20D Hacks

[TiggerBear]

Love this forum, just discovered it and nice to see so many with similar interests.

I've noticed threads about a hack for the 300D (which I've just sold) and as I love playing with new toys was wondering if there was one for the 20D. Although I confess there are many features on this lovely camera still to be played with.

Whilst asking, should I be modifying the white balance, as most of my lenses are fitted with a skylight filter, as std?

Cheers

[FlyingPete]

I doubt there will be and hacks for the 20D. The 300D was a special circumstance, as it was basically a reduced function 10D, so the firmware reenalbed some of these functions. I don't thing the 20D is a reduced funtion 1D series ;)

The one main thing I think people would want to change would be allowing the ISO to be displayed on the top LCD, or in the viewfinder.

As for the WB and the Skylight (Are you talking the 1A?), if you are using Autowhite balance or custom, no need to worry, in fact I wouldn't worry anyway, at worst in the preset white balances the images will be ever so slightly warmer. Afterall people didn't really worry about it with film.

[TiggerBear]

Thanks for the tips.

Cheers

[ScottK]

According to posts at the Canon DigiCam Hacking group at yahoo, it seems that nobody's been able decrypt the 20D's firmware so far. My guess would be Canon tightened their grip on it after the 300D hacking got started. And the 300D hacking also seems to have come to the end of its road - the original hacker seems to have "disappeared" (isn't answering e-mail or posting any updates - maybe a cease-and-decist from Canon?), and there haven't been any new hacks in a few months. (But I'm a few weeks behind on the posts there, so its possible both the above have changed recently...)

Either way, if any hacks come up, you'll probably hear about them there early, if not first. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canondigicamhacking/

[tim]

What would you want the 20D hack to do? It seems to work fine as it is to me, it's not crippled in any way I know about.

[Persian-Rice]

Umm, what were you planning on hacking the 20D to? It's never gonna come close to a 1 series and it's already the best of the consumer level stuff.............

[tommykjensen]

What would you want the 20D hack to do? It seems to work fine as it is to me, it's not crippled in any way I know about.

Well those that are interested in hacks want to turn the 20D into a 1ds MK II without actually going out selling the 20D and buy the 1 ds MK II.

[Persian-Rice]

Well those that are interested in hacks want to turn the 20D into a 1ds MK II without actually going out selling the 20D and buy the 1 ds MK II.

LOL, the sensor magically becomes bigger and the AF system magically changes. Oh, if you leave the camera in the fridge overnight, it will grow a battery grip too.

Lets not exaggerate here, they can easily turn it into a 1D MKII with some minor setting changes.:rolleyes:

[cactusclay]

I have to say, that it would be nice if I could answer my cell phone on the 20d.

[tommykjensen]

Can You make up Your mind?


It's never gonna come close to a 1 series and it's already the best of the consumer level stuff.............


Lets not exaggerate here, they can easily turn it into a 1D MKII with some minor setting changes.:rolleyes:

[FlyingPete]

Umm, what were you planning on hacking the 20D to? It's never gonna come close to a 1 series and it's already the best of the consumer level stuff.............

Actually a hack is availalbe, you take your 20D into a camera shop (most of them are aware of this 'hack'), handover your 20D, and they will give you back a 1 series.

There is a charge though, a couple of grand ;)

[drisley]

Can You make up Your mind?

Of course he can. Or maybe he can't...

[Jesper]

I've read somewhere that somebody was looking "for the 20D firmware hack to allow ISO 50", but I don't think that hack really exists.

[mbze430]

I can think of a few things they could improve. 1) instead of forcing me to get a new folder every 100 shots. 2) Speed up the Long exposure noise reduction. 3) ability to turn off sharpening completely. 4) ability to change the top LED amber light duration. 5) Give me a 50 ISO! I am sure there are a few other things, but it's late at night...can't remember I think it has to do with AE and FEL...

[drisley]

Curious. Why would you want ISO50 when the noise is so low and the camera allows a shutter speed of 1/8000 sec?
I think the idea of not making a new folder every 100 shots would be nice though.
As far as turning of sharpening completely, there is that option, it's called RAW ;)

[mbze430]

I think in studio controlled condition, the ISO50 would be the most beneficial. Smoother tone.

As for RAW, it depends on the workflow. If using DPP and EOS Viewer, it is aware of Parameter settings. The easiest way to tell is to take 2 pictures with -2 Saturation and +2 Saturatoin and view it in EOS Viewer or DPP.

However if you go third party, like Bibble, it ignores it. Either the software doens't know how to interpret it, or by design....

[mbze430]

I just checked Phase One Capture One Pro v3.6, and it also ignores it.

[drisley]

I think in studio controlled condition, the ISO50 would be the most beneficial. Smoother tone.
Hmmm that would be interesting, but I can't see it making enough of a difference to be a big deal.

[karusel]

The only way I see a hack for a 20D would be useful is that it would enable the user to, well, customize everything. Although I do not imagine what in particular that might be. Regarding ISO's, if the camera was able to do ISO 50, what would be the reason Canon wouldn't offer that?

[mbze430]

marketing reasons. the 1D have the ISO50, so by including it...they might think it is a cross over to their 1D line.

[roanjohn]

............ the original hacker seems to have "disappeared" (isn't answering e-mail or posting any updates - maybe a cease-and-decist from Canon.................../ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canondigicamhacking/)

He is working hard on hacking the Canon Rebel EOS 350D. :D :D :D

Seriously though, if somebody can hack the 20D so that all focus points becomes a "Cross-hair type" focus - that would just be AWESOME!!!

