Canon firmware hack unlocks features on DIGIC II-based cameras

This hack has been floating around the internets for a little while now, but it looks like Canon users have just recently begun to catch on to its charms, and its fairly significant benefits. For those not up to speed, the so-called CHDK firmware hack promises to unlock several advanced features of Canon's DIGIC II processor, not the least of which is support for RAW shooting, something normally reserved for higher-end cameras. Other hidden features including a live histogram, a "Zebra mode," a DOF calculator, and even a calendar, text reader, and games, among other things. While the hack should work with any DIGIC II-based camera "in theory," there's apparently only eight cameras that are officially supported, including the A610, A620, A630, A640, A700, A710, S2 IS, and the S3 IS. Of course, as with any firmware hack, you should proceed at your own risk, but those daring enough can find all the information they need by hitting up the read link below.

[Via Gadget Lab]

[TK @ Sep 11th 2007 1:13PM]

Yeah get some!

[Brian @ Sep 11th 2007 1:22PM]

I'm very tempted to try this with my S3 IS, but I also fear it becoming a paperweight...

[Ben @ Sep 11th 2007 1:38PM]

Actually, if you look at the FAQ, you have no danger, as it is basically "hot loaded" whenever you want, ie. the "real" firmware isn't ever erased, you just overload the new features on powerup. There is also a hack to make it "autoload" every time you turn on the camera -- but, if you don't like it, just stop loading it, and your camera isn't changed.

[BoxOfSnoo @ Sep 11th 2007 3:53PM]

I ran it on my S3IS - as others have pointed out, it does not flash firmware (despite the official looking confirmation screen). The only warning I saw that could lead to camera damage was the zoom bracketing script.

The HDR features look stunning: http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK/uBASIC/Scripts:_HDR_with_stacking

[paloooz @ Sep 11th 2007 1:29PM]

Firmware replacement - here I come. If I brick my A620, then whatever. I still have a Nikon D80.

[AesirX @ Sep 11th 2007 1:32PM]

I've done this with my A620, very nice mod/hack. Also, it doesn't permanently flash your camera, its just loaded dynamically, so there's practically no chance of your camera getting damaged.

[John Stracke @ Sep 11th 2007 1:37PM]

According to the CHDK Wiki, the hack doesn't actually modify your firmware; it just patches the code running in RAM. This way, they say, it shouldn't be able to brick the camera.

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 11th 2007 1:40PM]

Bummer my A540 doesn't cut it.

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Sep 11th 2007 1:47PM]

Darn, I don't own it!
I wish cameras were hacked more often :(

The Cybershot s650, for example, has quite a lot missing that could be added by a nicer firmware.

[Steve D. @ Sep 11th 2007 2:00PM]

Wow that was painless! Just loaded on my S3 IS, took less then 3 seconds to load.

Now a LOT of extra stuff is up for use, though you have to load it up every time you boot up your camera though, which can be done automatically.

Finally... RAW support.

[allaina @ Sep 11th 2007 2:24PM]

i can just see all those amateur photographers missing special moments.

(thanks, doom...)

[Peppie @ Sep 11th 2007 2:41PM]

I guess this means that people can start loading classic games on there.
Officer Brown "Kid, are you in the bushes taking pictures of that supermodel undressing?"
Me "No, I'm playing doom on my camera."

[Mike @ Sep 11th 2007 2:51PM]

Wish I could get a firmware hack for my Kodak 6490 to take RAW pictures instead of the JPGs it does. Oh well.

[dizzie @ Jan 31st 2008 10:04AM]

me too!!!

[Dan @ Sep 11th 2007 2:57PM]

Hilarious that a feature as great as RAW would be hidden by Canon. Sales would actually have increased for these models if these features were available and advertised. S3IS with Raw is drool worthy!

[zed @ Sep 11th 2007 3:29PM]

13 comments and I can't find DOOM!Is everybody OK?

[luidabruin @ Sep 11th 2007 4:08PM]

thats cause you can't read!!!
DOOM is actually mentioned twice before your comment

[zed @ Sep 11th 2007 4:32PM]

OK,it's me then!I was actually scared for the end of "THE DOOM" comments!

[Shaocaholica @ Sep 11th 2007 4:08PM]

Couldn't find this on the wiki but can you preview the raw files on the camera after they are shot?

[BoxOfSnoo @ Sep 11th 2007 4:37PM]

I only tested one shot, but I wanted to see what it could do.

Techically; no, however it stores a RAW and a JPG of the same shot, so it shows you the JPG version.

[Shaocaholica @ Sep 11th 2007 6:33PM]

Thanks for the info. So in RAW mode, how slow is the camera shot-to-shot as compared to regular jpeg mode? Does it spend forever writing the RAW file?

