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Noob questions

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Noob questions
« on: 04 / December / 2011, 12:37:11 »
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Greetings all, new to the group. .

I finally got a camera that I could put CHDK (A490) on after looking for a long time, I am getting into aerial photography and video from RC planes/heli's, and CHDK is a popular topic on the many boards and forums.  My main use for it is the intervalometer function, I wanted to be able to take stills every X seconds while flying around with something other than my GoPro, which has too much distortion for still photos.   

I finally managed to get it installed and working, and with this script get the time lapse function working, even though it does not list my camera it seems to work.

However, the various online user manuals and tutorials I have found a bit confusing, as they tend to jump all over the place and often go in circles.  There was no way I could get what the firmware version of my camera was, I tried the Acid and Card Tricks methods, both recognized the camera then went and got me the firmware I needed, (which I think were two different versions), and I finally managed to get it on an 8GB card and working, as well as the intervalometer script.

What I am wondering is:

Does the CHDK firmware have to be on every card you are using, or can you load it, then switch cards? (from a 1GB bootable card then to 8GB card, for example)


thanks!

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Offline 051r15

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Re: Noob questions
« Reply #1 on: 04 / December / 2011, 12:50:41 »
Every card friend. It doesn't actually change the internal firmware, making it warranty friendly.
For any card larger than 4 GBs you've got to make two partitions, one fat16 for the chdk files and the other fat32/exfat for your storage.

see here : http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_and_SD_cards_greater_than_4GB_%288GB,_16GB,_32GB,_64GB%29

Re: Noob questions
« Reply #2 on: 04 / December / 2011, 13:07:23 »
Thanks for the prompt reply!

Good info, but I am assuming that the partitioning a small fat16 space on the larger card is just if I want it bootable then, correct?  If I am willing to just go through the manual firmware "upgrade" then I can just keep the CHDK set of folders on the card "as is"..

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Offline 051r15

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Re: Noob questions
« Reply #3 on: 04 / December / 2011, 13:25:32 »
No, I believe CHDK has to be on a fat16 partition to work even if you do the firmware update method. I know on a Mac the Apple script can do the partitioning for you and I believe SDMInst can set up two partitions as well. Not sure about what Card Tricks can do though unfortunately I haven't used it.

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Offline 051r15

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Re: Noob questions
« Reply #4 on: 04 / December / 2011, 13:32:59 »
BTW I've been interested in RC helicopter/quadcopter photography for a while now. What's a good entry level system that can carry a camera and won't crash to bits in a light wind?

You might actually want to check this out as well, it's a branch of CHDK that was specially developed for aerial photography as well as 3d imaging: http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/index.htm

Re: Noob questions
« Reply #5 on: 04 / December / 2011, 13:44:30 »
No, I believe CHDK has to be on a fat16 partition to work even if you do the firmware update method.
Untrue.   You can use the firmware update method from a FAT32 card.
Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16

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Offline 051r15

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Re: Noob questions
« Reply #6 on: 04 / December / 2011, 13:57:33 »
No, I believe CHDK has to be on a fat16 partition to work even if you do the firmware update method.
Untrue.   You can use the firmware update method from a FAT32 card.

Good to know!

Re: Noob questions
« Reply #7 on: 04 / December / 2011, 14:47:07 »
BTW I've been interested in RC helicopter/quadcopter photography for a while now. What's a good entry level system that can carry a camera and won't crash to bits in a light wind?

You might actually want to check this out as well, it's a branch of CHDK that was specially developed for aerial photography as well as 3d imaging: http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/index.htm

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

For my heli I'm using a Gaui 330x-s quadcopter, which is a lot easier to fly than a conventional Heli, and can carry something like a GoPro or a P&S, and is quite manageable in the wind. For my plane application I made a big foamie bird capable of carrying a full size DSLR, or several cameras of the GoPro-P&S weight class.  Multicopters are getting VERY popular in the AP/AV field, with new models and options coming out almost on a daily basis.  I wanted to be up and running asap, which is why I chose the Gaui, all I needed was a receiver and radio, which I already had. If you are interested in getting airborne and taking pictures asap, the Gaui is a good choice,  but I would also check out Tom's RTF models at hoverthings.com, with a spektrum receiver included so its even a better deal, and all you need is a radio and you're set. (Tell Tom Glen sent you over) The arduino multi-wii board is supposedly even easier and more stable than the Gaui, and the frame is bigger and stronger - I am currently building one with a frame and components from Toms site. 

ps. multicopters are a little more "fussy" on which cameras work good and which ones don't, because of the added vibration inherent in helis. The Canon a490 is one camera that works good, the A640 is another.

 

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