Canon Hack Development Kit (CHDK)

I thought that I would really end up with another Casio Exilim digital camera ~ don't get me wrong, I love my EX-V7. But the video and image isn't as sharp as I wanted it to be, unlike that of any Canon model. I just recently discovered that budget-model (no offense for the term) Canon PowerShot and lower-end (again) Ixus models can now have a zoom functionality!!! And it is by the use of the Canon Hack Development Kit or CHDK.

All you have to do is place the CHDK in your memory card (whatever memory card Canon models use) and run the application on your camera. Ok, so I've seen it, but what does CHDK do to a *supported* (yup, select Canon camera models are supported). I only listed a few notable changes with CHDK since not all of us are professional photographers.

Click on the images below to enlarge (taken from the CHDK Discussion Group of Facebook)

For Images:

1. Ultra long shutter speed - let's say you're interested at night photography, CHDK will enable you to let more light in the camera lens so you would have a better looking photo with less noise (best used with a tripod). By the way, recent Canon point and shoot cameras have a 15 second shutter speed.

2. Ultra fast shutter speed - you're a fan of sports, right? And you need to get action at an impossible rate - the human eye can't capture... that's what this functionality is about. You can get impressive shots similar to those of expensive digital single lens-reflex (DSLR) cameras!!! Recent models have a shutter speed of 1/3,200 of a second, with CHDK, and with CHDK - you may get up to 1/10,000 of a second or higher!!!

For Videos:

1. Elimination of 1 GB video size limit - if you're a video love (like I am) and you shoot high definition (HD) videos, 1 GB may be a short clip - especially if the quality is high, right???!!! So you can go over that and shoot like an uninterrupted long clip, which you can edit later.
2. Zoom during video function - not all Canon digital cameras have the zoom in function available inbox. So, you can actually add the zoom feature while you shoot videos and the camera auto-focuses so that it's not blurry on output. The only consequence of this function is that you can hear the zoom motor of the camera - and that's not cute.

YouTube Link

Video presentation above posted by YouTube user, CrestfallenXYU

You can take continuous high-quality time-lapse photos and stitch them to a video similar to that of expensive cameras.

YouTube Link

The above presentation was take by YouTube user, mdbrazilian.

All of these features sounds too good to be true, right???!!! Imagine, you can add these features to your Canon PowerShot A495 at a cost of PhP 5,723 (USD 127.18)!!!

For your information, the CHDK also has its down-side. You may get all of the good stuff, but it can harm your camera too. If the settings are so extreme, you may actually damage the camera and this is not covered by warranty.

EXPERIENCE - Making a Realistic Goal for 2011

Good for me, I'm not allowed to eat a lot of red meat, prior to my vertebral blood test, because I could be diagnosed with hereditary Thalassemia; and that there is no Christmas ham season this year... so...

"I will not be a voluptuous 150-pounder diva piece of sexy hot ass ever again!!!"

But even though my weight is still at the normal range (I measure 140++ pounds at the English scales after drinking a spirit-lost glass of Coke, eating a piece of ChickenJoy and a black forest sundae)... my proportions aren't. I have to lose 2 to 3 inches of my waist (and I do not believe in spot reduction) or else, I will have to buy new pants later in the future... and yes, I am at present - unemployed!!! Added hassle!!!

I admit, I was quite of a SLUT (Oops! Wrong spelling!!!) SLOTH this year... although I did about several workout sessions (not that much). I also mentioned wanting to have a good body like Marc Nelson or a great body like Piolo Pascual (Click here to read the said post).

Chris Evans as Captain America in Captain America: The First Avenger

I have to be realistic though - Even though I want the beauty of a woman (which I "somehow" already have), I can't look up to a woman for the perfect physique for me... who... Madonna???!!! *Ewe!!!*

Madonna... Muscular much???!!!

So, I read a blog from VinVin Jacla - an openly gay blogger (For every one's information: I support the gays!!! Not the gay marriage!!!), and saw the photo of hunksicle, Mr. Chris Evans, as Captain America. It is quite... actually super inspirational to people who are looking to be in the best shape of their life (and making - not getting - something out of it). It is just the right amount of musculature (that would require a complete top wardrobe change) without the steroidal appearance. I would want to have that in an achievable number of years with hard work... but I have to learn how to leave my excuses in 2010. Moving on... isn't he delicious... err... looking better than ever???!!! Hehehe!!! =p

QUESTION:
By the way, did he really have tattoos or does he have tattoos that were air-brushed with foundation so they would be covered??? Can anyone please reply!!! =p

I know that one year is not enough to achieve the results (Taylor Lautner's was a few months right... but not as hot as this!!!) as seen in the photo above ~ not the Madonna photo okay???!!! (unless I will use a ton of supplements... too risky!!!) So, I would just like do it the hard way. I believe that it takes years: a lot of sweat on the floor, pumping iron like every single day for different body parts, and the discipline in eating (which I am a total failure at!!!)!!!

Ok, starting the time I wake up later in the morning... or in the afternoon, I will start doing 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of basic training... and adding a bit more... and moving towards my goals!!! =)

No excuses this time!!!

EXPERIENCE - The Year 2010 and Its Perks

The year 2010 is almost about to end... and yes - it is probably the most adventurous ones I've ever had. A lot of firsts happened this year which are so unforgettable... it's almost deadly!!! *Ouch!*

And since it has it's perks... let's just take a quick look in the past and hope for a better 2011 to come! =)

2010 was the first time...

I put my Facebook relationship status as in: "In a relationship" (that was scandalous!!!)

