Installing and using CHDK

This is part of the NIR camera wiki.

• There is lots of information at the CHDK wiki and the "CHDK for Dummies" site: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_for_Dummies
• A CHDK FAQ is here: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ

Follow these steps to prepare an SD memory card for each camera so that temporary firmware is loaded to your cameras after they are turned on. This firmware provides several useful enhancements including the ability to trigger the cameras remotely via the USB port.

In this process CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) is installed on the camera's SD card. It loads each time the camera is turned on, and does not change the camera permanently.

To turn on a camera with CHDK installed on a bootable SD card, hold down the power button until the camera starts. Just pressing the button once starts the camera in Preview mode and prevents switching to record mode (where you can take photos).

Choosing an SD card

• On the A495, 4GB cards are easier because larger cards must be partitioned to use more than 4GB while running CHDK. (On Powershots released after 2010, CHDK can work on larger unpartitioned cards.)
• 4GB cards are $5-10 online or a little more at a local store.
• Cards must be "SDHC"
• For multiple long mapping flights in one day, more than one 4GB SD card per camera might be needed.

Installing CHDK on the SD cards

• The firmware version on the Kickstarter A495 cameras should be "1.00F." The matching CHDK file a495-100f-1.0.0-1820-full_BETA.zip is available at http://mighty-hoernsche.de. This file will be downloaded automatically if you follow one of the procedures below. To get the appropriate file for other cameras, download and unzip the program ACID. Run ACID (double-click the jar file), drag a photo from the camera to it, select "Download CHDK full build," then click "Download CHDK."

Installing CHDK using a PC

• For 4 GB SD cards see this video with step by step instructions, or follow the instructions here: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_For_Newbies-How_To_Install
• These procedures involve using the handy program called CardTricks: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CardTricks.
• For 8GB or larger cards download and unzip the program ACID http://www.zenoshrdlu.com/acid/acid.html. Run ACID (double-click the jar file), drag a photo from the A495 to it, select "Download SDM common files" and "Download CHDK full build," then click "Download CHDK." Unzip common_files.zip and in that new folder find and run SDMinste.exe. This program can partition the card, format each partition, and make the small partition bootable. If needed, use SDMinste to swap partitions so the small bootable one is partition 1. Then copy all the files and folders from the unzipped a495-100f-1.0.0-1820-full_BETA folder on your computer into the small bootable partition on the SD card. Remove the card from the reader, lock it with the little slider, and put it in the camera. To turn on the camera, hold the power button down until the camera starts (just pressing it will turn it on in Preview mode). Photos will be saved to the large partition. To see those photos on your PC, use the camera (CHDK/Miscellaneous Stuff) or SDMinste on your computer to swap partitions so the big one is partition 1. Swap back before returning the card to the camera. If you start the camera and it says "Insufficient space on card" you forgot to swap partitions. Don't forget this because the card will be useless without a computer (e.g., when you are about to tie the camera to a kite line). See above where it says 4GB cards are easier;)

Installing CHDK using a Mac

• A program called SDMInst will install CHDK on SD cards and can be downloaded here: http://www.zenoshrdlu.com/clickpansdm/sdminst.html

• You might have to run this command in the terminal on the files in the SD card to make them executable as outlined here: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ/Mac#Still_Having_Trouble.3F:

  cd /Volumes/CANON_DC xattr -d com.apple.quarantine DISKBOOT.BIN PS.FI2

• Would videos of these installation procedures help?

Some useful CHDK settings to start with

CHDK Main Menu To enter the CHDK main menu on a Canon A495, press the PLAY button on the back of the camera, then press the MENU button. To exit CHDK, press the PLAY button. On other cameras, the buttons used are different.

Enable Remote To allow remote shutter release via the USB port, you must enable remote operation. In the CHDK Main Menu select Miscellaneous Stuff/Remote Parameters/Enable Remote.

Synchronous Shutter Release To precisely synchronize the shutter releases of two cameras connected to a timer or switch, you must enable synchronous remote in CHDK. In the CHDK menu, under Miscellaneous Stuff/Remote Parameters, turn on Enable Remote, Enable Synchable Remote, and Enable Synch.

With this setting, CHDK uses the first signal from the timer to get ready to take the photo (focus, exposure, any other auto stuff) and then takes the photo on the second signal. So the camera shoots on every other signal, and a timer must be set accordingly.

Shutter Priority -- The Canon A495 does not have this option, but CHDK adds it. It allows the camera to set the exposure automatically while keeping the shutter speed high and constant (thus reducing blur). On sunny days, setting the shutter speed at 1/800 second is suggested (the IR camera will require more light and maybe a slower shutter speed, but adjusting ISO or f/stop can keep shutter speed high and help reduce motion blur). To enable shutter priority in the CHDK menu, select Extra Photo Operations/Disable Overides = OFF, then Overide Shutter Speed = 1/800 (or whatever), then Value Factor=1. Generally you should deselect or turn OFF everything else on that menu page.