Laser Triggered High-Speed Photography

Step 2 The Camera

You'll need a Canon camera because we're going to temporarily modify its firmware using the Canon Hacking Development Kit. CHDK is loaded onto the memory card inside the camera, allowing us to override most of the camera's functions, turning a cheap point and shoot into a highly adjustable way-cool time freezer.

Currently there are 47 Canon cameras that CHDK will work with. Check the CHDK Wiki to see a list of them. I'm using an A470 that I purchased new for about a hundred bucks.

Download the correct CHDK build for your camera from the CHDK auto build server and install it on your camera's memory card.

A great tutorial to help you get CHDK running on your camera can be found here.

Installing CHDK didn't harm my camera, and it's temporary. I can revert back to the original firmware simply by turning the camera off and restarting it without CHDK.

Of course I can't guarantee you won't blow up your camera by attaching home-made electronics to it. Do so at your own risk!