Canon Digital Rebel Hacked Into A Pseudo-10D

"Now, a new hack that restores a previously hidden menu along with a few additional tricks has added nearly all of those 10D features to the Rebel, with an arguably superior user interface to boot."

- http://slashdot.org …l?tid=137&tid=1​64&tid=185

crazy ... Id save that $500 and just get the Rebel. Why do companies do this? Why cant they just make 2 different products, is it so hard?

excuse me if this has been posted before...

It's not hard... but it's a LOT cheaper to produce two identical hardware devices and then limit the "lower end" product in software.

I think it's interesting that someone took the time to figure this out. Howver, this is akin to using bootlegged software and I certainly wouldn't support that.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall the first time someone running the hack takes their camera to a Canon service center.

Apparently that already has happened and on dpreview there are people saying Canon does not care they just service the 300D anyway.

i've always been scared to attempt any hacked software for my 300d. Ive found several different packages in the short time I have had my camera and they have all come very highly recommended by people who seem to know more than i do. I know that I had to save for a LONG time to get my camera, and it would suck if something went wrong and Canon told me they couldn't help at all.

If canon chose to sell the firmware upgrade for say $100 I would probably choose that over a hack any day. But my curiousity its eating at me from the thought of unlocking some secret features...

Well then I certainly hope that Canon wakes up and invalidates the warranty on the cameras that are hacked. This isn't doing anything but harm to the majority of Canon owners that live by the rules.

Yep, I feel pretty strongly about this.

Ha! Some time ago there was a thread where numerous people were saying it can't be done, well here it is. Still, I like my 10D better than any kind of plastic rebel. It's not just the functions, I like it. Like a teddy bear. Um.. gotta go...

Uh oh You better keep that opinion here and not post it on dpreview People there will be mad at You

As You can see from my signature I have the 300D and I am quite happy with it. I don't currently miss the functions that the hack unlocks and I knew what I bought when I bought the 300D. I am not willing to risk my $1500 investment on a hack that nobody really know 100%. Besides some day I rather want to buy the MK II or III and until then I am happy with my 300D.

If you ask me, and noone is asking me, I don't think that this is going to hurt sales of the 10D all that much.

The vast majority of Rebel users are not going to hear about this firmware hack. And of the few that do, alot of them are going to just say no for fear of invalidating thier manufacturer/extended warranties. And then there will be the even small number of people (like me) who have no fear of the warranty monster, but don't want to screw thier cameras up. And finally there will be the small percent of the small percent that actually do it and live happily ever after.

It's just like "bootlegged movies" [Scary ghost voice]oooooooohh[/scar​y ghost voice] The movie industry wants you to believe that EVERYONE is downloading SpiderMan 2 and that the theaters are just empty shells with nothing but lonely ushers and three week old popcorn because NOONE goes to the movies. When in reality very very few people download movies (as a population percentage) and tickets sales reach new highs almost every single year.

I think Canon is doing the best thing it can by just ignoring the matter. Any campaign against the "hack" is just going to mak more and more people aware of it and want to try it. Can you say RIAA?

But like I said ... that is just if you're asking me.

- Digital Prophet -

If your wondering, I DO NOT have a Rebel or a 10D .... but Id like to now!

I don't see why its such a bad thing.

I mean it sure is "enter at your own risk" sorta thing but the things Canon disabled from the Rebel really "SUCKED!!!". I mean, FEC??!!! Even the G3 and S45 has the feature. And what about forced AI focus in creative modes?? How can you be creative when your camera refocus after you achieve focus?? Little gripe like these (though doesn't affect my photography in general) made me wish there was a better alternative.

And now there is!!! Thanks Wasia.

I'm sure that Canon is well aware of the hack and there is nothing they can do about it. It'll be interesting how they respond to it with the next Rebel upgrade.

R01

I'll admit that I'm having a tough time letting this subject go.

There is a better alternative and it's called the 10D. You are out buying a Ford Focus and then want to turn it into a Mustang at no expense to yourself. If you want those features that you feel are necessary in the Rebel, then purchase the 10D. Hell I'd like to be able to turn my 10D into a MK II but I can't so I'm buying one.

Well, it certainly makes sense that they would share a good deal of hardware, minus the obvious features such as the pentaprism and magnesium alloy body and that kind of thing. But the sensor, focus system, and probably much of the electronics are the same. This isn't unusual, and I'm still surprised that some people find it upsetting that any manufacturer would "defeature" a lower-priced product. That's the norm, not the exception.

When you buy a car, it comes prewired for just about every option that is available on that model whether you buy that option or not. Everything is designed to make it as universal as possible since this is the most cost-effective way of building them. Once you buy that car, you can use that wiring to add your own fog lights, auto-dimming mirrors, or whatever feature you want with aftermarket products. I doubt if its that much different for cameras.

Granted, modular pieces like memory chips or other things that can easily be added or subtracted may be left out on the less expensive model, but I'm pretty sure that Canon would try to keep the unique stuff down to a minimum.

So yes, perhaps a software solution for gaining some 10D features on the Digital Rebel is probably possible. And I don't worry too much about anybody making such a change to their own camera, or discussing such changes freely so long as nobody is stealing Canon's patented knowledge for commercial purposes. I mean, its their camera - they can do what they please with it.

I forgot to add the important stuff - Do this at your own risk!

I have a 10D..........without the magnesium black body

Ro1