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Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) zonyl Profile Does anyone know of a resource to get the Walgreens camera working? I found on the wiki the USB vendor id etc, but not any info on if this works with Gphoto or not. 11-27-2003 07:23:48

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) zonyl Profile Hooking up a USB cable to pins 6, 8, 9, 10 as shown, I am getting a "two quick beep" then followed by a what appears to be a "Fc" on the display. The camera ready light is not lit. I verified connections with DMM. I hooked this up to linux and dont see anything on the /proc/usb... Has anyone seen this before or know what is going on? 11-28-2003 23:39:22

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) zonyl Profile Nevermind on the hookup problem. My Palm Pro cradle connector had a couple of pins shorted with a trace on the other side of the board. I got it hooked up and recognized by both Windows and Linux as a device. However, I cannot get either OS's to grab pics: -Windows: sucr.exe finds the camera but reports 0 photo remaining. Using any of the buttons results in the program locking up. -Linux: Cant get gphoto2 lib with patches to build yet.. Some sort of problem with my gcc on my build machine I am trying to sort out. 11-30-2003 10:06:22

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) codeman Profile | Email zonyl where did you get your walgrees camera .. i have been trying to get a few i have a idea for a good hack for them (wont work for the ritz ones) .. codeman 12-02-2003 12:35:36

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) zonyl Profile They are everywhere here in Milwaukee, WI for $9.99 (If you would like some at cost, let me know and ill send you my email address for details.) I have a couple myself and have been searching the internet for information on the Gt-8920LR chipset. (I dont see any libgphoto support for it :( ) Sunplus website: http://www.gtsc.com.tw/Products/GT-8920/body_gt-8920.html They dont have datasheets available yet there though but it looks like an all-in-one chipset. Hopefully they will offer up a possible usb protocol being used. 12-03-2003 07:20:00

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) codeman Profile | Email yes i would like a few just email me at codeman@linux-hacker.net thanks codeman 12-03-2003 10:55:33

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 1 times) Gultig Profile The reason that the Walgreens cameras are so hard to find is that they are only selling them in Wisconsin for now. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-07-27-digital_x.htm 12-04-2003 10:04:48

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) codeman Profile | Email ok i did some hacking on the walgreess version and here's what i have done.. first thanks to zonyl for getting me some cameras to mess with.. ok if you look at http://www.linux-hacker.net/html/gallery/website/pd_board_hr_back_mod you will see there is a daughter board on there with the nand flash for picture storage .. if you remove that board you can add a smartmedia socket and using smartmedia card you will be able to get the pics with a smartmedia reader standard jpg's but it will not do more that 25 pics still (think its using fat12).. also there is a serial port there labeled rs232 it a ttl level serial port .. pin 1 rx []square on board pin 2 tx pin 3 gnd pin 4 data out ?? for lcd ?? video ?? if you hook up a max232 type chip to the board and a pc , in a term program hit space bar and the camera will return a 0x01 hex (looks like it does autobaud rate) and if you hit the - key twice it will trigger the flash and count the remaining counter down but does not write to flash . and if you send a 029 dec (hold alt and type 029 on keypad then release alt) if will change the format of the data coming out on pin 4..( dont know yet ) so far thats all i got in one night .. codeman 12-11-2003 16:28:39

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Linuxguru Profile | Email Codeman, thanks for the pics. I'm a little confused by the daughtercard - does it have exactly the same pinout as a smartmedia socket, and so fits directly on the same footprint, flush with the main PCB (with the LCD in the picture) ? (I don't have a Walgreens camera, only the Ritz (actually Wolf) Dakota Digital.) So the implication is that with the Smartmedia socket mod, you can use stock Smartmedia cards (like obsolete 8/16 MB cards) and remove them physically to retrieve the images, without requiring either a special cable or drivers. So the next question is: Is there an slide-in slot at the side, or do you have to use a trusty Dremel ? 12-11-2003 18:59:12

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) codeman Profile | Email here are some pic to get a better idea of how it works daughter card removed http://www.linux-hacker.net/html/gallery/website/res44442 smartmedia socket added http://www.linux-hacker.net/html/gallery/website/res44441 here it is complete. http://www.linux-hacker.net/html/gallery/website/res44443 another one http://www.linux-hacker.net/html/gallery/website/res44445 there is a door for the smartmedia card codeman 12-11-2003 19:26:20

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Linuxguru Profile | Email Bravo! This is one of the cleanest hacks I've seen. Looks like it's time for another group buy, this time for Smartmedia sockets. I've also got to arrange for a few Walgreens cameras from Wisconsin. Aside to others: Codeman seems to specialize in these "connector" hacks - like the original I-Opener IDE header hack, the Websurfer IDE header, etc. 12-11-2003 21:55:39

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 1 times) zonyl Profile Thanks for that info Codeman! Im eagerly awaiting some sockets. The Walgreens cameras are somewhat nicer than the Dakota ones as well. The viewfinder is larger, seems to have red-eye reduction flash, and more importantly, I think the colors are better ;) There are a ton of the walgreen cameras here. I have cleaned them out a couple of times and they re-stock within a few days. Last time I went there they clerk said "Make sure you bring the cameras back here for development". Yah, sure. Still waiting to here back from Sunplus folks on datasheets. Ill have to send another email today. 12-12-2003 15:30:13

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) codeman Profile | Email I have send a email looking for the datasheet also to grandtech .. it would be nice to get the ntsc out working if someone needs to refocus one .. and they do seem better made that the ritz one out of the 4 walgreens ones they all look good out of 3 ritz ones only 1 looks good the other 2 bad 1 real dark .. codeman 12-12-2003 15:33:57

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) codeman Profile | Email ok i added some pics from my canon powershot a5, ritz camera, Walgreens camera.. http://www.linux-hacker.net/html/gallery/website also the ritz does 1280x960 and the walgreens does 1280x1024 they were just some quick pics one shot each .. codeman 12-13-2003 17:15:27

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) hardware1 Profile We got Slashdotted! There is a Bittorrent file link available that has all the pics in it, if you have used Bittorrent before it should be a simple click, and can help with the server bandwidth here. See the slashdot story near the end of the page for the link or links (more people may post them as stable 24/7 trackers become available). http://slashdot.org/articles/03/12/14/1417243.shtml Bittorent client is here, you should try it, it's cool. http://bitconjurer.org/BitTorrent/ The server is a little slow, but still responding. 12-14-2003 15:49:46

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Wild_Pencil Profile | Email Yep.. was wondering what happened to the server this past weekend, 'til I took a look over at Slashdot. :o) Codeman, I just gotta say... your hardware hacking skills totally rock! -WP 12-15-2003 11:22:28

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) YouBecha Profile That group buy will probably have to include cameras also ;) Have they migrated outside the chedder state yet? I can't even get a Ritz camera where I live :( http://www.geocities.com/mr_bubba_zanetti/ 12-15-2003 14:51:07

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) thegfunk Profile | Email Which walgreens has these cameras? I went to one in hartland, wi on sunday and there was no sign of this camera. I saw the picture of where these cameras can be processed but they were all located around madison... grant 12-15-2003 18:23:23

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) NittanyLAncer Profile This looks like it could be a good project for one of my engineering workshops (it's good for the freshman to actually be able to USE a soldering iron). If someone with access to these cameras available could drop me an e-mail at garretttheman@earthlink.net I'd be much appreciative. I'd (most likely) be in the market for 6-7 of the cameras. THANKS! 12-15-2003 21:30:07

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) thegfunk Profile | Email I managed to find a walgreens with some of these cameras... I was wondering if anyone has gotten them to work with the USB port. I wired the USB up on mine and the cam is detected and I've been playing around with the pureread program (I'm using OS X). I immediately get a transaction timed out error when anything is done to the camera... So I'm just curious if anyone has figured out how to get it working? Grant 12-16-2003 21:35:58

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Zodiacal Profile | Email all you have to do is solder a smart media reader to the board and it works? am i understanding you guys correctly? or do you have to connect via serial to issue the read/write commands? 12-16-2003 22:16:24

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) codeman Profile | Email yes all you have to do is remove the daughter board and add a smartmedia connector .. insert a smartmedia card and take some pics .. codeman 12-17-2003 10:52:03

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Zodiacal Profile | Email Coolness! got a link off hand of where i can get buy the connector you used? and does anyone have a link or phone number to call to order one of those cameras?. i was about to buy one of the other type, the ritz cameras with the the usb hack, but smart media sounds more useful. if anyone has an extra camera they want to sell please send me an email at: yz67ij702@sneakemail.com 12-17-2003 11:03:13

