Installing CHDK on an Ixus100: the good news, the bad news and the issues

Reviendu

5

« on: 04 / October / 2012, 15:58:05 »

Advertisements

Because I wanted to have a light photographic notepad that would fit in a pocket and that I could use without glasses, I recently purchased on eBay a Canon Ixus100, apparently the sole in its category to have a viewfinder (tiny, I reckon).

Because I am always working with raw files on my other cameras, I was particularly happy to hear about CHDK. So I have recently downloaded CHDK, and although there are good news, I do have some issues.

I downloaded ixus100_sd780-100c-1.1.0-2184-full_BETA.zip from the website, as I had identified, thanks to Acid, the firmware version of the camera. The files were put on the SD card (32 GB), and there I go.

The good news is that it does work.

Interesting things to note:

- Pressing "Set" + "Display" serves nothing. It is "Set" + the down button of the func/set command just below that allows to see the firmware version and other informations. It is by the way rather uncomfortable to push these two very close buttons at the same time.

- The shortcut button to the SHDK menu is sometimes the playback button...and sometimes the "display" button. Quite puzzling ! But funny

Now the real issue.

The 1st problem I have is that the "firm update" choice is sometimes there...and sometimes not. To be clearer, it appears only after a while. And there seems to be no clear reason for that. When I power up the camera, in general the update choice is not there. After a while, it appears. There seems to be nothing that I can do to speed up the process (I have tried just about every button) but after a while (approximately between 1 and 3 minutes)...there it is.

So that is my first problem.

I have tried to solve it by creating a booting card, but apparently, although I could partition the card, the second drive cannot be seen, neither in the explorer of windows (which is normal), nor on the camera.

I fear creating a boot SD may prove impossible, so if only I could solve that annoying variable delay between the moment I power the camera and the moment the firm update is possible.

Has such an issue already been raised?

Logged

waterwingz

12140

Re: Installing CHDK on an Ixus100: the good news, the bad news and the issues

« Reply #1 on: 04 / October / 2012, 16:13:31 »

Quote from: Reviendu on 04 / October / 2012, 15:58:05

- Pressing "Set" + "Display" serves nothing. It is "Set" + the down button of the func/set command just below that allows to see the firmware version and other informations. It is by the way rather uncomfortable to push these two very close buttons at the same time.

You only need to do this once to get your firmware version. You'll never need to do it again.

Quote

The shortcut button to the CHDK menu is sometimes the playback button...and sometimes the "display" button. Quite puzzling ! But funny

The <ALT> button was recently changes to be "user configurable". You should be able to select either the DISP or Playback button. If its switching around then there is a bug.

Quote

The 1st problem I have is that the "firm update" choice is sometimes there...and sometimes not. To be clearer, it appears only after a while. And there seems to be no clear reason for that. When I power up the camera, in general the update choice is not there. After a while, it appears. There seems to be nothing that I can do to speed up the process (I have tried just about every button) but after a while (approximately between 1 and 3 minutes)...there it is.

Typically, you will only see the firmware update option if you start the camera with the Playback button. If you press the "on/off" button it will not work. On some cameras, it is also reported that you need to go to the Canon menu and find the Firmware Update menu immediately on startup (via the Playback button).

Quote

I have tried to solve it by creating a booting card, but apparently, although I could partition the card, the second drive cannot be seen, neither in the explorer of windows (which is normal), nor on the camera.

Did you follow the instructions posted here : http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Prepare_your_SD_card#For_cameras_released_before_2011_:

Thousands of people have made this work and it does work for the IXUS100-SD780.

It's actually worth reading through that whole wiki page, by the way.

Quote

Has such an issue already been raised?

Yes - and its always been solved via user training.

Logged

Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Reviendu

5

Re: Installing CHDK on an Ixus100: the good news, the bad news and the issues

« Reply #2 on: 04 / October / 2012, 16:47:35 »

Quote from: waterwingz on 04 / October / 2012, 16:13:31

Quote from: Reviendu on 04 / October / 2012, 15:58:05
- Pressing "Set" + "Display" serves nothing. It is "Set" + the down button of the func/set command just below that allows to see the firmware version and other informations. It is by the way rather uncomfortable to push these two very close buttons at the same time.
You only need to do this once to get your firmware version. You'll never need to do it again.

True, but is is still uncomfortable

Quote

The <ALT> button was recently changes to be "user configurable". You should be able to select either the DISP or Playback button. If its switching around then there is a bug.

I did not know it was possible. So it is either that (bug) or I accidentaly activated the switch between the 2 buttons. I will bet for the latter explanation

Quote

Typically, you will only see the firmware update option if you start the camera with the Playback button. If you press the "on/off" button it will not work. On some cameras, it is also reported that you need to go to the Canon menu and find the Firmware Update menu immediately on startup (via the Playback button).

