3 ms·

FYI, Magic Lantern has been a thing on Canon DSLRs since 2009. The sister project for Canon compact cameras, CHDK, has been going since 2006. Your Nikon D80 is

FYI, Magic Lantern has been a thing on Canon DSLRs since 2009. The sister project for Canon compact cameras, CHDK, has been going since 2006. Your Nikon D80 is already an embedded computer, the fact that it's running a weird OS only means the initial barrier to hacking is higher. But I do echo you sentiment wrt. stability. I also believe Canon and Nikon are very aware of this. Fortunately for us amateurs, the stuff used by professionals like the Canon 5D and Nikon D4 runs the same OS as our prosumer devices, so stability is pretty much guaranteed. Touch wood also here.

toothbrush 12y ago
I'm indeed aware that it's an embedded computer too, but it's an embedded computer that doesn't have a network stack, doesn't need to do very fancy GUI things, doesn't have user-installable applications, et cetera. It's very special-purpose ⇒ minimalistic ⇒ more likely to be stable/safe. But indeed, i hope that professionals don't start wanting a functionality like "download and install custom applications for your camera" :p (but i would be surprised, i admit). This niche doesn't seem to exist as clearly in the mobile phone market: my very minimalistic Nokia does precisely what i want, but is rather low-quality and crashes occasionally. If only there was a "professional dumb phone".... :p </ severely off-topic >
- coldtea 12y ago
  >But indeed, i hope that professionals don't start wanting a functionality like "download and install custom applications for your camera" :p (but i would be surprised, i admit). Why not? It would an absolute godsend if it was allowed to happen. Speaking as a DSLR film-maker and photographer, there are TONS of applications that this would enable. From customized timelapses to custom complex follow-focus sequences, to DoP calculation, and tons more besides.
  - semi-extrinsic 12y ago
    Have a look at Lua scripting for CHDK. Get a Powershot SX50 and a handheld stabilizer. Then make something magic.

toothbrush 12y ago

I'm indeed aware that it's an embedded computer too, but it's an embedded computer that doesn't have a network stack, doesn't need to do very fancy GUI things, doesn't have user-installable applications, et cetera. It's very special-purpose ⇒ minimalistic ⇒ more likely to be stable/safe. But indeed, i hope that professionals don't start wanting a functionality like "download and install custom applications for your camera" :p (but i would be surprised, i admit). This niche doesn't seem to exist as clearly in the mobile phone market: my very minimalistic Nokia does precisely what i want, but is rather low-quality and crashes occasionally. If only there was a "professional dumb phone".... :p </ severely off-topic >

coldtea 12y ago
>But indeed, i hope that professionals don't start wanting a functionality like "download and install custom applications for your camera" :p (but i would be surprised, i admit). Why not? It would an absolute godsend if it was allowed to happen. Speaking as a DSLR film-maker and photographer, there are TONS of applications that this would enable. From customized timelapses to custom complex follow-focus sequences, to DoP calculation, and tons more besides.
- semi-extrinsic 12y ago
  Have a look at Lua scripting for CHDK. Get a Powershot SX50 and a handheld stabilizer. Then make something magic.