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) gust0208 Profile Hello, I am a new reader of this group and am very interested in the camera modding. With everyone else, I would also put my name in to get one of the walgreens cameras (email at gust0208@hotmail.com). I live in Minneapolis and could drive over to Wisconsin, is there a way to double-check which stores have the cameras in stock? Also, someone else asked previously about a link or model # for the smart media connector/socket and I would be interested in that information as well. Regarding the Ritz dakota camera, has anyone had luck ordering one of these over the phone? I have tried the phone number (1-877-690-0099) from the website regarding the mod and have not had any luck. If anyone has had success, could you share which ritz number you used to order the camera? Thanks to everyone in advance and all of the work and great ideas with these cameras! 12-18-2003 21:25:08

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) gust0208 Profile Possible link for ordering the Smartmedia connectors. I found this link (with an establishment in the USA and many other countries) that appears to have Smartmedia connectors for sale. I am unsure of the price, I will give them a call and post it here when I find out. Click on the "Connector Selector", select "Memory Media" then "Smartmedia connector". Link: http://www.hirose.co.uk/home.htm I hope that helps a bit for someone. 12-19-2003 16:03:47

SmartMedia cards (modified 0 times) metalfan Profile What size smartmedia cards have you folks got to work with this camera? Are the 8MB or 16MB cards the only ones that work? 12-19-2003 21:29:26

free smartmedia sockets (modified 0 times) rc1136 Profile At least one "large office supply chain" -- unsure if I can post the name based on the "no ads" policy -- frequently sells USB smartmedia reader/writers for free after rebate ($10 minus $10 rebate). I picked one up this evening and popped the case apart. It looks like a fairly straightforward process to desolder and remove the socket. Watch the weekly sales ads and I'm sure you'll see them on sale again soon. Now I just need to get to Wisconsin to pick up a camera... 12-20-2003 17:46:09

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) yourmom Profile lookin to get one of these cameras. ill send someone the money if they can get one and mail it to me...my email is matt@robfellasleep.com 12-22-2003 08:12:39

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) jquest Profile here's a link to someone that sells smartmedia sockets: http://dkc3.digikey.com/pdf/T033/0259.pdf order on-line.... 12-22-2003 08:28:00

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Zodiacal Profile | Email would a SD card reader work in this camera? 12-22-2003 15:47:17

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) gust0208 Profile Thank you to Jquest for the order link on the smart media connectors! Now just gotta get one of those cameras... 12-22-2003 17:06:26

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) gust0208 Profile Smart Media connectors, 3.3v vs. 5v vs. 3.3v/5v connectors. I assume that the 3.3v/5v one is the connector to go for? I did not realize there were different voltages of smart media cards. I am looking to place an order soon, so any information would be greatly appreciated. 12-22-2003 17:20:16

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 1 times) aquilaxx Profile Another clone... Your camera seems the clone of an italian 2002 Exxon mass gift (In italy Exxon is known as Esso and if U buy more than 2000$/year of petrol from them they gave U that camera). As i saw from photos of codemaster it is "sold" here as FujiFilm IX-30, it can be used in Win 98 as USB storage and Web camera, and throught a jackphone plug also with TVs. I'm trying to develop a module to access the GT-8920 USB internal device with linux, but with no datasheet from GrandTech is really hard (it means that things not work with any avaliable kernel) From codemaster's photos i wasn't able to see if in your camera there is the USB connector, but in case it dosn't have i could send U some picture on where is mine. Anyway if U want all the drivers for your camera U can download it from : http://www.fujifilm.it/Supporti/ix30.asp Sorry it's only in italian: Anyway this is a fast translation of Download section of that page: - Download Driver NOTE: DRIVERS ARE ONLY FOR WINDOWz "systems" The camera IX-30 is not recognize by MAC SYSTEMS, so use SmartMedia reader. - Do not connect the camera. - Uncompress files onto a directory. - Install them by hands (there are some between windowz systems ) (even if i'm italian i never understand what above phrase means) - Controll Panel - New Hardware - Pick up Hardware from list - hardware type: Controller USB - Select the path where U save the driver (there is a directory for each operating sys) cheers Federico 12-23-2003 07:27:59

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email Anyone have a chance to try the above drivers?? Curious to know if they work.... :) 12-24-2003 14:30:44

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) thegfunk Profile | Email The drivers install eventually and windows will accept these drivers when the camera is plugged in (and it auto-detects the camera). It even shows the camera in "my documents" but when I click to retrieve the pictures or look at the pictures it crashes the system hard. I see a little box come up that says initializing camera and then the system reboots. I can click properties and most of the status fields (flash mode, battery level, camera time) say "not available". there is a diagnostic "test camera" button which when clicked comes back with a pop-up that says "your imaging device successfully completed the diagnostic test." So I'm not sure where to go from here... Grant 12-24-2003 20:25:15

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) tecate Profile I got the same situation as described above. It detects camera, but then says "Failed to create video preview". When I click save pictures, it says no pictures were made. But in preferences it says that camera is connected. 12-25-2003 16:12:59

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) CMOS Profile I have installed the smartmedia socket in two cameras following codeman's photos, one camera was working briefly, but now both of them display 38 pictures remaining when turned on, then display FE and wait on the LCD. Has anyone else ran into this? I am using the 3.3/5v sockets from Digikey part #H2319-ND, these are phsically different than the sockets codeman used. When it did work, it displayed 25 pictures remaining and the ready light came on. 12-26-2003 07:59:52

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 1 times) CMOS Profile The FujiFilm IX-30 looks like a another Pure Digital clone for sure, they have added more features on this model however. After looking at the manual, it has to be the same basic camera. It has a USB connector, and a video out, different LCD display, smartmedia socket, tripod mount ect... From looking inside the Walgeens camera I believe the black cable that codeman has cut, is the USB cable. Maybe by bypassing the nand board the USB drivers will work? Here is the manual for the FujiFilm IX-30 in case anyone want to read it in Italian. /http://www.fujifilm.it/Supporti/ix-30/manuale.pdf 12-26-2003 09:02:23

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 1 times) tecate Profile Well, I tried to solder to the mainboard part of the cable; also tapped the USB cable in the camera, both gave the same result - LCD just displayed "PC" and green light came on, PC detected as IX-30 camera, but still when I try to access it it says couldn't creat a video preview, and no pictures are displayed. 12-26-2003 22:31:31

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) mogi Profile Hey everyone, I live in Madison, WI and have access to these Walgreens cameras. I have a couple here already, and have tried the same USB hack as the Ritz/Wolf cameras. I have the Ritz/Wolf cameras working great. The USB hack DOES NOT work on the Walgreens cameras, but am trying to hack up the linux gphoto drivers to get it to work still. The process is going slow. This SmartMedia hack looks great. Just a note though, you will not be able to store more than 25 pictures, no matter how large of a memory module you stick in. This is because of the camera's firmware. I am willing to purchase and ship cameras to people, as long as it is worth while to me (meaning not just one camera). If anyone wants to send me some of these SmartMedia sockets that work with this hack, I'd be willing to trade cameras in return for sure! 12-29-2003 12:10:10

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) N0ctrnl Profile I am also looking for one of these cameras. n0ctrnl <at> yahoo.com if you're willing to help (yes, that's a zero in n0ctrnl). Thanks :) 12-29-2003 15:35:24

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) CMOS Profile I have finished the smartmedia socket mod on two cameras, they are working fine with the limitation of 25 pictures as mentioned before. The pictures are better than I expected and I'm sure will print ok at sizes up to 4x6. The problem I mentioned in an earlier post was caused by a small piece of solder bridging two of the solder pads. The sockets from Digikey need to be cut to allow room for some SMT components if you want it to be flush with the PCB. 12-30-2003 07:12:47

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) aquilaxx Profile Still the Italian FujiFilm owner... Sorry but i forgot to tell U that the drivers for the IX-30 works only on Win98 even with the original camera. XP home recognizes it as remote disk auto(magically), but cannot use it as webcam. Messages from LCD means: PC = USB Mass Storage mode (the camera works as remote smertcard reader) To get this mode work the camera switch MUST be OFF, then U can connect the USB cable to the PC MSD = Web Camera Mode (the camera works a web cam) To get this mode work the camera switch MUST be ON, and using the right button switch the mode on PC, then U can connect the USB cable to the PC As far i know nobody was able to make the chip 8920 works on linux simply 'cose GrandTech was out of business before they release the manual. The company that buy GrandTech do not want release tech infos 'cose it will become too easy hack small and inespensive USB devices as FujiFilm or Walgreens... I've tried to use the 685x tech-infos to make the 8920 works... but no success at all (till no at least); it seems that even if the chips come from the same company they have totaly different USB protocols. If somebody has more infos on that chips will make happy me and all italian FuijFilm owner! I alway listen for good news on [fferri <at> niccolai <dot> net] Federico 12-30-2003 09:46:45

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) geekster Profile Looking for cameras....zonyl? will send post paid shipping package and cash for help....and a little something for the effort jecottrell@comcast.no.spam.net (remove the obvious) 01-09-2004 10:17:19

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email I am also looking for cameras - I need about 5 and will be willing to send prepaid shipping label along with a little extra for your troubles. Also>> Walgreens was talking about releasing the $17 version (with PREVIEW LCD!!!!) soon. Does anyone know what "soon" might be? I hear the Ritz unit with preview is already available - have any of these smart media mods been tried on the Ritz and/or on the Preview models? If we can get that chip slot, the preview window and a focus adjustment - this will be an awsome camera. 01-16-2004 22:31:42

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) longshot Profile I also have installed the smartmedia socket and am getting the 38 pictures with the FE code, I went back soldered the old board back in and still get the 38 pictures with FE. Any help CMOS? 01-18-2004 07:55:12

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email "FE"? Here goes my wild guess: "Firmware Error" and the "38" is the error code? What is the possibility that you guy's zapped the camera while soldering? I am going to take an educated guess that these contain less static protection than we are used to on products that we are SUPPOSED to be opening up. The ominous warning on that label by the data connector might not be all smoke - the camera can probably be easily damaged by static on the connector. I found the Ritz version - but the sucr drivers seem to have a walgreens version and it seems that some people have gotten them to work. I wonder if you could fix your camera by getting it connected via USB and sending a clear or force enable into it. I have a line on the palm cables for about $6. Not advertising, but if anyone really needs me to I can pick one up and send it to you. I don't have one yet and have hard-wired my camera for now. What exactly happens when you guys try the USB cable? Mine worked like a dream once I stopped trying to make a connector out of things like centronics connectors - I warn everyone - don't waste your time - solder or buy the palm cable. 01-18-2004 11:22:29

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) longshot Profile I never got the error until I out the memory card in. I used a high dollar Pace soldering and desolder iron with a wrist stap. But I can try the usb. Any idea of software to use? 01-18-2004 16:52:26

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email well, This is the software I am using with the Ritz http://cexx.org/dakota/sucr-pb2.zip Upon more thought - FE is more likely to stand for "Fatal Error". Everything I read says this camera's code is simply not capable of addressing more than 25 shots so it would make a lot of sense to encode error messages in the shots remaining screen at numbers above 25. If so, anyone ambitious enough to increase the camera's capacity might need to watch out for a conflict there. I got the download working with those drivers I just referenced (on the ritz) - smooth as silk, once I stopped breaking it (I don't like to read things called "readme" I suggest you learn from my thick skull and follow the driver installation instructions). I am obsessed with these camera's now ;-> I have a line on palm usb cables and have access to the ritz $10.99 units. I also have the guy at ritz trying to get me some $16.99 units with preview LCD. I am very interested in exchanging cameras with anyone in range of the WG camera's and I think we ALL should keep an eye out for the WG units with preview - if those take the smartmedia socket we have a winner - big time. I cannot imagine that either preview version is any harder to hack - they would have to re-design THEIR download system, and it seems they haven't left any corners uncut on that end. As far as I can tell, no one has posted anything about the preview versions of either. It's possible that the preview versions will be closer to each other than the $10.99 units. Timing-wise there was a bigger gap between ritz and wg on the first model - although the delay in release of the better WG version might be because they are demanding a re-design. All guesswork - lets get some, chew them up and digest what we find. Besides, when they see how many cameras "vanished" during the test market, they might kill the line. I am very into the focus hack too - the argument that it's useless without a preview is (excuse the pun) short-sighted. I have seen many cheap cameras with adjustable focus for close-up, normal and distance that have a simple mechanical adjustment and take the shot blind. All you need to do is find the 3 "sweet-spots" and arrange for a way to switch between them - as is done in the documented hack. Now a REAL psycho will find a way to tie it into a viewfinder hack too (fortunately, my doctor has put me on new medication that makes thoughts like this almost inaudible) Did anyone besides me notice the Interocitor chip in their camera? 01-18-2004 22:45:50

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) longshot Profile Strae, I was reading the post from cmos, he says when he had the fe problem it was due to a solder bridge. It seems I also have this problem, but I have looked and looked and not found it. I will check it out under a microscope and see if I can find it. As far as camera's we happened to go to Wis. skiing and I could ony find 2 cameras, but I am going to try and find more. If cmos comes back on I need to know where his was bridged, maybe mine is in the same place. I robbed my smartmedia socket from a card reader I had and it is perfect, nothing to notch.I might want to try a Ritz just for the heck of it. 01-19-2004 07:09:34

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email Yep - I had thought cmos was the FC error, but I see you are right. More guesswork, but if you have no visible short, it might be the socket itself touching a board component - not a lot of room there. Sturdy piece of plastic under the socket is the trick that laptop makers use to prevent this problem with pcmcia sockets. When your eyes give out, try looking for a short with a meter. With all that micro-solder work, I am wondering if it isn't better to just keep extra cameras on hand. For $44 I have 100 shots. Of course, 4 smart media cards would be more convenient to carry. 01-19-2004 10:56:24

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) CMOS Profile longshot, The solder bridge I removed was very small and was brigding a pair of the main connection pins. I still have one camera that gets that error, but I have two others working. I wasn't able to see the solder bridge until I used a pair of magnifying glasses, also clean off excess flux, as it can be slightly conductive. The first time I received that error, I removed the SM socked and reinstalled the NAND boad and everything was working fine, so I don't think this error is the result of any perminent damage. I haven't had the time to work on the other camera lately. I was able to take 25 pictures and fill the SM card, place it in my olympus camera, turn it on, then put it back into the Walgreens and it creates a new folder and allows for another 25 pictures. CMOS P.S. I have been able to get windows to recognize the camera via USB, but I haven't been able to get any drivers to work for downloading pictures. 01-20-2004 06:35:32

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Drmn4ea Profile CMOS, How far will the Windows software get? E.g., will it detect anything at all? Will it allow you to dump / view any of the memory space? 01-20-2004 17:39:17

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) longshot Profile Well I've about had it with this camera, I desoldered the sm board, resoldered the original board, still error message, desoldered original board, cheked all the solder points under a microscope no shorts, reattached sm baord still have error. I've got one more camera new in the package I'm going to hook a usb cable to it and see if I can get the drivers for it. If anybody has had success with certain drivers please let me know. 01-20-2004 20:14:13

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) CMOS Profile Drmn4ea, It will detect the camera just fine, Windows does recognize it as a device (I don't remember the exact device name it recognizes it as though?). The problem I ran into is when I try to download the pictures using the software written for the Ritz version it gives me a windows error and terminates the application. It also does not accurately display the correct number of pictures stored in memory on the camera. I have not tried to connect a camera via USB since I have installed the SM sockets since I just use a USB card reader to access the pictures. Longshot, I have been where you are, I did almost give up but when I tried a new camera then it worked fine, so I went back and was able to fix one of the original ones. The error you and I are getting is the same error you get if there is no card in the media slot, so I think somehow the camera is not detecting the card. I would also make sure that the card detection switch in the socket is working also. Hopefully I'll have some time to do some more work on these one of these days. Good Luck! CMOS 01-21-2004 10:37:59

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) longshot Profile Well I just fooled with this camera some more. What I did notice is the flash cap is not getting any power, when the power switch is turned on, the led goes on then off in about 1 second, I tested the voltage at the flash cap and it has no voltage. I also noticed when the unit is powered up, the sm card in, if you push the shutter button it will tell you "NO". 01-21-2004 15:32:39

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email Well, I am again making the offer to swap the regular $10.99 Ritz for one of the Walgreens models (new sealed on both and we each pay our own side of the postage) I have cables that work, they need a USB connector, re-wiring and need to be shaved - I was very successful by over-trimming the connector, placing some acrylic foam double-sided tape and a strip of clear plastic from the blister-pack (to back the external side of the double-sticky) - the foam tape makes a nice little "spring" and slides in smooth as silk with a solid connection. I had a really crappy USB mouse to supply the USB end The sucr driver I have has a walgreens.inf - have you guys tried it? -s 01-21-2004 23:47:15

