The Sony a5000 is an inexpensive 20.0MP camera with interchangeable lenses and the ability to output 1080p 60 over HDMI. It would be great for streaming if Sony hadn’t slapped a non-removable overlay on the output.
I’m not a fan of artificial software limitations, so let’s remove that nonsense by modifying the camera’s firmware using telnet over the built-in Wi-Fi. Like a normal person.
Have questions about your setup? Ask in our forums.
Grocery List:
Sony a5000
Glorich AC-PW20 Dummy Battery
Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable Adapter
EVGA XR1 lite Capture Card
90s Hacker Music Playlist
CAMERA SETUP
1. Set the a5000 USB connection to auto.
![](https://interfacinglinux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled_1.10.1-1024x576-1.webp)
INSTALL DEPENDENCIES
Now we’re going to install some dependencies. Git, Telnet, and Pip.
Debian / Ubuntu / POP
sudo apt install git pip telnet
Arch
sudo pacman -S git python-pip telnet-1
Fedora
sudo dnf install git python-pip telnet-1
Clone the Sony-PMCA-RE repository
git clone https://github.com/ma1co/Sony-PMCA-RE.git
Change to the Sony-PMCA-RE directory and install the needed dependencies.
cd Sony-PMCA-RE ; pip install -r requirements.txt
Power the camera on and plug it into your computer. It will show that it’s connected on the viewfinder.
![](https://interfacinglinux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled_1.19.1-1024x576-1-1.webp)
OPEN MEMORIES SETUP
Launch the app by running ./pmca-gui.py from the terminal and click on Get camera info.
![](https://interfacinglinux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled_1.21.1-1024x576-1.webp)
Click on the Install app tab. Give it a refresh and select Open Memories Tweak.
![](https://interfacinglinux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled_1.21.2-1024x576-1.webp)
Click on Install selected app. When you see Task completed successfully you can exit the app.
![](https://interfacinglinux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled_1.23.1-1024x576-1.webp)
On the camera press Menu then Application > Application List > OpenMemoris: Tweak > Developer and enable Telnet and Wifi.
![](https://interfacinglinux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled_1.39.1-1024x576-1.webp)
TELNET
On the PC open a terminal and type telent followed by the IP address of the camera.
![](https://interfacinglinux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled_1.41.1-1024x576-1.webp)
Enter the following command into the terminal to remove the HDMI overlay.
bk.elf w 0x01070a47 00
Logout of the camera by typing exit in the terminal and disable telnet in OpenMemoris: Tweak
![](https://interfacinglinux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled_1.47.1-1024x576-1.webp)
That’s it! Your Sony a5000 will now output clean HDMI.
UNINSTALL
If for some bizarre moon reason you want to re-enable the overlay swap out the command in step 11 with the following.
bk.elf w 0x01070a47 01
Have questions about your setup? Ask in our forums.
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