Some Canon cameras can be hacked with a tool called the Canon Hack Development Kit (http://chdk.wikia.com), which does interesting things like add manual controls and allow scripting. Do similar tools exist for other brands of cameras? HP cameras, in particular?
The chdk project is the only one I've heard of.
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The Pentax K-5 supports only recording video in the MPEG format. Does a firmware update or hack exist that would allow recording in AVCHD?
Are there software hacks for the Pentax DSLRs at all?
Related: Can a Pentax K-5 record more than 4 GB of video with an SDXC card?
Short answer to the basic question: no, there's no hack to do this on the K-5 that I'm aware of (and I've been a Pentax shooter pre-digital).
As to the second, sort of, question: yes, there is some software hacking. The Pentax line does have a debug mode and people are accessing it, details can be found on the Pentax Hack site, though I don't think they've managed to kick the K-5 into this mode.
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I just got a brand spanking new Canon 60D with the Magic Lantern custom firmware, and I love it except for one thing: when you are looking at the images you have taken, and you press the zoom button, it zooms in as far as possible. I assume this is probably 1:1.
When I press the zoom button, how can I get it to zoom to the least amount? I have looked in the manual and I can't find anything.
I’ve never experienced this problem with a 60D. The default behaviour (and the only behaviour I could see mentioned in the manual (page 196) is the exact opposite of what you are experiencing. A single press of the magnify button zooms in one step at a time until it reaches maximum zoom.
Some possible things to try:
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Is it possible to manually update a digital camera's firmware?
Is there any organization or do individual people develop custom firmwares?
I am using Samsung SL30 and that lacks allowing manual control over settings. Is a firmware update possible, or is there any other better way?
Your best bet is to switch to Canon.
I use both and love them. In particular, CHDK gives manual controls to most P&S, and can also shoot raw on those models that only support jpeg.
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There is a way to get a custom firmware for this model that improve the video recording? Especially the autofocus, which is extremely slow.
Maybe there are some other good options in a custom firmware that I don't know of.
I'm not aware of any software to improve the video autofocus performance of the Canon EOS 500D. In general, video recording was added to DSLRs an afterthought (except the Sony Alpha A33, A35), thus the usability generally suffers in comparison to true camcorders / video cameras.
So in light of that, you will have to use the method that all filmmakers live by: focus pulling - in other words, manual focus by hand.
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Does the Nikon D90 have custom firmware? Doing a quick Google search didn't really find anything. And, along similar lines, is the D90 even capable of flashing its firmware? Or are we basically stuck with the stock firmware the camera comes with?
There is no way to change the firmware of Nikon's cameras other than upgrades from Nikon.
For some Canon digital compacts, there's an unsupported project called CHDK that can add certain features to the cameras.
Allowing Random J Hacker to load weird firmware into his expensive camera is a customer support nightmare. For every person who knows what he is doing, there are 10 that will brick their camera, clog support channels, and destroy what already slim margins exist in the camera business.
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I've played with time-lapse photography using my father in law's Canon Rebel, using a USB cable, gphoto2 and an Ubuntu laptop. I want to create similar videos using my own A590 IS, but it cannot be controlled from a USB cable. The only solution I found on the web is firmware enhancement using CHDK.
How safe is CHDK? Is there really a way back? Are versions above 1.xx mature?
Adam
UPDATE: Thanks for all the advice. I've successfully installed CHDK on my SD card and shot my first time-lapse using my A590. Works great!
As you can see right on the main CHDK wiki - "Temporary – No permanent changes are made to the camera." You also can find very detailed information in the FAQ here.
Basically - Yes you are hacking your camera. So things can happen that the original manufacturer did not intend(if this wasn't true, you wouldn't want it anyways). But the chances of any permanent damage to your camera are near 0.
Technically CHDK is not firmware. It does not permanently reside on the camera. You can remove it, and go back to your factory default settings and firmware without any issues. Overall - install away!
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I have a Canon 550D, which I just start learning how to use.
I have read that the Magic Lantern firmware makes the camera better in movie recording.
Does Magic Lantern firmware dramatically change the menus? Will I have difficulty adapting to it if I'm new with this camera?
Will the manual be useless?
Also would installing this firmware make the warranty invalid?
Q: I have read that magic lantern firmware makes the camera better in movie recording.
That depends on what you mean by 'better.' It does add several tools and options that Canon did not include in their firmware by default which are very nice to have for video recording. A partial list of which includes: zebra stripes, onscreen audio meters, cropmark overlays, etc. A complete list of features for the 550D can be perused here...
Q: Does magic lantern firmware change dramatically the menus?
Magic lantern doesn't change anything about the regular camera firmware at all. Rather it adds itself on top of the standard Canon firmware and adds its own menu which is accessed differently (via the Erase button on the 550D)
Q: Will I have difficulty adapting to it if I'm new with this camera.
Only you can really answer this question. I will say, though, that Magic Lantern is firmly in the realm of 'beta' software... Or maybe even 'Alpha' software, depending on the release and the bugs introduced! While it is far more polished today than is was in early 2010 when I started using it, it is still pretty rough around the edges. If you're not comfortable with the fact that Magic Lantern probably won't always work exactly how you expect it to, and that it is an open source project with everyone volunteering (so sometimes months can go by with no forward progress), then Magic Lantern probably won't be for you... At least until it gets more polished.
Q: Will the manual be useless?
Nope. As the Magic Lantern firmware overlays the regular Canon firmware it doesn't remove anything that you would normally have access to in the use of your camera. It doesn't remove anything or alter the operation of any function of the camera, really, just adds new stuff on top...
Q: Also would installing this firmware make the guarantee invalid?
Technically speaking, yes, installing Magic Lantern will void your warranty. However since it is loaded on the fly and is stored on the CF card (it modifies nothing on your camera's system at all... As I said above it is best to think of it as something that is an 'overlay' to your camera's normal firmware), simply taking out the CF card and restarting your camera will return your camera to a state as though it had never had Magic Lantern on it. With this in mind, if you did have a warranty issue, essentially Canon would have no way of knowing whether or not you ever had Magic Lantern installed.
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