1 Student Hands On Training I (2009) Camera Firmware Modifications Camera Firmware Modifications

2 -The following instructions will walk you through the steps needed to change the firmware on this camera to take pictures automatically during the flight Canon A590 IS Mods:

3 -The CHDK code was originally written by Rick von Glahn from Edge of Space Sciences (EOSS) -These steps are performed with the camera modified to turn on and off with a external switch or AVR microcontroller -The steps to modify the hardware of the camera are contained in a different presentation Canon A590 IS Mods:

4 -This mod uses CHDK to add autonomy to a digital camera without the use of a timing circuit or further modifications to the camera -CHDK is firmware enhancement -CHDK = Canon Hack Development Kit -It only works with Canon digital cameras -Please see the following website for much more information Canon A590 IS Mods:

5 -Take your camera out of the box Canon A590 IS Mods:

6 -Insert the batteries Canon A590 IS Mods:

7 - Turn on camera by touching two wires together Canon A590 IS Mods:

8 - Set the date and time - Power off the camera by touching the two wires together again Canon A590 IS Mods:

9 -Insert SD card and close battery cover (not all SD cards support this mod) Canon A590 IS Mods:

10 -Set Camera to “AV” mode -“AV” = Aperture Priority Canon A590 IS Mods:

11 -Turn on camera by touching two wires together Canon A590 IS Mods:

12 -Make sure the switch is on “play” Canon A590 IS Mods:

13 -Press the “MENU” button and format the card – Use the “Low Level Format” setting Canon A590 IS Mods: 1. 2.

14 Canon A590 IS Mods: -Press the “MENU” button and format the card – Use the “Low Level Format” setting 3. 4.

15 Canon A590 IS Mods: -Press the “MENU” button and format the card – Use the “Low Level Format” setting 5.

16 -Power off camera and remove the SD Card Canon A590 IS Mods:

17 -Connect the SD card to your computer Canon A590 IS Mods: 1. 2.

18 -The files we are going to copy to the SD card contain a script (macro) that will take pictures throughout the flight after an initial boot up. Canon A590 IS Mods:

19 -Open the “CU_SGC_Interval.bas” file with text editor Canon A590 IS Mods: 1.

20 Canon A590 IS Mods: Open the “CU_SGC_Interval.bas” file with text editor

21 Canon A590 IS Mods: -Open the “CU_SGC_Interval.bas” file with text editor

22 Canon A590 IS Mods: -Open the “CU_SGC_Interval.bas” file with text editor

23 -Copy the CHDK folder structure and files to the SD card Canon A590 IS Mods:

24 -Make sure the switch is on “play” Canon A590 IS Mods:

25 -Insert SD card and power the camera on. Canon A590 IS Mods:

26 -Press the “MENU” button and press the left on the circle button until the “play” symbol is highlighted Canon A590 IS Mods:

27 -Press up button and highlight “Firm Update” Canon A590 IS Mods:

28 -Select “OK” and press “SET” Canon A590 IS Mods:

29 -Camera should now be running the CHDK firmware. Canon A590 IS Mods:

30 -Press the printer button to access CHDK firmware Canon A590 IS Mods:

31 - should be in the bottom of the screen Canon A590 IS Mods:

32 -With on the screen, press the MENU button Canon A590 IS Mods:

33 -Scroll down to “Miscellaneous stuff” Canon A590 IS Mods:

34 -Scroll down to “Make card bootable” and press “FUNC. SET” – Nothing will happen. Canon A590 IS Mods:

35 -Scroll down to “Back” and press “FUNC. SET” Canon A590 IS Mods:

36 -Select “Scripting parameters”- press “FUNC. SET” Canon A590 IS Mods:

37 -Select “Load script from file”- press “FUNC. SET” Canon A590 IS Mods:

38 -Select “CU_SGC~1.BAS”- press “FUNC. SET” Canon A590 IS Mods:

39 -Should now see CU Intervals at middle of screen Canon A590 IS Mods:

40 -Select and turn on “Script Autostart” You must press “FUNC. SET” for settings to save Canon A590 IS Mods:

41 -Scroll down and select “Back” Canon A590 IS Mods:

42 -Press “MENU” and power off camera Canon A590 IS Mods:

43 -Press “MENU” and power off camera Canon A590 IS Mods:

44 -Remove the SD card and slide switch to “LOCKED” Canon A590 IS Mods: Even though the card is in the “LOCKED” position it will be able to be written to via the CHDK firmware.

45 Canon A590 IS Mods: -Insert locked SD card and make sure the camera is in “RECORD” mode

46 -Power on the camera - “CU Intervals” and the “ ” should be visible -Script should be running Canon A590 IS Mods:

47 -It will go through a series of camera setting changes which will take about 60 seconds -Then the camera will begin to take pictures every 10 seconds for the first 30 minutes (~180 pictures) -Then the camera will begin to take pictures every 30 seconds for 86 minutes (~172 pictures) -Then the camera will begin to take pictures every 10 seconds for 15 minutes (~90 pictures) -Total of ~442 pictures (2GB can hold ~ 566 pictures) Canon A590 IS Mods:

48 -You can turn the camera off anytime. -If you wish to stop the script during execution just press the shutter release button and that will interrupt the execution of the script -Press the print button to gain control of the camera without having to remove the card Canon A590 IS Mods:

49 -After the pushing the shutter, you must push the print button to have normal camera control Canon A590 IS Mods:

50 -This is handy if you want to review photos, or do something else without the script running. -To restart the script push the print button again followed by the print button Canon A590 IS Mods:

51 -Remember, any setting you might make to the camera will be restored to factory default settings next time the script runs as that is the first action the script takes - Once you interrupt a script it must be re-run from the beginning you can not PAUSE a script and RESUME it Canon A590 IS Mods:

52 -You can modify your code without reloading the firmware -You could modify the timing to get more or less pictures but you should test before flight. Canon A590 IS Mods:

53 -Power off camera -Remove SD Card -Unlock SD Card -Open CHDK/Scripts/CU_SGC_Interval.bas -Scroll down to end of code and change b to Save Canon A590 IS Mods:

54 - Remove SD card and lock -Insert SD card into the camera and power on -You can also “rem” out pieces of the set up or other functions but test first - You can’t speed things up too much however. Be careful. Canon A590 IS Mods:

55 Student Hands On Training I (2009) Questions?