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) CMOS Profile strae, I have tried the Walgreens.inf file and it works, but the software to download the pictures doesn't. 01-23-2004 08:43:47

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Drmn4ea Profile Sorry about that folks, the Walgreens .inf is just there so that the camera can be accessed at all, in the off chance that some feature (e.g. memory reading) might work. I haven't heard of anyone actually getting a Walgreens camera to work with it; it sounds like the command set is completely different from the Dakota cams. A dump of the firmware from one of these cams would be very helpful in figuring out its command set. Any volunteers? (The Dakota firmware was read by actually desoldering the chip and putting it in a reader. It would be a lot easier to use the raw-read commands to get the firmware data, but chances are good that if nothing else from the Dakota works (in sucr.exe) with the Walgreens cam, the memory-dump features don't either. Has anybody tried it?) I currently have a fulltime job (incidentally, as a direct result of the Dakota hack), so don't really have time to sift through a firmware dump the way John did for the Dakota. But if someone else is willing/able to figure out some of the command set and document it, I'll be glad to update SUCR to support it 01-23-2004 19:39:11

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile I've successfully modified two of the walgreen cameras and ruined a third. Here are a few comments on what I've noticed. The little tabs on the main board are very fragile. I ruined my first camera when one of them lifted off the board. If you don't make a good solder connection or break off a tab you also get the FE 38 error. The camera has color fringing, which at the price is not surprising. The fringing can be very bad if you photograph a white sign with dark lettering in bright sunlight. You can pop off the plastic piece around the lens. If you break away the dab of epoxy holding the lens in place during disassembly you can adjust the focus without too much difficulty. The camera doesn't have an IR blocking filter. Using a Hoya 72 IR filter, 50% transmittion at 720 nanometers, I was able to take a well exposed IR image in winter sunlight in 1/10 of a sec. To get the same exposure with with my olympus 3020Z I would need a tripod and a 2 to 4 sec shutter speed. Using dark red filters--the 29 red especially-- the red channel become very over exposed. However both the green and the blue channel have significant IR leakage and with a little channel mixing in photoshop you can create some interesting images. scribble 01-27-2004 06:46:36

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email two things: Will one of you with a camera that is dead please send it to someone that can remove and read the chip? If someone with access to a reader would just post the raw data then others can start poking around in it. 2: Drmn4ea: Instead of awaiting the commands, wouldn't it be possible to have sucr pull it's commands from an ini file? Then you wouldn't have to worry about writing a new version just for a different command set, we would just need a new ini that anyone could write that knew the commands. -S 01-28-2004 00:00:36

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Drmn4ea Profile To strae: It would be a nice feature. But most of the commands (particularly the useful ones) are not that simple; they typically require some kind of complex processing, and to respond to the camera based on the results of this processing. (E.g. the Ritz unlock sequence requires bytes to be read, shifted, XORed, etc. and fed back; downloading pictures requires you to parse a raw FAT12 sector table dumped to memory). Making this doable from a configuration file would require a complex scripting language, at which point you'd be better off just doing it in 'C' right in the existing source 01-28-2004 22:20:36

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Drmn4ea Profile Another way to (probably) grab images from the Walgreens cam: There is an RS-232 (computer serial) interface in addition to USB. So far, experimenters have been able to make a few things happen just by sending random data to it (e.g. have it return a byte, or make the camera count down). Unfortunately, this has the same problem as the USB interface: it isn't documented. (It's also not nearly as fast.) The next step toward any simple hack of this cam (USB or serial) is to read the firmware. 01-28-2004 23:17:43

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile I have a dead camera. So if anyone has a reader and wants to document the firmware I'll send you the main board. E-mail me at scribble1@charter.net with your address scribble 01-30-2004 10:23:26

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email To Drmn4ea: Yeah, I thought of that after posting - but I believe the basic commands like the memory dumps were simple commands, no? So to modify the request - couldn't it be done for the single-line commands and wouldn't it be a fairly fast mod (I know you are busy, thanks for sucr regardless of what happens with the WG cameras - I have a Ritz). I am hoping that random poking around will yield a firmware dump and am also hoping that they only changed the commands, but left the "encryption" the same. From the results people are getting with the smartmedia mod, it would seem they didn't touch the file system at all (and why would they?). Everything about these is cheap and lazy as far as I can see so far. Changing the command set would have been a logical way to prevent interchange of ritz and wallgreens cameras - I am betting that this was the only concern. Although, it seems that the camera never init's. Maybe everything is the same except the enable routine. Actually, this is about the laziest way to make it incompatable with the ritz - so it's probably likely. Do we at least get a serial number? If not, then the other lazy method is simply move the locations around. Another idea - can you rip the communication routine out of sucr and allow a way to enter raw commands and view results? I think the software to do this is already floating around, the source certainly exists already. But an executable distribution here would let people play with it. If nothing else - we will surely end up with more dead cameras to rip apart <g> Of course - the dead camera being offered might make this all moot - thanks Scribble. Will someone please get with this guy and read that chip? Damn - my biggest fear - you guys will get this working and I STILL wont have access to one! Offer to trade ritz for wallgreens (not commercial - an offer to exchange the hardware for "educational" purposes!) still stands. -s 01-30-2004 10:58:21

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile strae--send me an address at scribble1@charter.net and I'll trade cameras. My local Ritz doesn't stock them since they don't have the processing equipment or so they claim. Or Walgreens and Ritz might have divided up the country-- a fiendish cartel aimed at dominating the toss-away digital market. 02-01-2004 10:11:06

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Drmn4ea Profile Hmm...don't have the hardware? I see a potential market in distributing readymade Palm cables + software CD to Ritz stores...or their competitors, for that matter. Or even a "camera processing service" that, for the same (or less) processing fee, returns to the customer their blank camera along with prints? I can't imagine why Ritz didn't do that to begin with; it would eliminate the cost of shipping out the "full" cameras to be recased, repackaged and shipped back, and may also encourage repeat customers (hey, I got a "free" replacement with my prints, lets take more pictures!) I'll try adding a send-raw-command feature (or separate program?) in the next few days. I've been hesitant to do this for the general public, since I just know someone's going to come across an "erase firmware and destroy my camera" cmd somewhere along the line, and come bitching at me for not being psychic and preventing it. Ignoring that, the only remaining problem is not knowing in advance how many bytes (if any) a given command is expected to return. I'm not even sure what happens if you request bytes from a command that doesn't return any. (Nothing? Garbage bytes? Library crashes? I guess we will find out...) 02-01-2004 14:43:43

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email First of all a quick OT question - is anyone here using Mozilla? I find it perverse that I cannot log into this board with Mozilla and wonder if it's just me or if there's a reason ultraboard isn't supporting it. Now - does ANYONE have a reader for that flash chip and PLEASE get with scribble and get us a dump! (did I say please?) Drmn4ea: Well, if you can stand the flaming, we DO have a need for dead cameras at the moment <g> There's another usb library I found that claims full WDM compliance -there's a free "lite" version and an unlimited demo - both include full source code for everything except the actual driver - which makes sense if they don't want to trust good faith to prevent people from removing the time limit and recompiling. Anyway the free version looks like it might do the trick anyway - I tried creating an INF by combining stuff from dakota.inf and the one generated by the library, but I am little more than a hack at inf files and it is clear I have no clue (my INF contains "no information about my device") Now, it's a commercial library, but there's a free version too - can I post those URL's here? Now - it might be weird to expect more bytes than the camera sends - but I imagine the other case would probably be worse - we anticipate say 3 bytes and get back a live video stream (ouch - but it would be GOOD pain if we could find a way to use it). Of course - all novices should tread carefully with any manual command experiments. There's still that Interocitor chip built-in to the thing and you really might not want to activate THAT. Ask Exeter. -S 02-02-2004 23:08:47

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) metalfan Profile I got my hands on one of the Walgreen's camera and I might be buying a smartmedia socket from Digikey soon to mod it. Is anyone interested in a group buy to reduce costs a little bit? Email me at va7dav@yahoo.ca if you are. 02-06-2004 16:14:39

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) pdp1145 Profile | Email Strae, "First of all a quick OT question - is anyone here using Mozilla? I find it perverse that I cannot log into this board with Mozilla and wonder if it's just me or if there's a reason ultraboard isn't supporting it." Well I am using Mozilla version 1.5 and have no problems loging in. I think I started with version 1.3 or something and I never had a problem. Hence I guess its a configuration issue and not a Mozilla incompatibility. Damn its hard to type after lots of wine and a beer (wedding party). See ya Max 02-06-2004 21:27:03

