Ok, so that brings it up in a separate window/tab that shows the full sized image. I also had to replace
echo $this->popup->image($html, $img->origin_url, $id, $attr, array('gallery' => 'hikashop_main_image'));
with
echo '<a '.$attr.' href="'.$img->origin_url.'" target="_blank">'.$html.'</a>';
in order to get the same behaviour when clicking on the thumbnails. I'm still having an issue with clicking on the main image though - when I have the second image showing and I click on the main image, it brings up the first one in the new window instead of the currently 'selected' image.
I'm also not sure I want this to come up in a separate window - I assume I would need to install some kind of plugin to get access to a popup that allows the user to view a full-sized image (and perhaps scroll around on it)? If this is the case, any recommendations on a good free one to use?