G11: please make it stop sending the 'wake up' continuously!

jaap

2

« on: 18 / December / 2011, 07:34:57 »

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To all highly valued CHDK developers:

I really like your work. It is amazing what you've been able to do so far with Canon cameras, truly amazing!

I have only one small request for you. My G11 continuously sends a 'wake up' signal when an external flash is attached to it (tried with both a rf602 trigger and a 430EZ on top off it, same result). It would be most brilliant if any of you knows how to rewrite the 1.00J firmware in such a way that it only sends a wake-up signal when the shutter button is half-pressed. And not when the shutter button is not pressed at all. Otherwise the batteries of my trigger/flash will be drained so quickly!

Otherwise, both the flash and the trigger work fine, apart from the problem described above. You would really help me a lot if any one of you knows how to fix this. Please help an otherwise very satisfied G11 user.

Kind regards,

Jaap

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waterwingz

12140

Re: G11: please make it stop sending the 'wake up' continuously!

« Reply #1 on: 18 / December / 2011, 08:42:38 »

AFAIK, there is no easy way to do this with current CHDK software. I might be possible to find the place in the firmware where the camera "talks"" to the flash, hook the task that does so and change how it communicates. But that would likely be a big job - it will take someone with the software skills, lots of time and a G11 camera to work with.

Two thoughts occur to me. First of all, is this a G11 specific problem ? Why is this not a more common complaint ? The other thing you could do if you are in a fixed shooting situation is set your flash exposure manuallly and "tape over" the communication pins on your hot shoe - or use a generic flash extender / hot shoe adapter to do that for you.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

fudgey

1705
a570is

Re: G11: please make it stop sending the 'wake up' continuously!

« Reply #2 on: 18 / December / 2011, 09:01:48 »

Quote from: waterwingz on 18 / December / 2011, 08:42:38

First of all, is this a G11 specific problem ? Why is this not a more common complaint ?

I think there have been a couple of bug reports against using external flash before, can't remember which camera. But since the overwhelming majority of CHDK supported cameras do not have a flash shoe and most(?) people who have one don't actually use it, it's really not a common problem even if it's obvious for anyone who tries to use it.

I can also imagine that the combination of G11 + external flash + a CHDK developer all three in the same room at the same time has never happened.

jaap: Btw, CHDK is not firmware. It's not a rewritten or hacked Canon firmware. It's software that needs to be partially rewritten for each and every version of Canon's firmware for each camera model.

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waterwingz

12140

Re: G11: please make it stop sending the 'wake up' continuously!

« Reply #3 on: 18 / December / 2011, 09:13:31 »

Quote from: fudgey on 18 / December / 2011, 09:01:48

I can also imagine that the combination of G11 + external flash + a CHDK developer all three in the same room at the same time has never happened.

Possibly true, but I can think of at least one combination of G10 + external flash + a CHDK developer all in the same room.

Although I have a bag full of flash units and remotes but no Canon flash - something I guess I should do something about.

And I'd also bet that I know of a G12 + external flash + a CHDK developer all in the same room.

The missing variable is probably time and an awareness that there is a problem in the first place. In "normal" shooting with a flash I don't worry about battery life. If I was doing motion detection or time lapse that might be a very different situation.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

jaap

2

Re: G11: please make it stop sending the 'wake up' continuously!

« Reply #4 on: 18 / December / 2011, 10:21:45 »

Quote from: waterwingz on 18 / December / 2011, 08:42:38

The other thing you could do if you are in a fixed shooting situation is set your flash exposure manuallly and "tape over" the communication pins on your hot shoe

THANK YOU!! You can't imagine how many hours I've spent on searching the internet for a solution, and here you provide the most elegant and simple solution of all. Why didn't I think of that before...

Thanks again people, for sharing your thoughts and thus making me an even happier G11 owner

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