1
1 Introduction
On Sept. 2, 2009, a group of MIT students launched a balloon with a digital
camera into near space to take photographs of the earth (http://
space.1337arts.com). Five hours later, the camera returned from the flight,
having reached a height of 17.5 miles. All of the equipment was put to-
gether from off-the-shelf components (balloon, parachute, camera, GPS
tracker, etc.) and did not cost more than $150. Several missions similar to
this one had been completed before by other groups, but not at such a low
cost. For example, in 2008, an Italian group launched a digital camera into
space taking both photos and videos (http://www.francescobonomi.it/
ICBNN).
Both projects used Canon compact cameras for taking pictures. The MIT
students used a Canon A470, the Italian group a Digital Elph SD 1100 IS (Ixus
80 IS). In addition, both cameras were equipped with the CHDK, the Canon
Hack Development Kit. Despite its intimidating name, the CHDK is a ready-
to-run piece of software that can be installed on the camera’s memory card
and that enhances the camera with many new features. In the above-
mentioned space missions, the CHDK determined when to begin shooting
and in what intervals. In the case of the SD 1100 IS, the CHDK also ran a
shutter priority exposure program that the camera normally does not offer.
These are only a few tricks that the CHDK has up its sleeve. RAW shoot-
ing, live histograms, remote control, ultrashort and ultralong exposure
times, time-lapsing, motion detection, exposure and focus bracketing,
camera automation with scripts, and, and, and… More than a few high-
priced DSLRs would be proud to have such features. No wonder the CHDK
has hit the columns of nearly every photography-related magazine and
e-zine around the world.
Today, the CHDK can be regarded as a mature product that is robust
enough for the most demanding missions. It is available in many languages.
The documentation, too, such as manuals and tutorials, is rapidly improving.
There is a lively online community at http://chdk.setepontos.com/.
How this book is organized
We start with an introduction to Canon compact cameras and the operat-
ing systems they use. An introduction to the CHDK—what it is and why
you should use it—completes chapter 2.
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