[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Here's a fun thing to do with a Canon Powershot/Ixus you might have lying around...

hack it! (luckily I happened to have 36 A460's under my desk  )

http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Supercharge_Your_Camera_with_Open-Source_CHDK_Firmware

Not destructive, doesn't touch the main firmware, just loads when you need it from the SD card. Huge amounts of options to be had.

Fancy shooting at 1/40000s? Easy.

Not available on DSLR's currently,

Loads of info here http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

[Bubba]

That's very interesting as I have an Ixus 750 - I'm after the ability to do long exposures at night and this firmware would allow up to 65 seconds

I just need to get an SD card  reader to upload the firmware...

[dave]

That's very interesting as I have an Ixus 750 - I'm after the ability to do long exposures at night and this firmware would allow up to 65 seconds

watch those hotpixels light up like a blackpool front!

I may have a tool about with this on shortie's ixus. histogram on the fly would be handy.

[Bubba]

Hmmm - hotpixels - never knew that tbh but then i've never used a digicam at night.

[dave]

just generally with a long exposure on digital you're going to get a lot of noise, but of course its better than no photo at all. at least you won't have reciprocity to worry about!

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Now running a 'motion sensor' script on a £66 A460. Sweet. Works a treat. Taking pictures of everyone who walks into the office.

[dave]

thats all very well but can you run a usb cable to the ladies bogs?

[dave]

I may have a tool about with this on shortie's ixus. histogram on the fly would be handy.

sucks to be me, looks like the ixus60 ain't hot to trot with this thing.

[underground]

That's very interesting as I have an Ixus 750 - I'm after the ability to do long exposures at night and this firmware would allow up to 65 seconds

I just need to get an SD card  reader to upload the firmware...

Get one from Poundland on t' Moor....

[Bubba]

I've just installed this firmware and had a quick play.

The main thing is that you can now shoot .raw which is great and worth installing just for that.

I had a quick go at auto-bracketing but this didn't seem to work properly....but that's probably something i'm doing wrong.

It's easy to set it up so that the firmware boots automatically.