I Want a Programmable Camera
I’ve wanted this for a long time, but all the hype around the new iPhone 3GS with its bigger, better, and badder camera (that also now does video) has really got me thinking about it. One of the greatest things about the camera in the iPhone is that it is fully accessible by the applications in the gadget. Programmers have created a slew of apps that allow the user to control the camera however she wants. From interval timers, panoramic stitchers, exposure bracketing, or special effects “filters” that allow you to change the entire look and feel of the resulting image right in the camera (errr, phone). If you have an iPhone then you should check out “Camera Bag“, “Pro Camera“, and “Pano“ for some very cool add-ons to the native camera functionality in the iPhone. (While you’re at it you can also read “5 Tips for Making Great iPhone Photos” from professional photographer Chase Jarvis for some great tips on making better images with your iPhone.)
Sure you can do many of these effects in post-processing afterwards using software like Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, the Gimp, but the ability to do them in camera is very appealing to many people (not to mention that you can quickly and easily add your final image to an email or upload it to Flickr without ever having to take it over to your computer first). And besides, there are many effects that you simply can’t do in post, such as change the shutter speed, so to be able to do them in the camera is very important.
Since I don’t have an iPhone (I have an iPod Touch but inexplicably it doesn’t include a camera), I really want to have some of this programmable functionality in my Canon 40D
Here are a few of the things that I want control over:
- Multiple Exposure Bracketing – natively I can only create a 3 image bracket. When shooting HDR images I typically use 5 to 7 images over a 5 to 9 stop exposure range and I want to be able to set that up easily in my camera. As it is now I have to shoot multiple 3-stop brackets to creat a set with the entire range of exposures that I might want to use.
- Interval Timer – currently I would have to buy a very expensive Remote Shutter release in order to fire my camera at regular intervals (eg. to create time lapse sequences). Many inexpensive point and shoot cameras have this built in, so it should be included in every high end SLR as well.
- Auto ISO – Canon provides a crude Auto ISO feature where it will automatically ramp the ISO up or down based on the exposure, but it doesnt’ work very well. Really it simply sets the camera at the default ISO (400 on my 40D) and only raises or lowers it if it absolutely must (eg. if the camera is maxed out on Shutter speed then it will drop the ISO from 400 down to 200). But it could be so much better. I want to be able to set a minimum shutter speed (eg. 1000) which would then force the ISO up as high as the camera requires in order to get the desired exposure. I also want to be able to set a minimum and maximum ISO based on my shooting conditions and the intended use of the image. If I’m using my tripod to shoot landscapes then I want the cleanest image possible and I generally don’t care how long the shutter speed is, so let me choose ISO 50. or 25. But if I’m handholding the camera while shooting sports, then I don’t want the shutter to go below about 1/1500th and I want the largest aperture possible, so I want ISO 1600. There are all kinds of personalized situations like these that have their own scenarios. Let me have the control!
- AF Microadjustment – all the newest cameras have functions built in to allow them to adjust the focus system to correct for front and back focus, without having to send your camera / lens combination in to the manufacturer for mechanical adjustment. I want that!
There is so much more that I want to be able to control in my camera that I could write on and on. I guess what I really want is something similar to the CHDK to be made available for DSLR’s, and I want it to be officially supported via an API from Canon. I want it to be open sourced, or at least open to outside developers to write Apps or Scripts for the camera. And I want it now! I don’t think this is too much to ask.
Apple got it right with the iPhone camera, and now it’s time for Canon, Nikon, Sony, and all the other camera manufacturers to follow suit!
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Interesting suggestion. Must admit I use CHDK to raw enable my IXUS 860IS, but haven’t really looked into the scripting part of the product. I do tend to install addons on most of my gadgets that allow me to (routers, PVRs, cameras). Agree DSLRs should be part of that list especially given the investment we make in our equipment.
You hit it right on the head there Matt. I install add-ons and tweaks to all of my gadgets, computers, and software. I’m sure this will happen one day, I’m just growing impatient!!
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