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Drmn4ea Profile I have put up a copy of the .inf it generated at http://cexx.org/dakota/stuff/usbiowiz.inf . I got this by leaving all the LibUSB/etc. stuff installed, and the camera plugged in as it installed. The install lets you select a device(s) to install to, and automatically unloads the existing driver for you (hope it will re-load it when uninstalled!). New hack-up of sucr.exe and source released, you can grab it at http://cexx.org/dakota/sucr.htm (see Advanced test-version). There's no raw-command sender yet, but you can now modify memory/registers, and find out what bulk-interface (if any) was detected on the cam (a first-step in finding why the Walgreens cams won't work?). I will post a notice (or, maybe "warning" is more appropriate) when/if I get a working command-sender ready. PS. Using Mozilla 1.3; haven't experienced any problems posting so far. PPS. What's Interocitor? Who's Exeter? 02-07-2004 20:44:10

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email Here's an interesting thing: I managed to get hold of a WG camera - as has been said before, they are nicer than the Ritz model, although I have mixed feelings about the anti-redeye "feature". I am not fond of a double-flash that cannot be disabled. Internally and externally, the entire camera seems to be better construction and engineering. I would guess that this is simply because it's newer. anyway - here's my "interesting" note. I was playing with the camera using my already-functional palm cable for my Ritz. Of note here: The WG camera has a slightly larger opening and a snug-fitting Ritz cable will be somewhat loose on the WG model. This led to my discovery. I was not getting a solid connection - by wriggling the connector I was able to get the PC status on and off - I also got something else once or twice - I believe it was P and then a backwards "7", almost like PT or something, but I was not really paying attention and was mostly playing around. I recall turning the power on/of several times and I got the above symbol at least twice (I believe exactly twice). When I looked at the camera display, it sai 31 pictures remaining - based upon my earlier theory - I assumed I had killed the camera. I shut it off, turned it back on and it still said 31 pictures remaining. I am NOT sure if there was one or more pictures on the thing before I started playing, but I believe that I took a single picture. I tried snapping a pic and it seemed to work and the counter went to 30. I filled the camera with pictures of my floor and stuff and the camera acted perfectly normally, except it seemed to have accepted 32 pictures. The awsome part of this is that it would seem that we can get 8 more pictures by simply doing smething at the connector - of course, I have no idea if what happened was that I was overwriting some pictures, or maybe scrambling all of them? I am hoping that someone that knows a little more of the programing and schematics will be able to explain what happened and maybe we can re-create this at will. doing it on a ritz would be realy great (since we have a downloader for them) Anyway - I will quote this in the Ritz area - I think it's interesting enough to cross-post and potentially applies to both versions anyway. -S 02-10-2004 09:15:03

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) shiny_razor Profile I have access to Dakotas, and I would like to do a straight-across trade for a Walgreen's if anyone is interested. Email me at my username at hotmail.com 02-12-2004 19:42:38

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) 02U2 Profile Northgate? 02-13-2004 10:14:10

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) shiny_razor Profile Bellevue (Overlake, actually) Cameras West 02-13-2004 14:34:41

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) metalfan Profile I picked up a couple smartmedia cardreaders at Radio Shack -- one to rob a socket from and one to read the card. I transplanted the socket into my camera but I get the same thing as many others -- 38 pictures left is displayed when the camera first turns on, and then it just displays "FE". The socket sits flush on the board, and the bottom is plastic so there's no way it could be shorting anything out. I'm using a 32MB card (the smallest I could find)-- maybe that is confusing the camera. What "tabs" are you guys talking about on the main board? I wonder if I have broken them in the process. I will try and check my solder joints under a scope at school but I've got a week off ("reading" break) so if anyone has any ideas I've got some time to try them out. 02-14-2004 00:45:34

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 1 times) scribble Profile Metalfan--A 32 meg card works fine. That what I'm using in my Walgreen Camera. And the tabs are the ends of the traces that you solder to. They lift off and break away from the board if you aren't careful Opens or shorts will both give you the 38 error messages. I had both when I ruined my first camera as I relearned how to solder with such tight spacings. I used a low wattage soldering iron with a conical tip and a length of solder wick to remove the daughter board. To solder on the card connector I used the absolute minimum amount of fresh solder at the end of the tip. This added a little flux and helped the solder that remained on the tabs form a solid connection to the card connector. After I had what I thought was good joints I cleaned away the flux with rubbing alcohol and scrapped away any possible shorts between the tabs with the point of a dental style pick. I also found a few loose joints by gently tugging on each of the connector pins with the hooked end of the pick while watching for any wiggle using a magnifying glass. hope you find these tips helpful scribble 02-14-2004 08:12:14

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) metalfan Profile Scribble - thanks for the tips. I checked all the solder joints with a meter and found that I had one open. It worked perfectly once I retouched that one. The focus was a little bit off but I fiddled with it a bit until I got some halfway decent pictures. I will post some samples to my site later on if anyone's interested. I didn't add any solder to the pads when I soldered the socket. I just touched them with the iron (I'm just using a cheapo 25W Weller) to flatten the bumps in the leftover solder, put the socket in place, tacked the ground connections, then touched each joint with the iron until the solder wicked onto the pin. Does anybody have a dead board lying around? All I really want is the On/Off switch because mine snapped when I was putting my camera back together. Now I have to open the battery door to turn the camera off. 02-14-2004 14:07:53

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) metalfan Profile Just a quick note: When my card has 25 pictures on it, a total of about 12MB are used. Maybe the camera uses the whole 16MB of the original daughtercard after all? 02-14-2004 21:00:03

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email works out to about 33 pictures, which pretty much matches my accidental discovery, no? More details - the palm/usb cable I was using seems to have been failing. I never put the strain-relief back on it and the wire had pulled out enough that they were shorting intermittantly. In addition, my usb drivers failed completely the next day - probably because I had been messing with the 2 different libraries. Point is, pretty much any imaginable signal could have gotten onto that cable - although I still think it was something fairly simple. Here is another thought. earlier, someone had said that they could get more than 25 pics on a chip by placing it in another camera then back into the WG. IFf true, I wonder HOW MANY times this can be done - can the chip be filled and if so what is the largest chip than can be filled? The reason I wonder about this is that it indicates that the camera is physically able to address the larger memory chip. All of these things point to the 25-pic limit as being a soft limit. If these things can address a 128M module and if the limit is removeable, then I want another 100 cameras. Know what I mean? Anyway, I have to fix my cable. I am also going to make a test cable with all of the pins wired and will play with some likely shorts from the failing cable. 1: To the best of my knowledge, the interface is wired identically to the Rits - is this so? 2) Has anyone found or does anyone suspect a pin combination, internally or externally, that will reset the picture count? ( I need to empty my now full WG cameras flash to try to recreate the accident) -S 02-15-2004 09:20:13

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) metalfan Profile Strae - Yes, that matches your discovery. I'm wondering if they spec'd a 16MB flash chip so that they would never run out of space (maybe also to maximize the life of the chip by using different areas), since 25 pictures obviously take more than 8MB but a little bit less than 16MB. The shots-remaining counter is only based on the number of files in the \DCIM\100_IDEO directory, *not* on how much space is left. The last picture I took with the camera was named DSC_0207.JPG. After that the counter was at 21 pictures left. I put two zero-byte "text" files named DSC_0208.JPG and DSC_0209.JPG on the card, and put it back in the camera. The counter now displayed 19 pictures left. I took another picture and when I looked at the files, the latest picture was named DSC_0210.JPG. Even if I fill the root directory of the card with data, the counter is still only based on the number of files in \DCIM\100_IDEO. If I take a picture and the card is (nearly) full, the camera writes the picture until it fills the card so part of it will show up and the rest will be gray. If the card is completely full, the file will be zero bytes. What happens if we tell the filesystem there is a negative number of files? 02-15-2004 13:32:21

