Index:

01 - Introduction & Camera Specific Notes

02 - Installation
03 - FAQ
04 - Links, Urls
05 - GPL, License
06 - uBASIC copyright notice
************************************
01 - Introduction
Hi,
this is the small readme to CHDK. It provides just enough info to get you rollin
g, for more information use the links in the bottom.
CHDK is a firmware enhancement that operates on a number of Canon Cameras. CHDK
gets loaded into your camera's memory upon bootup (either manually or automatica
lly). It provides additional functionality beyond that currently provided by the
native camera firmware.
CHDK is not a permanent firmware upgrade: you decide how it is loaded (manually
or automatically) and you can always easily remove it.
Main features:
*
*
*
*

Save images in RAW format

Ability to run "Scripts" to automate the camera
Live histogram (RGB, blended, luminance and for each RGB channel)
Zebra mode (blinking highlights and shadows to show over/under exposed are

*
*
*
*
*
*

An "always on" full range Battery indicator

Ability to turn off automatic dark-frame subtraction
a higher compression movie mode, and double the maximum video file size
exposure times as long as 65 seconds
exposure times as little as 1/10,000 of a second
ability to use the USB port for a remote trigger input

as)

Additional features:
*
*
*
*
*

a depth-of-field (DOF)-calculator
File browser
Text reader
Calendar
Some fun tools and games

Why would I want to use CHDK?

* To get Raw file capability on cameras that don't have that ability
* To get the ability to use scripts
* to be able to know the battery status at all times (not just when it's abo

ut to run out of power)

* you want or need any of the other enhancement features that CHDK provides
What are scripts? Scripts are BASIC language programs that give you the ability
to control the operation of the camera under program control. They have been use
d to add or extend the native capability of the camera: more flexible intervalom
eters, extended-range exposure compensation, extended bracketing ability, lightn
ing photography, etc. See the script pages for more details.
S95 NOTES
- S95 hardware and firmware is similar to S90
- Uses DRYOS version 2.3, release #0045
- S95 uses different propset from previous cameras
- S95 uses new fi2 keys
********************************
02 - Installation
To install CHDK on your Canon P&S camera, you need to know the model number and
firmware version of your cameras in order to get the right version of CHDK for
your camera Details on how to determine this can be found here :
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Downloads
Once you have the correct CHDK installation file for your camera, you need to p
repare and load your camera's SD card with CHDK. The best method for doing this
depends on how you intend to use your camera and the date your particular carme
ra was released. Details can be found here :
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Prepare_your_SD_card
Once you have correctly loaded CHDK, you can refer to the following section for
instructions on how to use CHDK.
****************************************
03 - FAQ
1. What is CHDK?
CHDK is not just one thing! The term CHDK refers to free software currently
available for many (but not all) Canon PowerShot compact digital cameras that yo
u can load onto your camera's memory card to give your camera greatly enhanced c
apabilities.
2. Am I likely to be interested in CHDK?
The enhanced capabilities that CHDK provides are most likely to be of intere
st to experienced photographers - if you believe that your Canon PowerShot camer
a already has more features than you will ever need, you probably won't be inter
ested in CHDK.
3. Is CHDK safe to use?
Yes CHDK is experimental and has risks, but with tens of thousands of happy
users it can generally be considered safe. CHDK doesn't make any actual changes
to your camera. If you delete the CHDK software from your memory card, or if you
choose not to activate the CHDK software on the card (or remove and replace the

batteries), then the camera will behave absolutely normally - nothing has been
(or ever is) changed, so the warranty is not affected.
4. How does CHDK work?
CHDK makes use of the microprocessor that controls the camera (every digital
camera contains a microprocessor) to act as a programmable computer that provid
es the extra capabilities.
5. What extra capabilities does CHDK provide?
The current set of extra capabilities fall into six categories:
a. Enhanced ways of recording images - you can capture still pictures in
RAW format (as well as JPEG), and for video images you can have increased recor
ding time and length (1 hour or 2 GB), and a greatly increased range of compress
ion options.
b. Additional data displays on the LCD screen - histogram, battery life
indicator, depth of field, and many more.
c. Additional photographic settings that are not available on the camera
by itself - longer exposure times (up to 65 seconds), faster shutter speeds (1/
25,000 sec, and faster in some cases), automatic bracketing of exposure, etc.
d. The ability for the camera to run programs ('scripts', written in a m
icro-version of the BASIC language) stored on the memory card - these programs a
llow you to set the camera to perform a sequence of operations under the control
of the program. For example, a camera can be programmed to take multiple pictur
es for focus bracketing, or take a picture when it detects that something in the
field of view moves or changes brightness.
e. The ability to take a picture, or start a program on the memory card,
by sending a signal into the USB port - you can use the USB cable to take a pic
ture remotely.
f. The ability to do a number of other more useful (and fun) things, suc
h as act as a mini file browser for the memory card, let you play games on the L
CD screen, etc.
6. What else should I know?
Developers around the world are continuing to add new features to CHDK. Beca
use the idea of using the camera's microprocessor is so flexible, various develo
pers have made different versions of CHDK, and new features continue to be devel
oped - for example, one version of CHDK has features assist in taking stereo pho
tographs, and even allows two cameras to be synchronized to take pictures at the
same time (with an accuracy of better than 0.1 milliseconds, providing they are
the same camera model).
The best place to find out more about CHDK is to follow the CHDK wiki ( http://
chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK ) and CHDK user forum ( http://chdk.setepontos.com/ ).

********************************
04 - URLs, Links
For more information visit the following links:
CHDK Forum :

http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php

CHDK Wiki:
CHDK Wiki FAQ:

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ

CHDK Features :
oduction_To_Using_CHDK
CHDK in Brief :
CHDK User Quick Start Guide :
_Guide.pdf
CHDK User Manual :
CHDK for Dummies :
for Dummies
CHDK Installation Guide :
n_Guide.pdf

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Manual#Intr

One Page Users Guide :

Users_Guide

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/One_Page_Ultra-Quick_

Prepare Your SD Card :

Prepare Your SD Card

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Prepare_your_SD_card]

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_in_Brief
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Quick_Start
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Manual
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_for_Dummies]CHDK
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/File:CHDK_Installatio

*********************************
05 - GPL
/*
* This file is part of CHDK.
* Copyright (C) 2008 The CHDK Team
* CHDK - CHDK Wiki
*
* This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
* it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
* the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
* (at your option) any later version.
*
* This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
* but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
* MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
* GNU General Public License for more details.
*
* You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
* along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
* Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA,
* 02110-1301 USA
*/
*********************************
06 - uBASIC copyright notice
CHDK contains a modified version of Adam Dunkels uBASIC.
The following notice applies to the original uBASIC code:
Copyright (c) 2006, Adam Dunkels
All rights reserved.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without

modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
are met:
1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
3. Neither the name of the author nor the names of its contributors
may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
without specific prior written permission.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGE.