www.jjmb.nl - wasia

Wasia's Firmware hack enables the Canon 300D Custom Functions menus and other new features.
The Custom Functions menu and other features exist in the firmware, but it is all disabled in the original Canon firmware to place the 300D in a market position just below the Canon 10D, at the time it was announced.
These functions exist on the Canon 10D by default. You can change these settings when you have set the dial to one of these creative zone settings: "P", "Tv", "Av", "M", or "A-DEP". In non-creative modes only some CF settings can be set. Go to the fourth TAB, at the bottom you will read "Custom Functions(C. Fn)". Select it and press "SET", then with the dial you select a function (01-17), press "SET" again, with the dial change the setting and press "SET" to set it.
Here you can find the 10D instruction manual (pdf).
And a page about the Custom Functions: Other Canon EOS 10D Features.

In the past, Wasia had been working to improve the firmware and gave more options to Canon 300D users. I don't expect newer versions anymore. An upgrade from here would probably the purchase of a Canon EOS 20D, which cost ~ � 1350.
Here is the original wasia 300D firmware site.
The firmware can be downloaded at http://satinfo.narod.ru/en/download.html.

Wasia's picture of a "hacked" Canon 300D. No doubt, to me it really looks like a hacked 300D.

The firmware releases from Wasia:

E3kr111B71 (16-06-2004)

This is the newest firmware release from Wasia.

16-06-2004 E3kr111B71.zip (Beta 71, local copy)
Unfortunately, two different B71 versions have been spread:
(MD5 Checksum of OLD E3kr111.fir: 6901fd5ba45756cd77c115ae688c9f9c)
(MD5 Checksum of NEW E3kr111.fir: 407b0808dc0d332c45e7da19ca188ff8)

In the newest B71 version, spelling in MLU menu's for many languages has been corrected.
Also, in English language setting, CF 17 has been adjusted (according to a suggestion I posted in the Yahoo 300D hackers forum, some time ago).

You can check CF-17 for the hack version:
- If you read "2:4,5 SEC", let's call it version "B71-1".
- If you read "2:4.5 Sec", let's call it version "B71-2".
- If you read "2:AE lock while metering", it is "pre-B71", such as "B7", "M", or "original Canon", etc.
Apart for changes in MLU menu texts, there are no differences.
The enhancements of the previous releases are also included in this release.
The firmware can be downloaded at http://satinfo.narod.ru/en/download.html.

New in this release:

- Selectable pause for mirror lock up see C.Fn. 17 (This seems to be the biggest change)
Selectable delay times are:
0:1.5 Sec
1:3 Sec
2:4.5 Sec
3:6 Sec (* Note)
4:7.5 Sec (* Note)
5:10 Sec

* Note:
There are some arrows seen here.
The original menu texts were:
3:AF point: M->Auto/Auto->ctr.
4:ONE SHOT -> <- AI SERVO
These menu strings actually consist of multiple strings.
The arrows are NOT part of the strings:
3:"AF point: M" + "Auto/Auto" + "ctr." ('A' and 'c' are zeroed to suppress display)
4:"ONE SHOT" + "AI SERVO" ('A' is zeroed to suppress display)
The arrows are left over from this as they are called apart from the strings which were modified.

- Less cryptic display of AF modes:
The 'Left' button selects the autofocus mode:
AF OS - ONEShot
AF AI - AIfocusAF
AF SE - AIservo (the focusing itself works, but you can't take the shot, controlled by the TMP1942CYU.)
AF OF - Displayed when the AF/MF switch is switched to the MF position

Note the display doesn't update when you switch the AF/MF switch on the lens, you may need to turn the dial ot toggle the 'Left' button.

- The right button mapping is removed and now does nothing anymore.

- When changing FEC, "FEC1" is displayed on the LCD, together with a scale from -2 to +2. It can be adjusted in 1/3-stop increments.

WARNING: Wasia mentioned that he thinks that the low battery icon appears earlier than usual and maybe related to this change. The low battery icon does not represent an actual low battery and a few have seen this also. During this condition you may not be able to clean your sensor, because the camera may think that the battery is too low to perform a sensor cleaning. I haven't checked the sensor cleaning when this early low battery level kicks in, yet.

I have added the CFn E3kr111B71 "Custom Functions" page.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend this release, since there are little changes. Every time you do an upgrade, you'll take a little risk to render your camera "brain-dead", which means it will remain dead after switching on. In other words, it doens't reboot, or hangs during startup. You can't redo flashing, if you're unlucky, and have to sent your 300D for repair.

When you have to sent it for repair, you don't need to explain that you were performing a firmware upgrade on your 300D. Canon service don't need to know this. They only need to know the current behavior: the camera won't boot up. With this information alone Canon can still fix your camera with warranty. I don't expect them to read and compare byte for byte the flashed firmware, if at all possible with your brain-dead 300D.

E3kr111B7 (01-06-2004)

01-06-2004 E3kr111B7.zip (Beta 7, local copy)
(MD5 Checksum of E3kr111.fir: 1cbbf891f4f2632cda962168ca470b09)

The enhancements of the E3kr111M release are also included in this E3kr111B7 release.
The firmware can be downloaded at http://www.cat.orc.ru/.