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email A few things then - 1: what size is that chip you are using? 2: What happens if we use a really big chip - say 128M? (ok ... really big in respect to these cameras..) What i am looking for is a physical limit on how much flash the camera can address. It's clearly more than 16 Megs. To test we need to see how much the camera can write to a chip(in 25-pic chunks) - I imagine we can just keep taking pictures, then rename the folder when the camera is "full" and keep going until the counter freezes or something weirder happens (who knows??!?!?). If we manage to get the camera to write 64, 128 or even 256M of pictures in 25-picture chunks then we have a much higher physical limit than we thought. I am dying to know what that limit is, but I am betting that it's a little more reasonable than 25 pictures. 3: I believe the file system is just FAT (anyone verify if it's 12 or 16?) It should be easy to screw with the directory. Set the folder to negative 64 files and see what happens? :) - it might not be that simple though, the camera might fix the "error" after a single write when the controller updates the FAT. Of course, if this works, then we really don't have to work at this anymore so someone should give this a shot ASAP. More info: The camera interface is NOT the same as the Ritz. The USB lines and the grounds are the same, but the others are not: Using a OHMmeter I show connection between ground and; 1,3 and 4. 1 and 4 are NC on the Ritz and 3 shows infinity, or nearly so on the Ritz. WG shows slightly less than 2.5v between 3 and 6 when powered on and full 2.5 between 3 and ground when on (zero when off) - this might match pin 5 on the Ritz. Shorting random pins on the interface, I was able to delete 2 saved pictures from the WG camera - not really of interest and I have not been able to get that weird code again. It's no use being able to reset the camera if we cannot download the pictures. 02-15-2004 18:51:35

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 1 times) metalfan Profile 1 - I am using a 32MB SmartMedia card. 2 - I'm not sure the camera has any clue at all about what it's addressing. All it does is count the number of files with a jpg extension. It will still try to write the picture if the card is full or if there isn't even a card in the slot. Renaming the folder and filling up the rest of the space works, but that means I have to go back to my computer every 25 shots. 3 - Know of a good free DiskEdit clone? I put some (blurry) pics I snapped today up at my site, if anyone would like to see them. I guess I didnt get the lens quite right when I adjusted it. There is a fair bit of EXIF info (including 160x120 thumbnail images!) stored in these pictures. Photo Studio is handy for viewing EXIF info and extracting thumbnails. Possibly of interest: Image Description: Exif_JPEG_422 Make: PureDigital Model: IX-30 Exposure Time: 1/1195 F Number: 3/1 Subject Distance: 15/10 Focal Length: 50/1 There was a bunch of other stuff too but the above looks like the most useful. Has anyone taken any pictures with an Infrared and/or a UV blocking filter? I wonder if those would improve the quality at all. An infrared pass filter would make some interesting shots too-- a previous poster noted somewhere that this camera has no IR blocker on the CCD. 02-15-2004 20:41:49

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile This might be of interest to someone: In order to see if I could improve the image quality of a walgreen camera I salvaged a lens out of a busted canon 35 mm point and shot, one that had given me good prints back in my film days. It was a 35 mm focal length lens and once I cobbled up a crude lens mount it gave me the equivalent of about a 200 mm telephoto lens on the walgreens camera. The interesting and unexplained thing was that by just changing the lens I totally messed up the color balance The images came out very blue--so blue I wasn't able to find anything close to a natural color using the color balance routine in photoshop. Why I have no idea. Since the original walgreens lens has a greenish tinge and the canon lens is optically clear, I first thought the color balance had been tweeked to compensate for the color of the lens. But after looking at color patches thru the lenses I couldn't see that much difference in transmission or hue. Anyone have any ideas as to what might be going on? I looked a little closer into some images I'd taken earlier and discovered the green channel is not only less noisy than the blue or red channels it is also far more accurate and sharp. For example if I zoomed in on the shadow of a tree against snow, in the green channel the shadow was correct shown but in both the red and blue channels it was broken up into a barber pole pattern with alternate patterns of light and dark pixels. This is the source of the bad color fringing and fuzzyness that I've seen in most of the pictures I've taken. My guess is that the camera hardware or firmware can not always do the bayer pattern interpolation correctly. Metalfan--Don't depend on the EXIF information too much. It looks like they never bothered to fill in the correct information for static entries. For example, the focal length of the lens is about 9 mm not the 50 mm that EXIF reported. And I have taken some not particularly impressive IR pictures where the foliage come out very light--the Wood effect. The big problem was the lack of detail but now that I know more about the color channel sharpness problem I'll take some more IR pictures and see if I can do better. scribble 02-18-2004 11:53:35

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile One more thing If you switch cards between cameras of different makes, walgreens and olympus in my case, you create a new directory everytime you turn on the camera. Each walgreens directory can hold 25 pictures. Moreover the info about the last directory and the last picture says with the camera. I had two modified walgreens camera and one card. After I gave a camera and card to the kid next door, I bought a new 32 meg card. When I used it in the second camara it created a walgreens directory 106 and the numbering of the pictures files picked up where it left off on the orginal card. scribble 02-18-2004 13:43:36

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) morcheeba Profile scribble - typically the green channel has 2x the sensors of the other two colors. There are 3 primiary colors, but ccd makers like to make little 2x2 blocks of pixels, so you'll get a red, a blue, and two greens. They picked green because the human eye is most sensitve to changes in green brightness. If you get the datasheet for the CCD, you can verify this. As for the blue, the sensor is probably picking up extra IR or UV light that the cheap lens filtered out. Since it's blue, try a UV filter. Excessive IR can be detected by healthy green foliage brighter than normal (wait for the summertime) -- heat sources are typically too far away (wavelength-wise) from visible to show up. Good luck! 02-19-2004 13:06:14

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) metalfan Profile Morcheeba - just a minor nitpick: I think you mean the human eye is *least* sensitive to green light. That's why there are 2 green sensors, also why the green part of a TV signal is the strongest (voltage-wise), etc. Where can one find an IR-blocking filter, or do most UV filters block IR as well? (too lazy to go look for response curves :) 02-19-2004 23:28:08

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email Actually, the nitpick isn't right. The human eye is more sensitive to changes in the green spectrum - because of this, we need MORE detail in the green or we "see" less quality. Same for the TV - you need to give us the picture quality where we can see it. 02-19-2004 23:38:23

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Linuxguru Profile | Email A Skylight filter (Sky-1A or Sky-1B) or a UV-block filter (UV-0 or UV-1) should help in cutting down the blues. These are easily available in standard diameters (49, 52 or 62 mm) for 35mm removable-mount lenses. It should also be available in smaller diameters for CCD/Video cameras and digicams. The original cheapo lens probably had a coating that worked like a UV-block filter. 02-20-2004 09:16:33

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile It looks like the Walgreens lens is an IR filter. I set up my good camera with my Hoya72 IR filter and used both a TV remote and a 150 watt halogen lamp as a IR source. In both cases I wasn't able to see any IR thru the Walgreens lens. Which makes sense. The photoelectic response of silicon is maybe 5% to UV and peaks at 900 nanometers. Besides there's a lot more IR in sunlight than there is UV. The reason I'm seeing a blue color cast is that the transmittance of the single coating interference filter for the blue bayer sensors will peak in the blue, drop near zero to block the green and red, and then rise again to pass the near infrared. Metalfan-- UV filters don't block IR. If you want something you can cut up and mount to your lens buy a 89c wratten filter which closely matches the Hoya72 I've been using. The best price I've seen for this is at B&H photo. scribble 02-20-2004 11:35:14

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) longshot Profile Ok, If you unscrew the lens and look into the camera side you will see it looks blue, I took my fingernail and ran it on the inside of the lens to seperate the plastic holding the lens in. Out will come a thin piece of blue plastic or glass which must be the IR filter. I screwed the lens back in and took some pictures, they will come out with a red tint. I took a picture of my tv remote and you can clearly see the I.R.led glow. I marked the lens before removing it and put it back where it was so the focus is pretty close. 02-21-2004 06:02:16

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile The walgreens lens is far more complicated and perhaps far better designed that I expected. Unlike Longshot I wasn't able to pull out the IR filter so I sawed off the tip of the lens mount by the threads. To my surprise the bluish IR filter, a spacing ring and half of an airspaced doublet fell out. So there is a minimun of four optical elements is the walgreens lens assemply: three lens and a filter. For a digital camera that cost $10 I'm impressed. Here is what I know now about the IR filter. The internal IR fliter on my OLY 3020 blocks all except the long wavelength end of the NIR that silicon can detect and cuts on somewhere beyond 850 nanoneters. I know this because I have two IR filter, a Hoya72 with a 50% tranmittance point at 720 nanometers and a wratten 87C with a 50% at 850 nanometers and both produce identical pictures using the oly. Since I can't see any transmittion thru a unmodified walgreens lens assembly using my oly 3020, the walgreens IR filter blocks the very long end of the NIR. However, since I can take a very dark picture using the 87C filter and the walgreens camera, the walgreens IR filter must cut on around 800 nanometers and must transmit reasonably well around 720 nanometers since I get a much better IR picture using the Hoya72 filter. Longshot-- I ended up with three pieces falling out of the cutup assembly. I think the order looking inward is the filter, the spacing ring and then the more convex side of the last lens of the doublet but I'm not certain. Did you see how things were assembled when you had your lens apart? I want glue the last lens back back in place so I can see how well the camera works with no IR filter. scribble 02-22-2004 14:34:53