 I finished my feasibility study (after 2 long years... and bribing a school official with a Tyler dress!!!)

I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management (with no awards and a very scandalous transcript of records!!!)

 I voted for a president (I voted for Manny Villar ~ NoyNoy Aquino would really win... he has a very scandalous, tactless, blabber-mouth sister named Kris!!! Why wouldn't he win by landslide???!!!)

I went to a job fair (with that tacky-tacky, very tacky stamp!!!)

I had my very first *paying job* (even though I have been paid two weeks prior to my resignation!!!)

I celebrated my 22nd birthday (like there would be another 22nd birthday, right???!!!)

I formally resigned from an employment (on the spot!!!)

I had the closest near-to-death experience (to date... and thanks to Him I'm still a walking piece of dirt!!!)

I re-bonded my hair (and it is like a rod... like a stick... that straight!!!)

I bought something over the internet (don't I look someone who'll curse your acne off for almost-flawless Harry Potter skin???!!!)

And...

It was my 4th anniversary of spreading metrosexuality scandalous love on YouTube!!! (And I like embedded this video several times on my blog!!!)

The year had the goods... but I wasn't very much satisfied with the outcome of the year since I didn't achieve much of my goals (I gained not so good weight, and I'm not yet on high definition!!! *Eke!!!*) ~ I'm not a goal-oriented individual, so why would I???!!! But I'm not making a New Year Resolution... because New Year is about 15 days away... so, I will start earlier than other people, and hopefully - I will have a better 2011.

WISHLIST - Canon PowerShot SX210IS

If you people remember, I had a question on my FaceBook Personal and General Page. It was more of a status message

"It's a difficult decision: What should I buy A) A Casio digital camera with high definition (720p) movie recording feature for more and better YouTube videos, or B) Teeth whitener and 2 months supply of Proactiv for acne control??? And why???!!!"

I thought of it and I would go for a camera - which I'll get into. But I will have my teeth whitened and my blemishes dealt with first - so I will be photo and video ready!!! 

If you didn't know - I've been wanting to replace my Casio Exilim EX-V7 ages ago. And I've been looking for the best replacement. The specifications should be better as well - although most cameras now come with a higher resolution than 7.2, but cameras with a zoom higher than 7x are rare!!! Casio cameras, according to images posted in reviews, are almost identical and they lack sharpness. In my opinion, quality should be better - but even high end Casio cameras still have the same problem.

Therefore, I will switch from a Casio digital camera to a Canon!!! It will be a big leap, I will part from the user-friendliness of Casio and onto a whole different world.

So, most cameras from Canon have a high resolution - but the zoom is usually upto 4x only. And for me, that is not very helpful. I take pictures and videos of a subject more than 10 meters away and exhausting a 7x power zoom. So going down 3 steps will affect a lot!!!

And on a website, I saw the Canon PowerShot SX210IS. It has twice the zoom of my current digital camera - imagine 14x zoom!!! It can take images up to 14 megapixels, and can also give me better videos for my YouTube channel!!! Wow!!!

The nice thing also about this model is that it comes in 3 amazingly eye delicious flavors! The black one is what I will be *hopefully* purchasing. I actually asked YouTube user, Infosyncvideos, if the zoom capability of this camera can be used simultaneously while recording a video. Because if not, I will have to buy a separate Canon digital camera and a video camera recorder - and that is not the most practical thing to do if you are just going to film makeup tutorials at home and make them accessible to everyone on the web, right???!!!

I saw the video (zoom is fixed to 1x) and the it is amazingly amazing!!! The sample video clip is by the same YouTube user.

 

 YouTube Link

The nice thing about the video is considering the person taking the video is constantly moving on a certain duration of the video, the result is still crisp!!! And I love it!!! =)

The price of this particular model is PHP 15,876 (~ USD 334.23) online as opposed to the suggested retail price of PHP 23,950 (~ USD 504.21)

WISHLIST - Sigma Makeup Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush

I admit, I'm a stickler for using brushes when applying my makeup. But don't get me wrong - I don't like bright and out of this world colors on my face... since I don't go with the trend. I just like to keep it nice, clean and simple - you wouldn't even know I wear the thing!

To date, I have 23 brushes? And some of them, some used and unused ones, I already gave away. I started with a short-handled brush set, I bought them at HBC for about PHP 80.00++ (~ USD 1.68). And yes, I know how to use each and every one of the 23 brushes I have, but for me - it's not enough... I'm kind of vain right now.

There are certain occasions that you really have to look your best in your fluid foundation. Yes a regular foundation brush (similar to M·A·C 190) is a good brush to start in using to apply liquid foundation - but I really prefer to use that for concealer in larger areas. And did I not mention - if you use that kind of brush on your face for applying liquid foundation - you could have streaks and lines if you are not a good makeup blender???!!! And I'm not an expert at blending - but I'm getting better at it!!!

So, I was looking online for a good makeup brush that could solve the problems of: streaks and lines, and also so I could use less liquid foundation. And I found the Sigma Website and saw a 187-M·A·C like brush - but I don't want a brush with long optical fibers on it since (no matter how thick they are) it gets flimsy and could bend. I want shorter optical fibers on a brush and found the Sigma Makeup Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush (as shown above) to be perfect!!! And also, it costs less since there is a Multiply site which sells this brush for PHP 1,100 (~USD 23.15). I know it's more expensive than that in the site but since there is a shipping fee and would come from a different country, the delivery is twice the price of the brush!!! So the PHP 50.00 (~USD 1.05) delivery fee is no problem for me at the moment. I just don't know when to order this brush - if before or when I have a new job!!! =)