Second hand A550. Rookie questions.

windman

6
if aint broken do not fix it.

Second hand A550. Rookie questions.

« on: 20 / February / 2012, 05:58:12 »

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I want to compose time lapse movies.
I heard of CHKD and bought a used A550.
Camera is in good condition. I bough 4 gb memory card and installed CHKD correctly. It loads flawlessly with a locked card. When i press to print button it operates as it is intended. When in ALT mode by pressing shutter half way it initates a default script. I can change colors of icons, placement, i can modify histogram or i can check the calculator to know what the day is

So i can say that everythign is ready in terms of camera and chkd.

Here are my basic questions.

1- how to take photos when chkd is loaded? or is it always on when it is loaded by pressing play button at back of camera?
2- i want long exposures. how to do this?
3- i want time lapse photographs. how to do this?

Could you please instruct me step by step? I read users manual in pdf, it is really informative but it is still pretty advanced. I am not tech challenged but manual is not definetely for starters.

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fe50

3139
IXUS50 & 860, SX10 Star WARs-Star RAWs

Re: Second hand A550. Rookie questions.

« Reply #1 on: 20 / February / 2012, 08:21:21 »

Hello & welcome !

The latest CHDK user guide is here:
* http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Manual

Quote from: windman on 20 / February / 2012, 05:58:12

1- how to take photos when chkd is loaded? or is it always on when it is loaded

Yes; once loaded, CHDK runs in the background, <Alt> mode is just for running scripts or entering the CHDK menu...
Adjust the CHDK settings (overrides, e.g. fix exposure time) in the CHDK menu, then leave <Alt> mode.
While in <Alt> mode, the shutter button is used to start/stop a script.

Quote

2- i want long exposures. how to do this?

Set the Tv override to your needs:
* http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Manual#Override_shutter_speed

Samples:
"Override shutter speed" [8], "Value factor" [1], "Shutterspeed enum type" [Ev Step] gives you 8 sec exposure time
"Override shutter speed" [2], "Value factor" [1/10], "Shutterspeed enum type" [Factor] gives you 2/10 sec exposure time (speed * factor)

Quote

3- i want time lapse photographs. how to do this?

Use an intervalometer script to capture still images, then combine them with a software app like VirtualDub...
* http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php/topic,4084.msg38221.html#msg38221
* http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php/topic,5151.msg50515.html#msg50515

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windman

6
if aint broken do not fix it.

Re: Second hand A550. Rookie questions.

« Reply #2 on: 21 / February / 2012, 04:08:55 »

thank you for quick answer! last night i took ~1200 shots in 7 hours on nimh batetteries. not bad. screen was off.

here is first trial with basic script.

http://youtu.be/Gh9a2vUbH14

i will try other scrips later. but before i try them, could you please tell me if there is a script with timer function? i want camera to start taking photos after 4 am and keep going. or i want ot tell it to stop at 8 am.

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