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) longshot Profile Scribble, All I saw was the thin lens blue in color, I just used my nail to seperate the lip around the lens to peel the lip up and the blue lens came out. I didn't try to get the other lens out. I figured the blue colored lens was for IR filtering so I stopped at it. 02-22-2004 15:59:55

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile Longshot -- Thanks for the info on the blue filter. I'll pick up some 5 minute epoxy tomorrow and glue things up the way I think they go. Then I'll post what happens. scribble 02-22-2004 19:31:54

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile Removing the blocking ir filter drastically improved the IR performance. With that blocking filter out and a Hoya72 filter held in front of the lens I took well exposed IR images with shutter speeds of about 1/250 sec on a dull and cloudy winter day. Without the Hoya72 in front of the lens the shutter speeds were about 1/1250 sec so roughly 1/5 of the sensitivity of the camera is in the IR beyond 720 nanometers. The only problems is that the blue channel and sometimes the red channel will saturate at the shutter speed the cameras calculates. The green channel looks good. And since the green channel is the sharpest and least noisy channel, this shouldn't be a problem. scribble + 02-23-2004 16:01:31

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile Has anyone taken a card full of images down to a walgreens and had them make the prints? I've been playing around with ICC color profiles now that I've found the profile for a Fugi Frontier on the net. Today I converted 6 images to the Fugi profile and took both the converted and the unconverted images to both the local walgreens and the local supermarket to see who could make the best prints. Five of the images were from my oly but the sixth was from the walgreen disposable I'd converted for IR work. The five images from the oly printed out as expected--there was just enough differences in the colors to show I'd done something. With the sixth image the difference was drastic. The converted image looked fine but the unconverted image printed out almost completely black. Since this happened at both the walgreens and the supermarket it wasn't a machine screwup either. So I'm wondering if pure digital might be doing something to the image files to prevent us hackers from getting our prints made on a Fugi frontier. Any ideas? scribble 03-03-2004 22:58:08

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile Mystery solved as to why my unconverted IR pictures wouldn't print. When I cleaned them up in photoshop to remove the colorcast, I'd converted them to greyscale. Then when I coverted them to the ICC profile that changed them back to RGB. This allowed them to be printed on a Fugi Frontier which unlike my printer at home doesn't work with greyscale prints. Learn a new thing every day. scribble 03-07-2004 15:26:52

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile How to DEFEAT the 25 PICTURE LIMIT and FILL YOUR CARD with IMAGES!!!---sometimes The history first. Then someone who knows more about firmware than I do can figure out what's going on. I've been having problems with my USB connection and during a transfer from the card to my computer I got an io transfer error. After rebooting the system to get the USB back I finished the the transfer and deleted the files from the card. Then, when I put the card back into my IR modified camera. I found that rather than having 25 pictures remaining I only had 3. What is going on here? So I snapped off 3 picture. When I hit zero--surprise surprise--instead of telling me to take the camera back to Walgreens, the camera ready light came on again. And when I took the O picture--surprise,surprise, surprise-- I now had 99 pictures left to take. After snapping a few more pictures, I found I had a new directory called 202_IDEO in DCIM--I have no idea where it came from or why it was created. After checking and deleting the pictures in the new directory I put the card back into the IR camera. It told me I had 4 picture left but again when I when over the zero limit I again had 99 images left to take. HOT DARN DOGGIE--almost. To keep this narative straight--all of the above was done with the IR modified camera and a 64 meg card. I searched around for my vis camera which has a 32 meg card, added a 202_IDEO directory to the card in windows, and put it back into the vis camera. That camera said I had 25 pictures left. When I snapped off the 25 picture that was all folks--no roll over. But then when the 32 meg card went into the IR camera I now had 37 pictures left on the card. After filling the card with a total of 62 pictures and transfer the pictures into the computer I had 31,113,215 bytes of files. This translated into 60 real pictures with the last 2 files having zero bytes. Moreover the vis camera pictures were numbered DCS-04xx-- a continuation from the previous numbering sequence-- but the ir camera pictures had started from DCS-8238 for some reason. Is 8238 a magic number in firmware programming? So what do I have. One camera that will fill a card if I create a /DCIM/202_IDEO directory and one that won't. The obvious explanation is there are two version of the firmware. I bought the cameras at two different time--the ir camera last-- so I guess the big question is weither the ir camera has Pure Digital's latest and greatest--one with an interesting bug--or weither it has version zero and they've already found and fixed the bug. So if there is anyone following this tread who has a hardware hacked walgreens, could you add the 202_IDEO directory to your card and post what happens. I'd given away one of the cameras I'd modified, so once I'll borrow that one, I'll check it out and see what happens. scribble 03-22-2004 11:04:02

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile After doing some experiments with a third camera I now think that creating the 202_IDEO directory was a consequence and not the cause of whatever happened to remove the 25 picture limit. As I mentioned earlier I was having problems with the USB and here is what I think might have happened. When I delete picture on the smart media card, windows write a file to the card with the form /device/harddisk4/dp(1)-0+xx/DCIM/(working directory) where xx is hex number and working directory sometime is included. When this file is written varies on my system and if I pull the card out before the file is written I get a delayed file write error message and nothing is deleted on the card. And obviously if I wait long enough the files are deleted and things work as pure digital intended. On the other hand, if I pulled the card just as the file was being written, who knows what might have been written on the card. So my best guess now is that somewhere in the file there is code that removes the 25 picture limit. Does this make sense? And since I'm a hardware guy not a firmware guy, does anyone have any suggestions on how I could check out this idea. scribble 03-23-2004 07:41:04

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Drmn4ea Profile I wonder if this has been tried yet - similar to the method used to bypass the 25-picture limit on the Dakota. Has anyone tried creating e.g 26 zero-byte or otherwise tiny junk files in the picture directory to bypass the check that occurs after the 25th picture? 03-27-2004 11:54:52

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile I wonder if this has been tried yet - similar to the method used to bypass the 25-picture limit on the Dakota. Has anyone tried creating e.g 26 zero-byte or otherwise tiny junk files in the picture directory to bypass the check that occurs after the 25th picture? I've left pictures on the card but it didn't do anything to the 25 picture limit. My point--which maybe I didn't state clearly--is there is no need to hack the firmware in the wallgreens camera to defeat the 25 picture limit. The code is already there. All you have to do is write some mode switching command on the smartmedia card, stick in the camera, and the limit is gone. I did it by accident. The firmware of my IR camera now says I can put 31 pictures on a 16 mb card, 62 on a 32 mb card and 124 on a 64 mb card. I've downloaded a couple USB sniffer programs and my next step is to see what happens when the camera, card reader, and computer are talking to each other. So if there is anyone following this thread who know anything about the working of USB and is willing to point me in the right direction, please raise you hand. I suspect I'm going to need a bit of help. scribble 03-28-2004 10:15:13

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) metalfan Profile I've played a little bit and found that if you "fill" the camera (take 25 pics), all you have to do to get another 25 is rename the folder the first 25 were saved in. If I fill the \DCIM\100_IDEO folder with any number of zero-byte files (I tried <25, 25, and 26), the camera's counter starts at 25 remaining and just uses \DCIM\102_IDEO to store the new pictures. This was on a 32MB card. If I take a picture, then add some zero-byte files to the same directory as the pictures, they are included in the shots-remaining counter. I took 1 real picture then added 25 zero-byte files to the folder. Now the camera gave me the same old 0 shots, return for processing message, except it flashed instead of staying on steady as usual. No extra shots allowed. So, it seems that the camera will only put pictures in a folder it created itself-- I'm not sure how it "knows" the difference. scribble - You're right, it sounds like you accidentally gave the firmware a command or condition that it needs to bypass the 25-shot limit. Now if you could do it again, we'd be golden :) 8238 doesn't sound like a magic number, but the only embedded programming I've done has been on PICmicros, so dont quote me on that. 04-02-2004 18:39:57

