CHDK & A small question about a lens.

[MaorG]

Hello,

I use Canon S5-IS.
I saw on youtube something called CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit), and I found it really cool.
So I have some questions.

Can it damage the camera or the memory card?
I saw I need to upgrade the camera's firmware when I start the CHDK, is it safe? will it change something in my camera? Is it reversable?
Can I switch between CHDK and the regular OS without puting in a different card?
Is the card format to FAT16 necessary?
Is the CHDK OS hard to manage?



And the lens question.
I saw this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ASM7XrGc8I
And Idd like to know if this lens is good.
Will it work ok with my S5?

Please, if you can even answer one question, comment.

Thank you.:thumbsup:

[Greg McCary]

Why would you want to change OS? If the camera ever needed service Canon may turn you away.

[MaorG]

I dont think I will ever need servies from Canon.
As far as I know the change isn't permanent, the OS sits on the card.

[OldClicker]

CHDK is just installed on the card and the camera uses it at start up. If you then put in a card without it, the camera goes back to it's standard firmware.

From what I hear, it works well though the menu system leaves a lot to be desired. What do you expect for something that gives you all the functions and is free. I wish there was a lot more of these for other brands/models.

Terry

[Greg McCary]

I don't know much about hacked OS systems. I do know some that do it on cell phones to hack in firmware. Rooting is what you call it on an Android phone. You download the firmware to a card and then replace he firmware. Doing this knocks you out of any firmware updates from Andriod and voids the warrenty on the phone.
What will the hacked OS do that you can't already do? Lower or higher ISO's, faster shutter speeds? Just curious. Not to try and tell you one way or another to do it.

[MaorG]

The CHDK will let me shoot on RAW, which I cant do with my DSLR.
And it has a lot of functions, like shooting automaticly every few seconds for as long as you want, this is used for time-lapse videos mostely.
It has a couple of other functions that works with scripts, and you can even play games on your camera (not very useful, I just say)

Terry,
So will you recommend using the CHDK?
Have you used it? Or do you know someone that used it?
Is it safe?
Surely it wont make any permanent changes?
And are you sure I cant switch between the OSs with the same memory card? Just put a clean one is the only way?

Thank you.

[OldClicker]

I am not a Canon user, have never used it and cannot recommend it.

From my understanding, if it is in the correct folder on the card when the camera is turned on, it will be used. To get back to the Canon firmware you need to turn the camera off, remove it from the correct folde or use a different card and turn the camera back on.

Terry

[OldClicker]

Greg, From what I have read, CHDK allows a Canon P&S to do things that would make most DSLRs blush. Much of it is already in all the Canons, but simply disabled to allow different features at different price points. A lot is in aps like you would get for an iPhone. Things like RAW, 1/10,000 sec. shutter speed, 10 fps, etc. - Terry

[Greg McCary]

Thanks Terry that makes since. I have followed some of the stuff you can do on a rooted phone. But Google apps have little restrictions to begin with. You can already download music like you do on limewire and such. But I am getting off of the subject.