Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel Tips and Tricks
While a solid camera out of the box, the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel user experience can be enhanced with a few simple, money-saving tricks. In fact, I roughly estimate that these tips and tricks can save you over $500
I know that claiming a savings of over $500 might seem far fetched, but I will show you below that it is possible.
Disclaimer: Most, if not all of these tips and tricks could violate your Camera's warranty. Any use of these tips is at your will and not the fault of this website or the author.
Most of this information is gleaned from various forums, so the information to the best of my ability, is as accurate as possible, though I do not guarantee the results or accuracy of the claims below.
For corrections, please contact liem [at] starfleet.com
An interesting post from someone who sent their camera for repair at Canon with the modified firmware in place:
"Sent my stuff to canon for calibration (I sent everything not knowing where the problem lay. Oddly enough, even though they were checking the focus, they replaced the rear element on my kit lens...anyways). I got my kit lens and dRebel back today (still waiting on my 70-200 2.8). I sent my camera to Canon with the hacked firmware installed. Canon reset all of my settings to the factory defaults, including the default hacked firmware settings (i.e they left the hacked firmware on there, but they deactivated the set buttons double function, turned off MLU, etc). Looks like they're trying to let me know they noticed. Good sense of humour guys." (Anonymous, from dpreview.com)
FACTOID: Did you know your 10D and 300D run DOS? That's right. Embedded in the camera is DataLight's ROM-DOS. In fact, if you use the right tool such as s10sh you can see that inside the camera is an A: and B: drive. On the A: drive reside command.com and autoexec.bat, and most interestingly, camera.exe.
Please see my Digital Photo Album which contains loads of pictures taken with the Canon EOS 300D, as well as some with a Powershot G2 and Coolpix 885.
Quick Index:
Latest Firmware News/Release info
Cheap Hardware Tricks
Less-cheap Hardware Tricks
Camera Usage Tricks
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Undutchable mod - February 27, 2005 Just posting what I know so far: Added functionality by the UnDutchables:
It appears this allows you use RAW in Sports mode (which gives you AI-Servo) as well as the ability to set RAW/ISO for all other Basic Modes. Its great to know that someone is keeping the flame alive with regards to the 300D firmware, considering there are newer Canon DSLRs out there to be be had. I'll be curious to see if there's any work done for the new 350D/XL. Download the firmware from the Canon Digigam Hacking Yahoo! Group file area. A PDF is here. Russian Firmware Hack (June 16, 2004) Related links: Here are instructions fron Canon on updating your firmware Current status of firmware (PDF) 12/02/2004 - Could this be it? I've heard nothing from anyone about any newer releases and even heard a rumor that our humble Wasia has moved on to bigger and better things and that we probably won't be seeing any further developments from him. So that means that this version of the firmware is probably it. At least we managed to get FEC, MLU and ISO 3200, right?
6/16/2004 - another beta ("B7.1"), minor fixes, no major additions. See satinfo url below.
- changeable MLU delay via C.Fn17 You can download this latest version from http://satinfo.narod.ru/en/download.html. 6/1/2004 - ISO 3200 and Mirror Lockup (and more)! And you thought Wasia was done! New in this release: Changes: - FEC is moved to JUMP button You can download this latest version from http://satinfo.narod.ru/en/download.html. Thanks Michael and Joey for the tip Note: 6/6/2004: John e-mailed me this note: The firmware hack breaks the count down display when used timed shutter release. It only counts starting from 2, although it still waits the full 10 seconds. The light on the front still flashes. It's only the LCD countdown display that seems affected. 4/9/2004 - Multilingual support Sorry about the delay on this one. This fixes non-english support for menus in the firmware All of the enhancements below are included. This is known as the "M" version, presumably for multilingual. You can get it from Wasia's site or English version. 4/6/2004 - Best one so far One minor annoyance with the modified firmware is the blinking 'red-eye' indicator. Wasia has released another v1.1.1 firmware which eliminates this. You can get it from Wasia . This update includes the revisions noted in the other releases this week: 4/5/2004 - Yet another firmware from Wasia Due to overwhelming requests to preserve the function of the WB button for what it's intended for, Wasia has updated his firmware to use the SET button to enable FEC. You can get it direct from Wasia (http://satinfo.narod.ru/). 4/1/2004 - New firmware from famous cracker Wasia available at
http://demeter.x1.ru/soft/E3kr111_v2.FIR Besides unlocking Custom Functions menu, it REPLACES WB button with FEC button. What is FEC? BigMike from DPReview's Forum explains: Easy to install, and works as advertized. The FEC is a really nice function to have. For new users that don't know what FEC is, it stands for flash exposure compensation. In short, it allows you to adjust the strength of the flash higher, or lower. This is very helpful for many shots. The FEC can be turned on or off in the menu. You can have your "set" button work the FEC, or have it bring up the normal "quality setting" menu. Nothing is disabled, everything works fine. Just thought I would mention it for those who were interested. Many 300D users have been waiting for this feature. How do I revert to my OEM Firmware? PureVector on DPReview advises:
1) Reset all the CF to the original 300D settings. Note: you cannot use the Reset option in the menu, it does not affect the CF's. Below is a list of default binary values from left to right (The bottom numbers in the CF menu): 0,0,0,0,0,1,0,11,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0 2) Check to make sure the red-eye-reduction icon no longer blinks!!! If it is still blinking, you have not set all of the CF properly. 3) Flash back to 1.1.1. Thanks Tom! What IS the Russian Firmware Hack Its been widely known that the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel and the Canon EOS 10D DSLR's are similar beasts. In fact, if you look at their Side-by-side comparisons you can see that most of the features that vary are catagorized as "Customizable". The 10D has a menu item called "Custom Functions" which allows these settings to be adjusted. Well, a fellow in Russia found that in the latest firmware, by switching a single byte in the firmware image, he was able to enable most of these 10D "Custom Functions" in the Digital Rebel. Now, some features, such as more frames in rapid shooting, are hardware-limitations but some features lacking such as Flash Exposure Compensation and embedded JPEG quality are found to be working in the 300D. This is not the 10D firmware, it is the 300D firmware with some of the dormant 10D features enabled. The developers probably shared the codebase between the two models. The 10D firmware will not work on your 300D. Now, be aware that this Modified firmware will violate your warranty! The following data is from a long thread on DP Review's forums: I have attempted to confirm what works, and if it does not specify '[WORKS]' then I have not confirmed it yet.
CF1: SET button func. when shooting. [WORKS] Savings: $500* *If you're happy with the added features in this firmware, this is saving your $500 over the 10D... Pringles or Coffee anyone? Apparently, these a pringles can lid or a coffee filter are all you need to customize your white balance for almost any indoor or outdoor shot! Your mileage may vary, but according to some, they are as good as the commercial ExpoDisc. The Pringles lid may tend toward the blue, but many swear by 1 or 2 coffee filters. Use the instructions for setting custom white balance in your manual. Savings: $80 price of ExpoDisc Nokia Hands-free Remote Control as a Remote Shutter Release Spend $1 at a Dollar Store and get a functional shutter release cord for your Canon Digital Rebel! Apparently someone has found that a cheap Nokia hands free cord kit works as a shutter release cord for the Digital Rebel. The Mute button on the cord works as the shutter release. This particular unit was discovered at a local dollar store. From DP Review's forums:"Today I went to the dollar store and saw that they had a 31" retractable cell phone hands free kit for motorola models, I bought it, it cost me ..yep.. 1$. Went home and tried it like it was suggested some time ago in this forum and IT WORKS !! gosh I am happy ! its very handy, small and retractable, so it will come in very handy." Also, says Antonion Cotto:" Any cell phone hands free with a button on it will work as a remote trigger. I had one already for my cell phone (so it did not cost me anything). All you have to do is cut the wire that goes to the ear piece. When you press the button, it focuses, gets a lock, and fires the shutter. Once the camera has a focus lock, you can keep hitting the shutter for quick shots. For bulb, switch camera to manual, set shutter to bulb, and press button. This will again get focus lock first, open the shutter, and remain open open until you let the button go."
Savings: $25 for RS-60 remote Full-time AI Servo Had trouble focusing on a moving object, say a player at a sporting event? This hack will allow you to emulate this missing functionality from the 300D. Savings: ? Black Hat Trick Without a remote shutter cord, how does one take shake-free long timed exposures? (Starfields, star trails, etc). This one isn't a new trick, its actually a very old astrophotography trick. Cover the end of the lens, without touching it, with a dark-lined object (such as a hat). Open the shutter with your hand count to three to allow any tripod vibration to dampen out, then quickly remove the hat/cover from the lens. Viola! A shake free snapshot. Reverse this procedure to close the shutter. Be sure that no lights around you reflect off of you or the hat object when you remove or replace it over the lens. Savings: $25 RS-60 remote cord or wireless remote Extending your RS-60 remote Ever find the release cord for the Digital Rebel too short and don't want to resort to the cost of the IR remote? You can extend your RS-60 remote. Now you can take self-portraits quickly and easily. Savings: $25 over wireless remote Save on a Canon tripod collar ring While not a Digital Rebel-specific money saver, a few people may find this little secret handy. If you own a Canon 70-200mm f/4L, 300mm f/4L or 400mm f/5.6L Lens lens, you don't have to spend $120 for the white tripod ring (Canon Part: # 2889A002, "Canon Tripod Mount Ring A"). Instead, buy the black version (Canon Part #: 2888A002, "Tripod Mounting Ring A for 200mm f/2.8L II"). This part is identical to the white version (targeted at L lenses) but is painted black. Though not as asthetically pleasing, you do save $35! Savings: $35 black versus white collar ring. A do-it-yourself remote control A little more polished than the previous remote work-arounds, this one take a little elbow grease (very little) but yields a little more polished of a remote control. The plans will save you about 25% over the OEM canon remote.
Savings: 25% over Canon remote Free IR remote control Joe Luis posted this on DP Review: If you have a Philips Pronto universal remote or a PDA with a compatible IR Remote control software: Those applications use a universal configuration file that mimics each IR remote control you can find. Unfortunately, no matter where I looked I could not find the configuration file for the canon RC-1 control. So, I ended up buying the RC-1. Today, with the help of Rong Zhou, I was finally able to create my owh CCF file by programming my Pocket PC to learn the two commands produced by the RC-1 (immediate trigger and 2 s delay trigger). Here's the link to the CCf file: http://www.malaquias.net/PublicPhoto/EOS300D.zip Thanks Luis! Savings: $25 over Canon IR Remote Handy, powerful blower Posted by John Telleria on DP review's forums: I searched the forums here and saw that many have had success with the Giotto Rocket Air blower. I called a local photographic equipment store in town to see if they carried the Rocket Air. The sales guy I spoke to said they did but were out of stock and didn't expect to receive any for a couple weeks. But he suggested that I go to either Walgreens or Walmart and get what's called an ear syringe. An ear syringe is nothing but a plastic blower with a LARGE bulb, comparable to the bulb size of the Rocket Air. It's also half the price of the Rocket Air. I picked one up at Walgreens for $5.00. It works great! I was FINALLY able to get rid of that pesky dust particle. And saved me the trouble of sending my camera to Canon for a cleaning.