Ro1

[Persian-Rice]

He is working hard on hacking the Canon Rebel EOS 350D. :D :D :D

Seriously though, if somebody can hack the 20D so that all focus points becomes a "Cross-hair type" focus - that would just be AWESOME!!!

Ro1

You might want to take the lens off and take a look at the focusing screen.

Tommy, my second comment was sarcastic.

ISO 100 performance is very very good on all dSLRs. Pretty much the same for all of them. ISO 50?? not sure if it will make much a differnce.............nevertheless, it's good for those ultra bright conditions, and I guess complete insurance against noise wont hurt anyone.

[Jesper]

ISO 50 might not be as interesting as you think: in the 1-series DSLR's, the dynamic range is reduced when you use ISO 50. Like ISO 3200 on the 10D, you must set ISO expansion on in the menu before you can set the ISO to 50.

ISO 100 is already completely noise free on the 20D, so "smoother tone" wouldn't really be a reason to have ISO 50, IMO.

[illmatik53]

personally, i would like to see a hack to increase the ISO increments to 1/3's. that would be really nice. that way you could really get better control of your low light shooting. sometimes 1600 make the Tv minimum too fast but 800 makes the Tv minimum too slow, know what i mean? does that make sense? anyhow, just my opinion. i could understand paying the extra money for the 30D's larger screen though, because that costs more physical materials. But if the ISO increments was just a matter of firmware/software change, i don't see why the 20D users should be privy to this enhancement. Even if canon sold the upgrade online for like $50.00 or what not, I'm sure that many 20D owners would gladly purchase the upgrade.

[Jaymz]

I would like the 1/3 increment ISO, if it could be done by firmware upgrade alone, I would gladly pay for a upgrade.

[Lotto]

One hack I would really like to see on the 20D is to have FEL when CF4-1, like using the focus point selection button.

[mbellot]

I would like the 1/3 increment ISO, if it could be done by firmware upgrade alone, I would gladly pay for a upgrade.
Totally possible since the 20D already supports 1/3 ISO increments in the "Basic" modes. See this post (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1485971&postcount=6) in this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=167368).

Just don't hold your breath, Canon doesn't seem to be too interested in adding any new features to their firmware.

[Wilt]

Curious. Why would you want ISO50 when the noise is so low and the camera allows a shutter speed of 1/8000 sec?
;)

How about when you want to open up the aperture for limiting DOF, yet you also want to use a slower shutter speed in order to capture the sense of motion (water flowing down stream, for example).

Ask anyone who shot a lot of Fuji Velvia slide film!

[SR071]

I'd like a hack that works like the old program called 'Stacker' - for those of us born in/before the 1970's - Stacker was a program which 'doubled' your hard disk space. This was important when we only had 20 meg hard disks...anyhow....I digress.

A stacker hack for the 20D to turn 8.2MP to 16.4MP would be excellent! :)

I think it's a red wire/blue wire hack - I just haven't been able to find that blue wire.... D'oh!

[illmatik53]

well, what about those cameras that came out claiming they had 6.0mp when we were only at 3.2mp.. and like it was 6.0mp combined or something like that. i don't quite remember what it was called, and it didn't really catch on. it was weird though that's for sure.

16.4mp would be a nice up for the 20D, but improbable. 1D market would plummet! canon would take a big hit I'd think.

[POD77]

I'd love a hack that could make more time available for taking photos! :P

[mbellot]

well, what about those cameras that came out claiming they had 6.0mp when we were only at 3.2mp..


The Fuji SuperCCD.

[bonzaisushi]

Umm, what were you planning on hacking the 20D to? It's never gonna come close to a 1 series and it's already the best of the consumer level stuff.............

iso -100, and i want their to be a weather seal hack:lol:

[MrChad]

Is ISO50 really even needed on the 1D or do they simply include it for that small group of pro's that loved shooting ISO50 slide film and have notebooks full of exposure techniques they remember using back in the day when you could still easily find ISO 50 slide films...

[Doom1701e]

I have a hack on my 20D! Now the camera makes cheese fries while I shoot! Freakin awsome! :-P

[Halliday]

I want a "good photo button" hack!

[whereismykit]

I would love for the 20D to have one folder for all my photos.

[kross]

i want spot metering......:rolleyes:

[FSALESI]

I want the "see-through-clothing" hack :)

[mbellot]

I want the "see-through-clothing" hack :)

Then anyone could be a glamour/nude photog! :D

[illmatik53]

umm i was told that there is a lens that can do that. from a camera guy from Wolf camera. he said it is a couple thousand dollars though and is pretty darned difficult to get one. *shrug. whether truth or not, i think that it is feasible.

[mbellot]

from a camera guy from Wolf camera.

Simply take the opposite of whatever such a person says and you will find a much more accurate expression of reality.


BTW - Did he happen to mention it was a Quantray brand lens? :lol:

[JaertX]

come on now...cheese fries? You tell a fat guy you're camera can make cheese fries and now I'm all excited!

um...where can I get that option?

[My Porsche]

why dont they just make a hack that increases your wife's sex drive, makes her prettier, pays your bills, gets you a new car, increases the size of your house, helps your children get better grades, be better at sports and get college scholarships for sports.

its not gonna happen :p

just be happy with your 20d and quit complaining...(now for the sarcastic idealistic speech) children are STARVING in Africa and you're complaining that you dont have ISO50? You should be ashamed. :D

[illmatik53]

he said it was a lens used in the medical industry for their x ray machines. Could you imagine shooting radiation at someone, that would be crazy. LOL.