issue is that an A650IS is a "Dry OS" camera and does not support the "Firmware Update" or the PS***.FIR file method of loading CHDK. If you have a PS.FIR file for the A650, either it is a mistake in the release, or you have the wrong camera *.zip file.

The only method that works is the "Bootable" way of loading CHDK on BOOT.

1. Format the SD/SDHC card as FAT16 (4GB maximum formated sized)
2. Copy DISKBOOT.BIN to root directory
3. Run the Program called Bootable.exe and the drive letter for the SD/SDHC card.
4. Remove the SD/SDHC card and switch it to "Write Protected"
5. Place card in camera and turn on camera in any mode... You should see the blue CHKD Splash screen.

And that is it...

So, you need to get the correct camera.zip file, need to find the bootable.exe program and/or the CardTricks program (automates many of 1-3 steps, plus some other nice things too).

Bootable SD card - CHDK Wiki (all OS documentation on loading CHDK)
Card Tricks - a small utility to help manage SD cards [currently v. 1.34] (support of Windows OS only)

Index of /chdk/ (more or less the latest "stable release of CHDK" (Russian server--some ISP's block)
Index of /hdk/autobuild/ (latest and greatest, with all new features and camera ports--may have small issues at times) (Russian server)

CHDK - CHDK Wiki (CHDK release documentation site)

Good Luck,
-Bill
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Offline Len

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Re: Canon A650IS Problem with CHDK software installation.
« Reply #2 on: 02 / July / 2008, 01:20:05 »
Per your excellent suggestion(s) I used Card Tricks which
basically did the work of making CHDK operative on my
Canon A 650 IS. It's nice to have a live histogram now.
Thanks.

ONE more question (maybe a dumb one):
I used the <ALT> + [+/-] button to enable
RAW via CHDK. When I do so, the word RAW comes up
on the LCD along with a new number (I guess)
representing the # of RAW shots that I have left on the SD card.
Trouble is, after I take shots while the RAW indication is on-screen,
when I look at these files on the SD card, they have a .jpg extension.
Photoshop also says that they are jpgs.  What ELSE do I need to do
to get RAW files when I shoot.

FYI, I sold my truly superb Canon 5D a month ago and am waiting
impatiently for the "new" 5D Mark II ... so, I'm USED to taking everything in RAW.
I bought this Canon A650 IS as a "grab-and-go" camera for when the 5D
and lenses are just too much to lug along, and would love to have
RAW on this small camera.

THANKS for your patience and knowledge.

Len
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Offline fe50

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Re: Canon A650IS Problem with CHDK software installation.
« Reply #3 on: 02 / July / 2008, 02:33:17 »
Len,

have a look to the wikia & the forum:
  CHDK_for_Dummies#RAW,
  CHDK_firmware_usage#RAW_parameters_menu,
  CHDK & RAW - a never ending story,
  Backing up RAW files,
  FAQ: I've shot_some_RAW_pictures, How_do_I_process_them

In the "RAW Paramteres" menu you can set up things like "Only first RAW in series ", "RAW file in dir with JPEG ", "RAW File Prefix", "RAW file extention"...

Also check the folders of your card, and remember: you can only see/transfer RAW files with a card reader, the Canon Software (e.g. ZoomBrowser) only shows the JPEG files.

-> Use DNG4PS-2 to convert the RAW files into DNG format

...have a look to my signature:  *RAW
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Offline BB

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Re: Canon A650IS Problem with CHDK software installation.
« Reply #4 on: 02 / July / 2008, 03:25:45 »
There are some other possibilities too... Are you looking for the RAW files using and SD/SDHC card reader? Some Canon P&S cameras running CHDK may not display the *.CRW files in USB dump mode.

Also, CHDK may default to placing the *.CRW files into a different director than the *.JPG files--so you may have to hunt around to find them.

And, lastly, check the RAW OSD setup to see that you did not accidently setup the camera to use a .JPG suffix on the RAW files.

-Bill
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Offline Len

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Re: Canon A650IS Problem with CHDK software installation.
« Reply #5 on: 02 / July / 2008, 22:43:14 »
Thanks for your help folks!  Everything CHDK seems to be working properly at this point.
My only quibble now is NOT with CHDK install or implementation or the camera's RAW.
It's with PhotoLine (Mac version): converting the RAW files from the Canon A650 IS
works, but the colors in the resulting TIF aren't even close to the image captured
and displayed on the camera's LCD.  Does CHDK need a color profile for my A650 IS to
provide the proper color rendition in the resultant TIF from the RAW conversion?
If so, where is such a profile found?

I have come a LONG way to making my Canon into the camera that it should have been when I bought it (but I'm STILL a newbie, for now).  I owe it all to you folks.  You are an important part of a knowledge-base that may well be a unique resource. Thanks again.

Len

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Offline BB

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Re: Canon A650IS Problem with CHDK software installation.
« Reply #6 on: 03 / July / 2008, 00:17:14 »
You can read through this discussion--basically calculating the matrix for all of the CHDK supported RAW image files...

New project: camera color profile calculation

However, I am going to guess here, even if you find the perfect matrix--it will only be perfect for that situation (high noon, or whatever)... As soon as you go off the standard, your pictures will experience a white balance shift (i.e., a indoor natural lighted picture will look very yellowish).

You will have to use your photo editing software to correct the color temperature (automatic, or you pick a gray/white surface to calibrate). Since the current CHDK RAW's do not include the camera's WB settings.

I believe many people still keep the JPEGs just for this type of situation to see that the RAW image is close to what the camera intended (you can save the raws with very high compression/low pixel count to save file size--since you are using RAW anyway).

-Bill

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Offline Len

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Re: Canon A650IS Problem with CHDK software installation.
« Reply #7 on: 04 / July / 2008, 23:25:14 »
Thanks Bill.

Having been frustrated by PhotoLine with regard to color rendition,
I've taken the alternate route and used the RAW-to-DNG converter and then
opened it up in Adobe Camera RAW ... it works VERY well and I'm getting some fine images now with no objectionable color.

By the way, it occurs to me that there will come a time when I will want to wipe all image files off of my SD card that also has the CHDK files on it.  Can I format the SD card to remove these images while retaining the CHDK files? Or must I delete these image files separately
via camera of computer?

Len
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Offline BB

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Re: Canon A650IS Problem with CHDK software installation.
« Reply #8 on: 05 / July / 2008, 01:13:52 »
Formating will remove all data and files, including CHDK (it may also remove the "bootable" flag too).

You can just delete the image files themselves... Some folks believe the camera/memory will be more reliable and faster if you reformat as opposed to just erasing old images (it may be true on occasion).

There is now a program that makes managing your SD/SDHC cards and CHDK files a bit easier--it is called Card Tricks:

Card Tricks - a small utility to help manage SD cards [currently v. 1.34]

It automates many of the tasks for Windows PC users (format, bootable, copy CHDK program and setup files, etc.).

I have not tried it yet--but it is a well liked program.

-Bill
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