Using a Cannon? Try CHDK to enable lots of extra features for free!

I've mentioned it before, but if you've got a Canon camera, you absolutely must try the CHDK firmware for it.

To get started with CHDK, you just download the CHDK software to an SD card and restart the camera, which then boots the alternative software with extra features. If you don't like it, you can just take the software off the camera. This makes it safe & painless to try it out!

It only works with Point & Shoot cameras at this time, but I know that some of you may be using them for some of your work, and if not it's still very cool.

Here are a few of the main features it adds:

* 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 areas)
* 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

I can imagine these features improving your workflow as you could essentially program into the camera the exact scripts of shots that you do.

Enjoy!