20D Hacks

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

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.

Thanks for the tips.

Cheers

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.co​m/group/canondigicamha​cking/

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.

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.............

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.

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

Can You make up Your mind?

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

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

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

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.

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...

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