My cheap P&S now has manual modes, and can save in RAW

[Dazz1]

You may have already heard of it, but I just discovered it by accident. CHDK. This is alternative firmware (overlays in RAM, so doesn't change the camera permanently) for many Canon cameras, including my Powershot AS100 IS, that provides many features not included in cheap cameras, like saving in DNG raw, manual/overide, histogram display, DOF calculator and even more - such as scripting.

I have just now been able to get it working in mine, even though the version for my camera is only at alpha development. It makes my cheap P&S so much more powerful - for free!

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Features

[Mark L]

RAW gives you more to work with it PP. You can do more in DPP (did that software come with your camera?) before you go and play in GIMP.

[Dazz1]

RAW gives you more to work with it PP. You can do more in DPP (did that software come with your camera?) before you go and play in GIMP.

DPP did not seem to be on the CD with my camera. I have many options under linux though. I am currently using Shotwell to manage my photos and basic stuff, and it links to an external editor - and for that I use Gimp.

[ameerat42]

Goodonyer. I forgot all about this. Read about it a few years ago.
I dunno if DPP is free, but if you google "dpp software" you will get a swag of download sites.
If you click on the flower image in this one DPP will download, but he says it's not the latest.
http://www.cdifoto.com/dpp.php
Am.

...AND THEN I SAW you use Linux. Well, I then searched "dpp software for linux", and got another swag of references.

[Rattus79]

CHDK does more then just RAW and MF, it allows the use of scripts, which open a whole nother universe of ideas like:

Point and shoot with a lightning trigger - It uses the Infared sensor and automatically opens the shutter on a strike.

Timelapse scripts with ramping exposures (makes the exposure longer as the sun goes down)'

[ameerat42]

And, late as usual - though it might not matter - I can't remember whether CHDK voids warranty. Just a thought.
Am.

[Rattus79]

CHDK does not void warranty, as it is not a permanent change. Once you turn the camera off, it automatically reverts to the original firmware, and you need to "reinstall" it each time you boot up the camera.

[William]

Thats interesting , But a PainITA , I was going to comment and say , It would void warranty , Thanks Greg

[Rattus79]

Actually, CHDK is the PITA William, it's not exactly user friendly. The menus are tiny, so unless you have a P&S with a decent screen, it's hard to read.

But, having it automatically uninstall is great because it means you can hand your camera to anyone and it'll just work.

Then when you want to do something tricky, you can just reboot and flash, it only takes a few seconds.

[Dazz1]

Thats interesting , But a PainITA , I was going to comment and say , It would void warranty , Thanks Greg

Not really a pita, as you can make it auto load if you decide you like it. Just turn the camera on normally, and it loads so fast you don't even notice.

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Actually, CHDK is the PITA William, it's not exactly user friendly. The menus are tiny, so unless you have a P&S with a decent screen, it's hard to read.

But, having it automatically uninstall is great because it means you can hand your camera to anyone and it'll just work.

Then when you want to do something tricky, you can just reboot and flash, it only takes a few seconds.

When you add it to your SD card, and make it autoload, you just use the SD card write protect lock to switch the autoload feature on or off. (This doesn't prevent writing to the card when you take photos - it's just a software function). The menus can be tiny - glad mine has a 3" LCD. The extra OSD information is really great though.

- - - Updated - - -

CHDK does more then just RAW and MF, it allows the use of scripts, which open a whole nother universe of ideas like:

Point and shoot with a lightning trigger - It uses the Infared sensor and automatically opens the shutter on a strike.

Timelapse scripts with ramping exposures (makes the exposure longer as the sun goes down)'

Yes, can't wait to explore writing my own scripts. So much scope for experimentation.

- - - Updated - - -

Goodonyer. I forgot all about this. Read about it a few years ago.
I dunno if DPP is free, but if you google "dpp software" you will get a swag of download sites.
If you click on the flower image in this one DPP will download, but he says it's not the latest.
http://www.cdifoto.com/dpp.php
Am.

...AND THEN I SAW you use Linux. Well, I then searched "dpp software for linux", and got another swag of references.

What doesn't run under Wine, will run in a VMWare virtual machine. I have spare processors and memory that hardly ever get used in my machine, so running , say, XP in a virtual machine in a Window is easy, and fast.

That said, native linux photo management apps are common and work very well. I don't think I am missing much.