[mayoayo]

Hi all.I just bought a Canon A590IS,for general use,but i would like to use it for digiscoping..any ideas about a shutter release technique,adapters,electronic release etc?....thanks

[ostling41]

With CHDK you will be able to trip the shutter with a USB cable release. You can also shoot RAW with your A570 or A590IS, or set the camera to trip when motion is detected.

It is discussed here: http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/sho...t=super+camera

The link to the downloads is here: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

Almost all Canon Powershot cameras are supported by CHDK.

[mayoayo]

Looks interesting..Anyone using the Canon Hack Development kit????.I hope it does not activates the self-destruction mechanism!!!!
The CHDK page shows the firmwares supported for the A590 .they are the 1.00e and the 1.01b,but my camera shows to run the 1.0.1.0 firmware....I am not sure if this version would be supported...

[mayoayo]

Also,i use Mac,,it seems to be a little complicated to format the card using the Mac platform ...I wonder if i can buy a card with the program downloaded from someone....thanks

[ostling41]

Originally Posted by mayoayo

Also,i use Mac,,it seems to be a little complicated to format the card using the Mac platform ...I wonder if i can buy a card with the program downloaded from someone....thanks

I also use a Mac, so have not installed the software on an SD card. I hesitate to go ahead with the scripted installation for CHDK. This was written for OS X 10.4, and is stated to "probably work on later versions," but I think i will wait until I can find a friend with a Windows machine.

I think you will need a CHDK variation which pertains to your firmware version.

[jmepler]

Mayoayo,

I just downloaded CHDK and have been playing with it on my A570IS which is very similar to your A590IS.

The 1.0.1.0 is not your actual firmware version. What you need to do to find your actual firmware version is to create an empty file on your SD card with the name ver.req and install the card in your camera. Once that is done set your switch to play, rather than shoot. Press and hold the "Func. Set" button and then press the "Disp." button. You should see something like this:

--------------------------
Canon PowerShot A570 IS
P-ID:314C NT V

Firmware Ver GM1.000E
No Error
Jan 12 2007 13:33:40
-------------------------

CHDK has some interesting features, focus bracketing in manual mode for one. I will post again when I have had time to further explore it.

Another option for digiscoping is to use your camera's custom drive mode. Note: this only works if you have a rigid digiscoping set-up which I assume is the case since you asked about shutter release methods. It will not be of any use if you are shooting hand-held.

In "shoot mode" press the "Func. Set" button. Move down to the drive mode menu, it is the third from the top on the A570. Select drive mode "C" for custom and then press the "Menu" button, I believe you press "Disp" on the A590. Now you can set a delay time and a number of shots to take. I usually set my delay for 3-4 seconds to allow the scope to settle once I press the shutter release. The number of shots to take depends on how active your subject is. If you are photographing the moon you would only need to take one exposure. With very active shore birds you may want to take the maximum 10 shots and weed out the bad shots when you get home.

Mike

[wings]

This has been discussed several times (shutter release cable). The shutter release bracket from SRB-Griturn (www.srb-griturn.com) is highly recommended for £19.95

The photo does not show the proper positioning of the cable release pin over the shutter release button. It is adjustable for proper centering.

[mayoayo]

Thanks for all the responses..the shutter bracket was always a possibility,i will probably improvise a simple one at some point,but i wanted to give a try to an electronic or remote shutter.The A590 by default doesnt accept an electronic or remote shutter...maybe i give a try to the Hack program,for the "heck" of it!!..Interestingly i requested the firmare version ,using the blank file in the SD card..It shows the firmware version(GM 1.01B in my camera),but most interesting,Where in most cameras shows the NO ERROR notice,my camera shows an E16(error 16)!!!
I searched for info about this E16 code in Canon compact cameras,and it seems that something could be wrong with the lens!!..for now seems to work ok,but since i just bought it,and i have 30 days warranty,i am returning this unit and getting a new one.
If nothing else,it was cool to get this error code in advance!!!!!!
I will get another A590 and probably give the CHDK a try.....I will keep posting
Thanks

[ostling41]

Since you brought this up, I decided to check the firmware message on my A570. It says E18. It doesn't say "error E18," so when I read this previously it did not occur to me that this meant something might be wrong.

A little searching indicates that the E18 code is perhaps a widespread problem. I am not aware of any operational difficulty, but it does seem that the percentage of in-focus digiscoping shots is not as high as it once was. I don't use this camera much anymore, but I'd like to know more about this E18 code.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

[mayoayo]

My concern is similar,..Although no operational failure is present (yet) i am concern about the level of accuracy of the focus mechanism....I will try another unit,and test it right away using the ver.req file on the memory card..if no error is present,it probably means that my actual unit has something wrong with it.....

[mayoayo]

For what is worth....The error message displayed in the cameras when checking firmware ,are not related with current problems,,The camera displays ALL past errors,.. I think the mentioned lens error is nothing but the Lens shutting the camera off,when can not fully extend while zooming( for instance when mounted against an eyepiece )
This said,I am spending the last feew weeks ,before moving to Spain,at my in-laws home,and I will download CHDK one of these days,and give it a try...

Originally Posted by mayoayo

My concern is similar,..Although no operational failure is present (yet) i am concern about the level of accuracy of the focus mechanism....I will try another unit,and test it right away using the ver.req file on the memory card..if no error is present,it probably means that my actual unit has something wrong with it.....