Savings: $5 over Rocket Air Johnson & Johnson Flash Diffuser This tip comes via e-mail from Brian Hindley: My wife threw out an empty Johnson and Johnson 15oz (425g) white plastic Talcum powder jar this morning. On a hunch, I cut it about 2 1/2" from the bottom of the jar, made a couple of slices with my sizzors on the corners and found that it fits very nicely on my 550ex. It actually looks pretty professional except for the blue wording "Johnson and Johnson" and bar code printing which resides on top and bottom of the "defuser", which nobody would normally see and which could be removed. It isn't the quality of my Stoffen Omibounce, but so far the pictures seem to be just as good. I haven't tested this extensively yet and I am not sure just how to test it or what to test (although someone suggested to check the white balance carefully). The point is, if you want to try a defuser of this type without spending the money on a Stoffen Omnibounce, or if you just happen to have one of these empty talcum bottles laying around, it doesn't hurt to check it out. What if, for instance, you are out in the field and do not have your Omnibounce. This might work just as well as a temporary trick.
Thanks Brian. Savings: $10? Using the EF-S Kit Lens on a 10D Despite Canon's claim that the EF-S kit lens is for the 300D only, Bob Atkins made careful measurements and has found that with simple, free modifications you can indeed share your EF-S lens with a 10D camera. His instructions are easy to follow.
Tips and Tricks that aren't as cheap
But still really useful Using The TC-80N3 With A 300D Use the more advanced TC-80N3 remote cord with the 300D, though it does require a little cutting and rewiring of the remote on your part.. Added heft One common complaint of the Digital Rebel compared to the 10D is the composite body construction. While a significant cost-saver for the end-user, it makes the body much lighter than the 10D, which "feels" more like a traditional high-end DSLR. This difference in heft really comes to play when attaching a heavy telephoto or zoom lense. One fellow remarked that the 300D feels like a lenscap on the end of his large canon zoom. A simple way to combat this is to add the BG-E1 Battery Grip and extra battery to the camera. This adds some of that missing weight, and makes your camera look much more professional, to boot. Cheap 4GB CompactFlash Microdrives This is an old thread, but it turns out that early versions of the
Creative Muvo I've seen some reports of speed issues with this particular drive (see last entry on the table on that page)
NOTE: 6/11/2004 It looks like this free ride has left the station. Newer versions of this unit are shipping with the CF bus disabled and are IDE-only. I'll keep an eye out for any news on this.
Usage Tips and Tricks
Some hints on taking better photos Lots of useful exposure tricks Thanks to "DRG" for these Prevent AI Servo: Another good tip is the use of the DoF preview button to prevent AI Servo from kicking in or to return to one-shot AF if AI Servo should kick in inappropriately. Emulate ISO 3200: Another tip/trick concerns how to emulate higher ISO. By setting ISO=1600, moving EC to -1, shooting in RAW, and then boosting EC=+1 during conversion, you can emulate ISO 3200 in a pinch. It's essentially the same thing the 10D does to get this higher ISO sensitivity. Easier proper exposure: For those who have trouble obtaining accurate exposure, a trick is to set EC=+2 (see page 75 of the manua), point the center AF point at the brightest highlight you'd like to preserve in the scene, and AE lock (*) on this highlight. The camera will attempt to expose this point to 18% grey, but the EC=+2 will move this up two stops to 72%, which is close to the right edge of the histogram. So, you get an "exposed to the right" exposure with a half-stop margin above your selected highlight (in case you've made an error in identifying the brightest highlight or to prevent clipping of an individual color channel). Thanks for these useful tips! Custom WB Made Easy Thanks to "Jalle" for this: I've read this over at the 10D forum a long time ago Set CF1: SET button func. when shooting. to 3 (Menu display). Scroll down the menu to Custom WB and leave the menu. Take a WB "index photo" and you can quickly set the custom wb after a shot by pressing the set button three times. Thanks Jalle Sandberg XP hack to view .THM files "Yes, it is a registry hack. Basically, we tell the Windows Explorer/Shell to use the TridentImageExtractor class ({7376D660-C583-11D0-A3A5-00C04FD706EC}) to handle the ImageExtractor interface ({BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}) on the .thm extension." Basically, this means you can preview .THM files in the windows shell Here's the link to the registry (.reg) file and the thread on DPreview. |
