CHDK test video on a Canon Powershot SX120

The beta version of the CHDK that I used for this video can be found at:
http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=4284.msg57754#msg57754

The CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) is installed on an SD card and overrides the camera firmware, enabling access to options that are normally disabled.
This video demonstrates the optical zoom and auto-focusing during video recording. Video resolution was set to 320x240 to get more time on the 128MB card that I installed the hack on. The SX120 is pretty noisy, so no wonder Canon chose to disable zooming during videos in the default firmware.

If you have a Canon camera and want to know if there's a CHDK available for your model, visit http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK for more info.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Quackshot
• Canon
• Powershot
• SX120
• CHDK
• Camera
• Zoom
• Auto-Focus
• Ducks

[MrCrgl]

where did you get the CHDK for SX120 ? Wikia doesnt have a version for that camera. mine is an SX130

[CrestfallenXYU]

@MrCrgl I found it by searching in the CHDK forum. It's a beta version. There's still no "official" SX120 release yet, as far as I know.

[MrCrgl]

@CrestfallenXYU  Is there any benefit from using the CHDK in normal video mode ?

[CrestfallenXYU]

@MrCrgl The main benefit is the ability to use optical zoom and continuous auto focusing while capturing video (not possible with the default SX120 firmware).

[CrestfallenXYU]

@prophethaa A shame writing isn't your strong point. Whatever "parkson" is, I don't have it.

[yorgle11]

The SX130 allows optical zoom while recording, but Canon's way of alleviating the noise was to make it zoom very slowly in that mode. It's a much milder buzz as a result.

I doubt there's any mechanical difference that makes it quieter, I think it's just a result of the speed difference programmed in the firmware.

CHDK should maybe use that slow-zoom tweak for the SX120. If it were to zoom as slowly as the SX130 does, I bet the motor buzz would end up the same as it is on the 130.

[youarentpsherman]

i went to install the cdhk on my canon sx120 but im really confused, nothing is making sense :/

[MrCrgl]

@CrestfallenXYU ok, I already have those features in the SX130, so no advantage for me on that aspect. Ive heard someone said that you can increase the bit rate of the videos (increasing the quality), is this true ?

[CrestfallenXYU]

@quickymgee Thanks for the tip, I'll try that sometime.

[quickymgee]

@CrestfallenXYU I'm not sure if you already figured it out but you can set it to save in DNG format that's more compatible with software

[CrestfallenXYU]

@feryxxx Yeah, all the new settings can be a bit much at first! I haven't really played around with too many of the options. I activated optical zooming and auto focusing to enhance the video mode, that was the main reason I installed it. :)

I did also try the RAW file capture mode, but the files it created were not compatible with my software.