Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B - General Discussion and Assistance - CHDK Forum

Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B

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Hi there,

I'm new here and enthusiastic about CHDK. I recently bought myself this great little camera. I'm happy with it and it takes excellent pictures. After a week however, I really wanted to have more manual control to be a bit more creative. Then I found out about this great project and now I would like to help to get things started for this camera. There's already a topic about this camera, but that's a different firmware version.

I am still a noob, but willing to learn. I have technical skills and can learn fast, but I need your help.

This is the information I just pulled out of the camera:

Canon DIGITAL IXUS 120 IS
P-ID:31E6 PAL D

Firmware Ver GM1.03B
NoError
Oct 2 2009 08:20:08

Adj Ver.005.003
Mecha Firm Ver. 3.01
MechaDSP Firm Ver. 1.02

Firmware Ver. 1.0.3.0

I tried to dump the firmware using CardTricks, but could not get the data. I searched the forum and found this ps.fi2 file that I put on the card. The blinking of the AF-LED works great.

Should I use the software only solution to dump the firmware or the hardware+software solution? I have the skills to make the stuff needed for the hardware.

Thanks in advance!

Re: Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B
« Reply #1 on: 28 / March / 2010, 20:28:42 »
 ??? OK, let me simplify my previous question:

Hardware or software?

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Offline reyalp

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Re: Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B
« Reply #2 on: 29 / March / 2010, 01:16:22 »
??? OK, let me simplify my previous question:

Hardware or software?
Whichever one sounds the easiest / most fun / least painful to you. The standard udumper won't work with this camera, so you'll need to do some hacking to go the all software route. If you already have an LED address and an FI2 that loads, blinking should be pretty straightforward.

Be advised that getting a dump doesn't mean a port will be done. It's a required step, but you still need a developer who has the camera, the required skill set, and the motivation to complete the port.
Don't forget what the H stands for.

Re: Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B
« Reply #3 on: 29 / March / 2010, 17:53:22 »
Be advised that getting a dump doesn't mean a port will be done. It's a required step, but you still need a developer who has the camera, the required skill set, and the motivation to complete the port.

OK, than that's what I am going to do. I am going to read myself into this matter and dump the firmware the hardware way. Wish me luck! Since this is a required step, I will have to do this anyways. After that, we'll see whatever possibillities there are.

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Offline reyalp

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Re: Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B
« Reply #4 on: 29 / March / 2010, 22:03:51 »
If you are interested in doing the port yourself, see http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/For_Developers and http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Adding_support_for_a_new_camera

You might also want to check out the development threads from some other recent cameras, like the G11 and sd980/ixus200
Don't forget what the H stands for.

Re: Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B
« Reply #5 on: 06 / April / 2010, 17:29:02 »
I just tried a SD940 in a  store, and the firmware version of that camera was 1.00E.  Does each firmware version have to dumped and ported separately?  Or does the port for one version sometimes work with another version (of the same camera, natch)?

SteveM

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Offline reyalp

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Re: Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B
« Reply #6 on: 06 / April / 2010, 18:55:56 »
I just tried a SD940 in a  store, and the firmware version of that camera was 1.00E.  Does each firmware version have to dumped and ported separately?  Or does the port for one version sometimes work with another version (of the same camera, natch)?
If the changes between canon versions are very minor, then one CHDK build can work with multiple firmwares. This is fairly rare, but it does happen. If any of the addresses CHDK references change, then a new CHDK version is needed.

Adding support for a new firmware version is a lot easier than making a completely new port.
Don't forget what the H stands for.

Re: Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B
« Reply #7 on: 07 / April / 2010, 15:19:45 »
Thanks for the clarification.

I bought the camera this morning, shunned the FW 1.00E (and had to pass up a black camera in favor of a silver one) and bought a 1.03B.

I can't program, but if there's anything you can think of that I can do towards this effort, please tell me.

BTW, I wrote to Canon and offered them a good marketing argument for why they should embrace CHDK and cooperate on getting the firmware out and available.  I ain't holding my breath, though.

I also found the Mycolors setting (Custom color) to turn down sharpening, which at least reduces the damage that the in-camera post processing does to the data.

SteveM
« Last Edit: 07 / April / 2010, 15:45:26 by metaphorce »

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Offline reyalp

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Re: Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B
« Reply #8 on: 07 / April / 2010, 15:48:52 »
BTW, I wrote to Canon and offered them a good marketing argument for why they should embrace CHDK and cooperate on getting the firmware out and available.  I ain't holding my breath, though.
I would suggest that the less attention we get from Canon, the better it will be for everyone. It will only take one PHB with a stick up his butt to ruin the whole thing. If they are forced to publicly take a position on CHDK, it is very likely that it would be a negative one. Even though I believe that CHDK is beneficial to Canon (people choose canon over other brands because it exists), there is no realistic chance they that they would help the project or do anything that could be interpreted as endorsing it.
Don't forget what the H stands for.

Re: Canon IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Firmware Version 1.03B
« Reply #9 on: 21 / November / 2010, 22:50:38 »
started a new thread for the 1.03c version of the firmware and posted a working ALPHA release there

http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=5855.0
Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16

 

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