Two Camera/One Switch Solution (Finally)
Posted: 04 Oct 2010, 10:59
If you are a Newbie, or a not-so-Newbie, you might want to check out this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fvdk3d/ Frans Van de Kamp builds these switches to your specs (RE: cord length, switch style). While the "Reetz Switch" is ergonomically your best choice, it may not be as readily available as the FVDK switches are. Below is an informative email he sent me when I first contacted him about ordering one of his switches for my two Powershot A1000 IS's. (Great info in here, especially for a Newbie like myself):
My remote switches work with every Canon Compact camera as long as they use the CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) or SDM (Stereo Data Maker) firmware enhancement.
I assume that you already know what CHDK or SDM is but if not, you can read all about it on
CHDK: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK
SDM: http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/index.htm
The remote control option is not something that is supported by the native Canon firmware but one of the functions that has been added by the enhanced firmware. Neither CHDK or SDM is a permanent firmware update but a small program that loads from the SD Card when the camera is switched on and at that moment it gives the camera all kind of extra functions which normally would not be available.
For a book scanning project, I would certainly recommend SDM as it is easier to use and because it originally is developed for stereo photography, it is tuned for but not limited to using two cameras simultaneously. On the SDM site you will also find a link (http://www.diybookscanner.org/) to Danial Reetz book scanner which also uses SDM.
The A1000 cameras are supported by SDM and they will work with my remotes as soon as SDM is installed on the cards without the need to make any additional menu settings. So although SDM offers a lot of enhanced functionality, it is not needed to learn all of them in order to use the remote.
If you decide to use SDM, you will have to download the "Common Files" zip file as well as the camera specific firmware version.
Both ZIP files should be extracted to the same folder on your hard drive and than the SD Cards can be prepared by running the sdminste.exe program.
In order for the software to be loaded by the camera, it is important that you lock the cards before putting them in the camera.
The lock switch is not a physical protection but it's setting is recognized by the camera firmware. The standard Canon firmware would normally refuse to write to the card when it is locked but the enhanced firmware uses this functionality to load the program into the cameras memory and it will write to the card as if it were unlocked.
Should you want to order one of my remotes, then please make a PayPal payment to fransvandekamp (atsign) gmail (dot) com. [Best to check his page for pricing and send him an email for your specific order and final pricing - his prices are VERY reasonable.]
The remote (with two cables) will be made to your specifications so you can decide how long you want the cables to be as well as the orientation you would like for the plugs.
The standard remote will look like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fvdk3d/470 ... 151791739/
But you can of course also opt for one of the larger versions.
And on this picture you can see what the possibilities are for the orientation of the plugs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fvdk3d/470 ... 151791739/
Frans
I should receive mine in the mail this week. I'll update this post after I connect it and try it out.
Philip
Reply to this post or PM if you have any questions.
My remote switches work with every Canon Compact camera as long as they use the CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) or SDM (Stereo Data Maker) firmware enhancement.
I assume that you already know what CHDK or SDM is but if not, you can read all about it on
CHDK: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK
SDM: http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/index.htm
The remote control option is not something that is supported by the native Canon firmware but one of the functions that has been added by the enhanced firmware. Neither CHDK or SDM is a permanent firmware update but a small program that loads from the SD Card when the camera is switched on and at that moment it gives the camera all kind of extra functions which normally would not be available.
For a book scanning project, I would certainly recommend SDM as it is easier to use and because it originally is developed for stereo photography, it is tuned for but not limited to using two cameras simultaneously. On the SDM site you will also find a link (http://www.diybookscanner.org/) to Danial Reetz book scanner which also uses SDM.
The A1000 cameras are supported by SDM and they will work with my remotes as soon as SDM is installed on the cards without the need to make any additional menu settings. So although SDM offers a lot of enhanced functionality, it is not needed to learn all of them in order to use the remote.
If you decide to use SDM, you will have to download the "Common Files" zip file as well as the camera specific firmware version.
Both ZIP files should be extracted to the same folder on your hard drive and than the SD Cards can be prepared by running the sdminste.exe program.
In order for the software to be loaded by the camera, it is important that you lock the cards before putting them in the camera.
The lock switch is not a physical protection but it's setting is recognized by the camera firmware. The standard Canon firmware would normally refuse to write to the card when it is locked but the enhanced firmware uses this functionality to load the program into the cameras memory and it will write to the card as if it were unlocked.
Should you want to order one of my remotes, then please make a PayPal payment to fransvandekamp (atsign) gmail (dot) com. [Best to check his page for pricing and send him an email for your specific order and final pricing - his prices are VERY reasonable.]
The remote (with two cables) will be made to your specifications so you can decide how long you want the cables to be as well as the orientation you would like for the plugs.
The standard remote will look like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fvdk3d/470 ... 151791739/
But you can of course also opt for one of the larger versions.
And on this picture you can see what the possibilities are for the orientation of the plugs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fvdk3d/470 ... 151791739/
Frans
I should receive mine in the mail this week. I'll update this post after I connect it and try it out.
Philip
Reply to this post or PM if you have any questions.