New in this release:

- ISO 3200.
This is represented by an "H" on the LCD, instead of "3200", same like the 10D. It is shown as "ISO3200" when you display the info of a picture that was taken using this setting. The shutter time/aperture value reflects the raise to ISO3200 too, so it really works. To select it, press the ISO button and turn the dial until you read a "H" on the display.

- Mirror lockup. (MLU)
This prevents mirror-caused vibrations which may blur the image during close-ups or when a super telephoto lens is used. It can be enabled in the Custom Functions menu, CF 12.

On the 10D it works as follows:
1. Press the shutter button fully.
The mirror will lock up.
After 30 seconds, it will go back down automatically.
2. Press the shutter button fully again.
The image will be captured and the mirror will go back down.
To take another shot with mirror lockup, start from step 1 again.

On the 300D it works as follows:
1. Press the shutter button fully.
The mirror will lock up.
After about 1 second, the image will be captured and the mirror will go back down.
The shutter release button does not respond within this time.
So it does't seem to work exactly as the 10D Mirror Lock up function, but I'm still happy with it.

NOTE: Your camera must be set in single shot mode, not in continuous mode.
TIP: You may leave MLU enabled in the CF menu, and switch with the drive mode button between continuous drive mode and single-shot mode, in order to select or deselect MLU. This is a lot quicker!

Tests done by "Marco_W" with MLU can be found here.
Mirror Lock Up - by Bob Atkins.

Other changes:
- FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation) is moved from the Set button to the Jump button. The original functions of the Jump button in other modes, are still working. When changing FEC, a scale from -2 to +2 is displayed on the LCD, and it can be adjusted in 1/3-stop increments.

- The Set button is now used for (quick) parameter selection (in order):
PA-0 - Parameter 1
PA-5 - Parameter 2
PA-A - Adobe RGB
PA-1 - Set 1
PA-2 - Set 2
PA-3 - Set 3

- 'Right' button has no function assigned, but shows (in order):
PA-0
PA-1
PA-2

- 'Left' button selects the AF mode (in order):
PA-3 - AI Focus AF
PA-2 - AI Servo AF (doesn't work right now, controlled by the TMP1942CYU)
PA-1 - One-Shot AF

The AF mode is the autofocusing method. The camera has three AF modes:
1. One-Shot AF for still subjects
2. AI Servo AF for moving subjects
3. AI Focus AF that switches automatically from One-Shot AF to AI Servo AF if the subject starts to move.

I find it a little strange that these setting have a reversed order, while turning the dial.

- The default button in delete prompt is changed from 'Cancel' to 'OK'. Now, if you want to delete an image, all you have to do is press the DEL button and press SET once. To Cancel press any other key.
The change is only for "quick review" (when the picture is showing on the LCD right after you've taken it), not for playback mode. When you're in "quick review" mode, you can no longer use the left and right buttons (since they now have new functions); that's why Wasia made the change. It's also convenient for us, though, since "quick review" is when you most need a quicker way to delete an image! So, When you take a photo, and the image comes up on the LCD for quick review, you can delete the image by hitting "Erase" and then hitting "Set". When you're reviewing images in "Play" mode", you have to hit "Erase" - "right arrow" - "Set" as before.

E3kr111M (07-04-2004)

07-04-2004 E3kr111M.zip (local copy)
(MD5 Checksum of E3kr111.fir: 325e59620dc83e6dff8271df4f344e69)

This modified firmware provides EOS 300D/Digital Rebel owners with following additional functionality:

- Enter FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation) using SET button
Flash exposure compensation can be set up to +/�2 stops in 1/2-stop or 1/3-stop increments. A scale -2 to +2 is displayed on the LCD.
Flash exposure compensation works in Creative Zone modes.

- SET button function when shooting
Let you assign a function to the Set button in shooting mode

- Shutter release w/o CF card
Specifies if the shutter works when there is no CF card in the camera.

- Flash sync speed in Av mode
Sets the shutter speed to automatic, or fixed at 1/200 when using flash in Av mode

- RAW+JPEG rec. Sets the quality of embedded JPEG
You can select 6 setting: Small, Medium, Large, combined with Fine and Normal.

WARNING

WARNING:
This firmware doesn't come from Canon, nor is it supported by Canon. Installation of this firmware may void your warranty. Problems and/or damage of your camera resulting from the installation of this firmware is for your own risk!

Some friends of me and myself are using it without problems so far. But every time you do an upgrade, you'll take a little risk to render your camera "brain-dead", which means it will remain dead after switching on. In other words, it doens't reboot, or hangs during startup. You can't redo flashing, if you're unlucky, and have to sent your 300D for repair.

Vote

How many are using the Wasia upgrade for the Rebel/300D?

You can vote and see the results here.
You can find the results here.

Result after some time:
Total Votes: 560
Installed: 380 (67.86 %)
Not Installed: 180 (32.14 %)
First vote: 2004-07-01 00:44:54
Last vote: 2004-07-16 21:15:07