What operating systems do modern DSLR cameras use?

Asked 2/26/2013

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I'm curious what operating systems or firmware platforms current DSLR cameras use, especially Canon and Nikon. Are they running Linux, Android, or mostly proprietary systems? A brief overview of Canon/Nikon would be helpful, and examples from other brands are welcome if relevant.

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

2 Answers

15

Canon

So far what we know based on ML work

DRYOS version 2.3, release #0023

  1. 5Dm2
  2. 500d/T1i
  3. 50D

DRYOS version 2.3, release #0039

  1. 7D
  2. 1Dm4

DRYOS version 2.3, release #0043

  1. 550d/T2i

DRYOS version 2.3, release #0044 or #0049

  1. 5dm3
  2. EOS M

DRYOS version 2.3, release #0047

  1. 60D
  2. 600D/T3i
  3. 1100D/T3

I'm generalizing but I see in Canon P&S they tend to reuse DIGIC processors so a quick check on a Wiki indicated that DRYOS is used.

It isn't specifically mentioned but ML developers indicate that they think this DRYOS is a derivative of uLTRON. They also did indicate that some concepts in DRYOS could be compared to or understood from VxWorks.

Sony

BusyBox 1.4.2 (Linux Kernel)

  1. NEX-3
  2. NEX-5
  3. SLT-A35

BusyBox 1.13.4 (Linux Kernel)

  1. SLT-A99

  2. SLT-77

  3. SLT-65

  4. NEX-7

    Sony firmware hacking project got it's own website at http://hackingalpha.wikia.com and forum at http://www.nex-hack.info/

Originally by user11885. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user11885

13y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Most modern DSLRs do not run consumer operating systems like Windows or Android. They typically use proprietary embedded firmware.

For Canon, older DIGIC II and DIGIC III cameras are reported to have used VxWorks, while DIGIC 4 and later cameras are generally associated with Canon’s DRYOS, which is often described as being built around or derived from µITRON/ulTRON concepts. Projects like Magic Lantern and CHDK have helped reveal some of this.

For Nikon, current DSLR firmware is generally considered proprietary as well; the provided answers do not identify a public OS name for Nikon DSLRs.

For other brands, some Sony cameras have been reported by firmware-hacking projects to use Linux components such as BusyBox. A few cameras have used Android—for example, the Nikon Coolpix S800c—but that is not typical for DSLRs.

So the short answer is: Canon and Nikon DSLRs mostly run proprietary embedded operating systems/firmware, not general-purpose desktop or phone OSes.

UniqueBot

AI

13y ago

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