I’m gearing up for (update: went on shoot) with Doc Russel Brown after Comic-Con, and I’m seriously considering NOT hiking 15 miles in the desert heat with an entire 5DMkII outfit. This preliminary test is to see how much can be squeezed from a point and shoot.
I bought the Polaroid X530, a 4.5 MP Foveon based camera “broken” on Ebay for $15. Actually they were so cheap I bought two guessing I could fix one with parts from both, but both cameras arrived in perfect working order. I wanted to use the Foveon after reading “The Silicon Eye” by George Gilder. Having started out with an Amiga, I can relate to the pariah aspect of the Sigma chips. Other things going for it: A raw image format, It has a Ricoh lens, and I assume they make better lenses than the Polaroid holding company, even though I know it can’t touch a Canon L – though all lenses have their share of aberrations. The Foveon chip design moots Bayer pattern artifacts (for this level of resolution – I don’t think the Bayer pattern has much of an effect on the 5D2 with a 5.4 micron element size) and the sealed imager means far fewer sensor dirt spots than a DSLR.
The plan: to rewire all of the camera functions to be under Viliv control, so that HDR sequences and other functions can be captured without touching or jostling the camera. Ideally it will be a roadmap to gaining total control of every function on the E-P1 when it arrives.
Wires are run to each button on the camera
This is where I start to wonder why some cameras are not built for hacking. The wires are run to a control harness in the only free space available inside the camera. From there, they will be run to a microcontroller circuit that chats with the Viliv.
Some test images: the X530 saves to a Sigma raw format, and from nine images stacked in HDR software we can get true 32-bit images from a 99 cent camera. (The rest of the cost was for shipping.)
Since some grumpy old coots think being too interested in the “process” makes me a technician, not a photographer, I submit these technographs… remember they’re not photos!
July 16th, 2009 at 10:47 am
[...] is pretty impressive for something he got for 99cents plush shipping. He had all of the buttons wired for external control via a Viliv umpc. As you can see on his site, his results are quite nice. Of coarse, you don’t actually have [...]
July 16th, 2009 at 11:05 am
I’d like to see what it all looked like once you put it all back together. I hike regularly and always carry my Canon 20D. I’d love to find a satisfactory lighter option.
July 16th, 2009 at 11:41 am
The sign should probably read “1864-2009″.
July 16th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I can’t see shit!
July 16th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I gather my monitor is well calibrated. I’ll change the css to Westinghouse mode. (Sorry, I’m kidding, I’ll fix it.)
July 16th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Nice photopraphs…er technographs, but too bad your selection of text and background colors make it difficult to read. I see the last comment promises a change, great, but I already set FireFox to ignore the page author’s selection, to default to black on white.
July 16th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
[...] is pretty impressive for something he got for 99cents plus shipping. He had all of the buttons wired for external control via a Viliv umpc. As you can see on his site, his results are quite nice. Of coarse, you don’t actually have [...]
July 16th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Did you consider one of the cannon powershot A cameras? Using CHDK you can get raw files and run custom scripts (including pre-written scripts for stuff like bracketing / HDR).
The cameras cost more than 99c, but require no modifications (though, modifying is part of the fun).
July 16th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
great work. I have tried a lot of small cameras to replace my rebel xt on risky trips.Recently I’ve been trying to wire an old canon A95 to a microcontroller to automate HDR and panorama. So far I’ve managed to interfaced the trigger buttons, but ended up burning some pcb tracks. I am more of a technographer than photographer myself , but that doesn’t seem to help me complete the project. Ideas like these keep me motivated. Thanks !!
July 16th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
[...] is pretty impressive for something he got for 99cents plus shipping. He had all of the buttons wired for external control via a Viliv umpc. As you can see on his site, his results are quite nice. Of course, you don’t actually have [...]
July 16th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I have two G9’s, using CHDK is like playing music with a 1999 Creative Nomad instead of an iPod. The experience is what makes all the difference, and CHDK is not a fun experience… yet.
July 16th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Ian, you need to read further down in the blog.
July 19th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Vinod,
Look at Adam’s comment right above yours. There is an API for Canon cameras that gives you complete control over them via USB. There’s no need to hack it, just download the API. You might need an older version for your older camera though.