Help with setting up SX40 remote trigger

dave.stewart.5621149

« on: 20 / October / 2012, 09:35:41 »

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I hope you can help.

I have a Canon SX40, and i would like to set up using a remote trigger. Now i have not downloaded anything and won't know where to start and with the fact that i am not technically gifted with gadgets i would like to buy a remote rather than building one.

Can someone please help me with a step by step guide in how to download and upload software to my camera and how to set up so that i can use my camera with a remote trigger. I dont need it to be fancy just open and close shutter.

Thank you in advance for your help.

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waterwingz

12110

Re: Help with setting up SX40 remote trigger

« Reply #1 on: 20 / October / 2012, 09:47:34 »

The H in CHDK stands for Hack. Which means you are going to need to do some reading and experimenting if you want to play with CHDK. Fortunately, there are some good places to start so I'll list them here.

First of all, here's the list of frequently asked questions :
link> CHDK Wiki FAQ
link> CHDK in Brief

And the current manuals, (not always completely up-to-date but as good as it gets) :
link> CHDK User Quick Start Guide
link> CHDK User Manual
link> CHDK for Dummies

The pages you will need to actually follow are here :
link> CHDK Downloading
link> Prepare Your SD Card
link> USB Remote

It a little work to go through this and there have been a few attempts to write a one page version :
link> CHDK Quick Install Guide
link> One Page Ultra-Quick Users Guide
but with all differences between cameras and SD card sizes and CHDK releases, they tend to be specific to one camera and one person's needs.

« Last Edit: 20 / October / 2012, 09:57:01 by waterwingz »

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

zeno

Re: Help with setting up SX40 remote trigger

« Reply #2 on: 20 / October / 2012, 11:29:37 »

The Waterwingz link to USB Remote (see above) has at the end a list of 'commercial' suppliers of remote switches. You don't say if you want a real 'wireless' remote or just one at the end of a cable, but both types are available commercially. And if that's all you want CHDK for, you don't need to do much more than install it - usb triggering works pretty much 'out of the box'.

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A570, S100, Ixus 127
Author of ASSIST, STICK, WASP, ACID, SDMInst, LICKS, WICKS, MacBoot, UBDB, CFGEdit

waterwingz

12110

Re: Help with setting up SX40 remote trigger

« Reply #3 on: 20 / October / 2012, 11:50:04 »

Quote from: zeno on 20 / October / 2012, 11:29:37

And if that's all you want CHDK for, you don't need to do much more than install it - usb triggering works pretty much 'out of the box'.

@zeno : thanks for the clarification - perhaps my explanation was going to scare dave.stewart.5621149 away ? That was not my intent.

However, he does need to learn how to find the right version of CHDK for his camera, install it on a configured SD card, setup the USB remote menu items correctly and source a USB remote switch.

@dave.stewart : it does not really say this anywhere, but you can use any USB cable that has the right connector for your camera to test things out. Plug the cable into your camera and then plug and unplug it to/from your PC to simulate pressing a switch. The power from the PC will activate the USB remote code (if its enabled) just like any of the switch devices listed on the wiki page. Not much use unless you are sitting at your PC but a simple and inexpensive way to just test things out.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

dave.stewart.5621149

Re: Help with setting up SX40 remote trigger

« Reply #4 on: 22 / October / 2012, 06:07:45 »

Thank you both for your help and explanations. It can be very daunting sometimes when visiting these types of sites when it seems like everyone is talking in code, Hence my very basic request.

I will go and try what you have suggested and if i have trouble i will certainly pop back.

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