I did not see that (starting the camera with the Playback button) mentionned anywhere, and it works perfectly

When I do that the update option is available immediately ! My main problem is now solved, thanks

Quote

Quote
I have tried to solve it by creating a booting card, but apparently, although I could partition the card, the second drive cannot be seen, neither in the explorer of windows (which is normal), nor on the camera.
Did you follow the instructions posted here : http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Prepare_your_SD_card#For_cameras_released_before_2011_:

Thousands of people have made this work and it does work for the IXUS100-SD780.

It's actually worth reading through that whole wiki page, by the way.

I did, but until now I could not get any further than what I explained

Haven't tried the EOScard method, though, I think the reason I haven't is that I could not yet figure out how to format the card in FAT16. But I am in no hurry for that and I have already spotted that the boot card is a recurring topic, so I was going to read the forum and take my time.

Logged

waterwingz

12140

Re: Installing CHDK on an Ixus100: the good news, the bad news and the issues

« Reply #3 on: 04 / October / 2012, 20:41:43 »

Quote from: Reviendu on 04 / October / 2012, 16:47:35

Quote
Typically, you will only see the firmware update option if you start the camera with the Playback button. If you press the "on/off" button it will not work. On some cameras, it is also reported that you need to go to the Canon menu and find the Firmware Update menu immediately on startup (via the Playback button).
I did not see that (starting the camera with the Playback button) mentioned anywhere, and it works perfectly

I've tried to add that note everywhere I can find the "Firmware Update" method described - including the link I posted on formatting your SD card. If you find some spots where its misssing, please post links here ?

Quote

Haven't tried the EOScard method, though, I think the reason I haven't is that I could not yet figure out how to format the card in FAT16.

EOSCard won't format the SD card for you. Its only job is to write the BOOTDISK string in the right place in the card's bootblock.

Logged

Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Reviendu

5

Re: Installing CHDK on an Ixus100: the good news, the bad news and the issues

« Reply #4 on: 05 / October / 2012, 01:54:46 »

Quote from: waterwingz on 04 / October / 2012, 20:41:43

Quote from: Reviendu on 04 / October / 2012, 16:47:35
I did not see that (starting the camera with the Playback button) mentioned anywhere, and it works perfectly
I've tried to add that note everywhere I can find the "Firmware Update" method described - including the link I posted on formatting your SD card. If you find some spots where its misssing, please post links here ?

My main working tool, and maybe it was a mistake, was the readme.txt delivered with CHDK. I could not find that mentionned. I think I also checked the FAQ and found nothing.

Now that I know it exists, I found it in 2 places. But, for example, on the "CHDK firmware usage" page, I find this text: "restart the camera with the playback button, go into the main menu, select "firm. update" (this only shows up in my camera if the camera is started in playback mode)". Well, maybe it is a language issue but the part between the brackets does not seem clear enough to me for that concern and thus is puzzling. Maybe it's just me (after all, english is my third language), but I think I would have written (new text in bold): this only shows up in my camera if the camera is started using the playback mode button instead of the power button.

Maybe also the reason I did not understand this sooner is that I did'nt even know it was possible to start the camera with that button

and I have had Canon cameras for years

Quote

Quote
Haven't tried the EOScard method, though, I think the reason I haven't is that I could not yet figure out how to format the card in FAT16.
EOSCard won't format the SD card for you. Its only job is to write the BOOTDISK string in the right place in the card's bootblock.

Yes, I know that, therefore I must find a way to format the card first using another tool. Win7 does not seem to be capable to do that so I lack a tool. I may just decide to ask my son to take care of it

« Last Edit: 05 / October / 2012, 01:57:21 by Reviendu »

Logged

waterwingz

12140

Re: Installing CHDK on an Ixus100: the good news, the bad news and the issues

« Reply #5 on: 05 / October / 2012, 07:55:15 »

Quote from: Reviendu on 05 / October / 2012, 01:54:46

My main working tool, and maybe it was a mistake, was the readme.txt delivered with CHDK. I could not find that mentioned. I think I also checked the FAQ and found nothing.

I fixed that last week - the current readme.txt points to the right wiki pages now. The old instructions were removed. But you are right to point out that the FAQ has gotten a it out of hand and is probably due for a clean-up.

Quote

Now that I know it exists, I found it in 2 places. But, for example, on the "CHDK firmware usage" page, I find this text: "restart the camera with the playback button, go into the main menu, select "firm. update" (this only shows up in my camera if the camera is started in playback mode)". Well, maybe it is a language issue but the part between the brackets does not seem clear enough to me for that concern and thus is puzzling. Maybe it's just me (after all, english is my third language), but I think I would have written (new text in bold): this only shows up in my camera if the camera is started using the playback mode button instead of the power button.

I'll take a look at that - thanks !

Quote

Yes, I know that, therefore I must find a way to format the card first using another tool. Win7 does not seem to be capable to do that so I lack a tool. I may just decide to ask my son to take care of it

You might need a 3rd party utility if you can't get Win7 to behave.

Logged

Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16