A Challenge for the IT Minded - G9 Hack

I've been struggling for a while with the issue of upgrading my current setup.

I'm still reluctant to go "all the way" to an SLR because there's just too much baggage attached - although the LiveView and specs of the new Sony a-350 are tempting.

I thought the Canon G9 would be a fantastic choice, until I heard that it does not use TTL when shot in manual mode, but does in Aperture and Shutter.

So here is the challenge - is anyone out there smart enough to make a CHDK hack for the G9 to make it use TTL in Manual mode???

... a CHDK hack for the G9 to make it use TTL in Manual mode???

Who needs TTL? I shoot my G9 exclusively in manual mode underwater and find it a breeze. For macro, I set the camera at F8.0 and 1/1000th and make all my adjustments on the strobe power and maybe tweak the shutter speed to get the water color I'm looking for. For w/a, I set the camera at F5.6 and 1/125th and crank the strobes to full.

I'm in the "TTL underwater is oversold" camp. I've used it on a rented camera in the past and I found it useless in W/A situations and of only minor assitance in shooting macro.

I agree it would be much more useful on the G9 if TTL flash control worked in Manual Mode, but I also think TTL underwater is generally overrated.

Read this article:

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/the-trouble-with-ttl/

You will be surprised...

I accept TTL is not for all, but after over 900 dives with my current setup I do find TTL a very, very useful tool especially for macro.

I'm lucky, the IKE TTL implemented with my old Olympus does exceptionally well - when I process the RAW files following the dive, the exposures chosen by the camera need only tiny adjustments.

I certainly want to have the choice to have TTL, but that does not mean I'll always use it.

There was a new piece of information from another diver forum, a user said his G9/IKE/DS-125 setup DID operate as TTL in manual, are there any users out there who can confirm this?

when I process the RAW files following the dive, the exposures chosen by the camera need only tiny adjustments...

Personally, I find it pretty easy to accomplish the same with full manual control.

Since TTL flash doesn't work in Manual Mode on the G9 I'm happy to set the strobe power myself, which I have found to be pretty easy with a little practice. Because of that, TTL flash control is especially limiting in my opinion on the G9 ... For example, you can't do F8.0 and 1/1000th in any TTL setup on the G9 and that's a setting I find most appropriate for Macro ... i.e. if you want TTL and F8, you have to settle for 1/60th as the AV mode won't give you anything faster than 1/60th.

I understand the allure of TTL flash control, but in practice - particularly on the G9 - I don't think it is all that.