Camera!

So, I bit the bullet and bought a camera.
I was going to save up for a DSLR, but after talking to some photography friends, they all suggested I get a cheap little point and shoot camera that I can keep in my pocket.
So after a few days of browsing reviews and online catalogues, I decided to buy a Canon IXUS. I had some umart store credit left over from a previous purchase, and that just about covered the cost of a Canon IXUS 85IS.
I have to say, I'm impressed with the camera already. 10Mpx, 3x zoom, macro support. The only drawback, and this is going to sound crazy, its a little too small.

As with any device I purchase, one of the considerations is whether or not it can be improved with third party modifications. In this case, YES!

Many Canon point'n'shoot cameras are supported by the Canon Hackers Development Kit (link). Because the IXUS85 is such a new camera, the firmware is still in beta. Oh well, occasional crashes are a small price to pay for total control over ISO, lens aperture and shutter speed. It also supports a custom remote shutter that plugs into the USB port, helping with making long exposure shots very stable.

Having used it for a while now, I would like there to be a way of running the camera from an external power source (either a bigger battery, or a mains transformer) an to be able to charge the battery from USB.

All in all though, I'm very impressed with both the IXUS85 and CHDK.

New Sofa

So, after months of searching, I finally found an ebay sofa I like.
A three seater and two recliners in an ash blue microsuede. :D
Pics soon.