[Michael Geary @ Sep 11th 2007 7:12PM]

My A610 takes about two seconds to save a RAW image, compared with maybe a quarter second for highest quality JPEG, on a 150x Transcend card.

[Shaocaholica @ Sep 11th 2007 8:12PM]

Well that sucks a little but I wasn't expecting any better.

[Jeffrey A. Katz @ Sep 11th 2007 4:19PM]

Anyone have a mod / hack similar to this that works on the S5 IS as well?

[loren @ Sep 11th 2007 4:45PM]

Just upgraded my A620 - took a few minutes though. You need to check the firmware version of your camera first to make sure it's compatible with the hack. I had to upgrade mine, but afterwards the hack works great - this is the first time I've played around with RAW files!

[TK @ Sep 11th 2007 5:24PM]

Wow... I can see a surge in resale value for these risk-free, easily hackable digicams.

[ELQ @ Sep 11th 2007 5:28PM]

Here are my tests with my A700 with RAW and JPEG:
http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/09/11/raw-support-on-my-canon-a700/

[artifex @ Sep 11th 2007 5:37PM]

You should also read the article over at http://www.linux.com/feature/118946, which is what gadget labs' source sources. It's the most informative. And yes, I'm about to buy a camera based on this. Thanks.

[blarvh @ Sep 11th 2007 5:38PM]

I don't know which is more exciting, free energy from saltwater... or this!

At last a gadget I own gets hacked!

[Bert @ Sep 11th 2007 7:17PM]

I have run this for a while on my 710. Works great! The live histogram is a saviour when shooting in manual. The scripting is fun too. RAW is nice but I find that 1) it slows shooting down since it writes the .JPG ***AND*** the .CRW (yes, I use high speed SDs (120X)) and 2) shooting in RAW kills the battery, at least for me.

There haven't been any updates in a while.

[firebat45 @ Sep 11th 2007 8:45PM]

I've been using this for months (saw it on Hack-a-day). Works great, my favorite feature is the intervalometer and battery meter. IIRC, you can shoot in exclusively RAW, and review them afterwards as well. I don't use RAW very often, I tend to shoot in high speed continuous quite often, and RAW does slow it down. In JPEG I can get a solid 2.5-3fps out of my S2-IS, and in RAW, it's more like 1-2fps. Still respectable, but JPEG is faster.

The focal length calculator is nice too, and so is the text reader. Considering this is actually just something loaded on your flash card, not your camera (the camera just boots the hack off the card), I don't see a reason not to use it.

[Shaun @ Sep 11th 2007 8:50PM]

w00t! Might give this a try on my A710 IS. Not really interested in the RAW functionality but the other things sound interesting. Any hacks out there to compress the video to DivX on the fly? Now thats something I would definately find useful!

[Scott_t @ Sep 11th 2007 9:28PM]

I'd like a hack that fixes the auto focus in my S2. Its craptacular.

[DF @ Sep 11th 2007 9:41PM]

This shows how Canon is not concerned about giving the customer what they need or desire.

Hope someone finds the same fix for the S5-IS. I have waited 6 years for someone to have a real advancement over the Olympus 2100UZ. The S5-IS unlocked would finally totally make it.

[endless @ Sep 11th 2007 11:09PM]

I think the A630 is probably the best choice out of all of these.

All of the other cameras that I know of in that family (minus the other A6XX models) are based on the smaller 1/2.5" chip, where the A6XXs have the 1/1.8" chip.


i hope this progresses to the digic 3 chips, so they can hack the G7. hotshoes rule

[Joseph @ Sep 12th 2007 10:52PM]

Awesome, got the download, now to get this going on my S2

[Ron @ Sep 20th 2007 9:32PM]

Hi. I recently acquired a Canon A630. I need remote capture function. This model does not support remote capture however the A620 and A640 do support remote capture. Anyone know of a fix for this model? Any firmware upgrade for remote capture? Thanks, Ron

[tigerywt @ Nov 19th 2007 10:56AM]

i like .

[Kevin England @ Nov 20th 2007 3:49AM]

I checked the firmware version on my A630, and it comes back "1.0.0.0," yet teh wiki pages says this is NOT the version. I created the text file, but I don't know where to proceed from here. Any ideas? What have other A630 users done?

[AndrewP @ Apr 19th 2008 4:33PM]

urdoinitrong

[stub @ Jun 9th 2008 12:49PM]

CHDK for Canon S5 IS with timestamp, RAW patch bad pixel methods etc. features here
http://canons5is.clan.su

[Snatcher @ Jul 7th 2008 6:22PM]

Worked great on my S2.