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile I've played a little bit and found that if you "fill" the camera (take 25 pics), all you have to do to get another 25 is rename the folder the first 25 were saved in. If I fill the \DCIM\100_IDEO folder with any number of zero-byte files (I tried <25, 25, and 26), the camera's counter starts at 25 remaining and just uses \DCIM\102_IDEO to store the new pictures. This was on a 32MB card. If I take a picture, then add some zero-byte files to the same directory as the pictures, they are included in the shots-remaining counter. For a while I used the same card in an olympus camera. Everytime I switched cards the cameras would create another directory 104_ideo, 104_oly, 105_ideo and so on. Since this happened with both cameras I suspect it is the way cameras and smart media cards work. Your zerobite files, are they some like a text file with nothing written in them or are they something more complicated? I took 1 real picture then added 25 zero-byte files to the folder. Now the camera gave me the same old 0 shots, return for processing message, except it flashed instead of staying on steady as usual. No extra shots allowed. So, it seems that the camera will only put pictures in a folder it created itself-- I'm not sure how it "knows" the difference. I suspect the camera has a comand to write files in what ever directory it considers current and ignores any directory structure we've created in windows. scribble - You're right, it sounds like you accidentally gave the firmware a command or condition that it needs to bypass the 25-shot limit. Now if you could do it again, we'd be golden :) Had the infrared camera out twice with a 64 meg card taking real landscape pictures. A couple even came out good enought to think of printing them up. 8238 doesn't sound like a magic number, but the only embedded programming I've done has been on PICmicros, so dont quote me on that After working with the camera a while, and having the counter switch unexpectedly when I tried deleting directories, I think it was only a random number the camera grabbed. scribble 04-05-2004 13:13:34

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) onthink Profile I bought a Camera in http://www.culturechina.com 06-22-2004 11:44:27

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile According to my source in Walgreens, they will have new cameras with LCD in September. As to weither their camera will be identical to the Ritz camera, that an unanswered question. scribble 07-24-2004 17:17:02

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) bhtooefr Profile Anyone know whether Walgreens still has these, and if so, whether they've spread beyond Wisconsin? There are CVSes in my area, but I don't want either a PV2 or the original Dakota Digital camera (CVS is selling the Ritz Camera digitals). 08-21-2004 10:14:42

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile Anyone know whether Walgreens still has these, and if so, whether they've spread beyond Wisconsin? There are CVSes in my area, but I don't want either a PV2 or the original Dakota Digital camera (CVS is selling the Ritz Camera digitals). They took the unsold cameras out of the stores a few months ago. A newer version is suposed to show up in September, but I suspect it will be similar if not identical to the yet to be hacked Ritz/CVS camera. 08-22-2004 02:26:59

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) bhtooefr Profile Just fscking great... Seeing as you have a source within Walgreens, do you know if they made it to Ohio (or at least out of Wisconsin), and what happened to the ones that were pulled (destroyed, stuffed in a back room for employees to have fun with, etc.)? 08-22-2004 08:06:33

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) gunner Profile I have posted two Walgreens cameras on ebay and never got a bite. I was not asking more than I payed if interested please answer this thread and I will put them back on ebay. 10-06-2004 14:27:21

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile What condition are the camera in? Boxed. open, modified for smart media? And how much do you want? I bought the ones I've given away for $8.50 each. scribble 10-06-2004 20:38:35

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) gunner Profile I have two new, one open but not used and one still in the blister. I will sell them for $10. each plus shipping thru ebay as I want to use "Paypal". 10-07-2004 06:30:13

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile Since they are Walgreen cameras I'm assuming you live in southern Wisconsin. If you live anywhere near Madison, rather than going to the trouble of putting then on ebay I could drop by, give you the money, and pick them up. scribble 10-08-2004 02:51:57

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) gunner Profile Sorry scribble I am in Green Bay. I know its a pain if you want post an email we can deal direct. 10-12-2004 07:37:21

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile Sorry scribble I am in Green Bay. I know its a pain if you want post an email we can deal direct. Contact me at scribble1@charter.net and let me know the price with shipping to madison. 10-12-2004 20:22:07

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) tecate Profile It seems that everybody is now busy with the new PV2 Dakota LCD version of the camera, but has anyone had success with this Walgreens Blue Camera? Please correct me if I am wrong but so far there has been 3 major cameras: -Original Ritz Dakota camera = HACKED -Walgreens Blue PureDigital Camera = NOT HACKED -Red LCD camera = ? I wonder is anybody still tinkers with Walgreens one 10-29-2004 17:33:25

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile It seems that everybody is now busy with the new PV2 Dakota LCD version of the camera, but has anyone had success with this Walgreens Blue Camera? Please correct me if I am wrong but so far there has been 3 major cameras: -Original Ritz Dakota camera = HACKED -Walgreens Blue PureDigital Camera = NOT HACKED -Red LCD camera = ? I wonder is anybody still tinkers with Walgreens one The hack for the walgreens was to unsolder a daughter memory board and replace it with a smart media card reader. I still have two camera I intend to convert--I plan to muont them up and turned them into a stereo camera--but unless you find one on ebay or in this group they are not available. Walgreens pulled them out of the stores about a half year ago and may not offer them again. From what I gather they didn't sell that well. scribble 10-29-2004 19:08:12

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 1 times) Snewf Profile Here's the info I've put together on the Walgreens PureDigital Camera http://www4.ncsu.edu/~sptripat/pdigcaminfo.pdf 11-10-2004 02:04:28

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) taytrr Profile This is not a PV2 thread (Pure Digital 400/410, DCA-28/DCA-27), if you're looking for that, start with the thread "Success - 1 2 many 4 all" I've just picked up one of these 'used' (but never used) and it's USB info is 0461-081A. It's not the original Dakota which I've found by reading through was 0461-0x0819. It's pictures match the ones here also -- insides too. I know this is old but does anyone remember if this camera's mod got past soldering in a smart media socket? 01-16-2005 02:10:23

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) nickbird Profile where can i find/buy one of these palm cables? 01-23-2005 09:09:14

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) scribble Profile As far as software went, there wasn't much done. Thru a process that I was never able to duplicate I did remove the 25 picture limit and now have one camera that will take as many pictures as the smartmedia card will hold, about a 124 for a 64 meg card. You can find the details in my posts of about 6 months ago. As far as picture quality went, the Walgreen camera were the best of the disposables by far. It seem to a variant of a camera originally given away as a premium in Italy. If I remember right, the drivers for that camera are posted so if you can download them and make the proper mods you might have all you need to use the camera without adding the smart media connector. scribble 01-23-2005 15:30:03

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) Techoverload Profile | Email Just an FYI the CVS (new owners of walgreens) that is about a block from my house has a whole rack of the blue and red cameras......if anyone wants/needs them they are 9.99 for the blue (no screen) 14.99 for the red (lcd screen) plus 7% Fla sales tax......I will be happy to grab as many as anyone needs and send em off at cost. Let me know Jeremy@thedotat.com 05-10-2005 01:49:17

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) ngnate Profile I was veiwing this thread out of curiousity, and saw a download of the camera code. Stop. Don't automatically discount my idea. I am no hacker and have very little understanding of computer code, but my mathmatical knowledge tells me that the code may be broken through reverse mathmatics. If the makers of this camera have a new code plan ready for production if this one was broken, why wouldn't they try something simple if thought about, but something that may not be noticed by a hacker. My guess is that hackers think in the complex, because so much of the world is complex, especally computer code. This is only an idea, and it probably has been tried already, but what if this code is written numerarically backward. The programmer has a set high number that represents zero. Say 123,456,789 = 0, and 123,456,788 = 1 ect.... until 0 = 123,456,789. This is just a thought, so please don't hammer me. I'm guessing that this idea is already part of hacking, but I don't know, so I'm stating it know. 08-12-2005 22:46:52

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 0 times) 315pm Profile That memory card reader hack is pretty nice, but it's not as slick as it could be. Can anybody figure out a hack to have the pictures save directly from the camera to a usb 'jumpdrive' instead? 11-30-2005 05:36:09

RE:Walgreens Camera (modified 1 times) Egeek90 Profile Just a thought.... Wouldn't it be possible to buy one of those $5 (or less, maybe free, depending on sales...) usb smartmedia card readers, and use it on the camera? Since the write method for the Smartmedia card would be the same as the write method for the card (or else it wouldn't have worked for all those people), you should be able to open up the usb card reader and remove the Card socket (save it for another camera), then solder the reader to the memory on the camera. In theory, this should work. Since the camera is writing to a format that works on smartmedia, then the memory in the camera should be simmilar to smartmedia, so the reader should be able to read the camera's memory. Then just change the usb end to female, and put it on the case. This might also allow picture downloading without having to turn the camera on. I will try this when I get the camera from my local walgreens. I will try it on both the Camera with the LCD, and the one without. 05-08-2006 00:27:00

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