Sony 30min recording restriction HACKED!

Peter Rush · June 19th, 2016, 02:14 AM

This hack works for the A6000?

James Manford · June 20th, 2016, 01:21 PM

Hi Peter

It works on ANY NEX camera with Wifi / Apps ... so even the older NEX-5R which can be bought for peanuts on ebay (£150) ... and essentially be used as a video camera until it gives an overheat error and switches itself off (which never happens from experience if you open the LCD screen allowing heat to leave the camera).

I tested my A7ii and recorded a nice chunky 44GB single movie file in XAVCS 1080p 50fps ... absolutely no problems what so ever.

I would still advise hitting the record button if you get a chance but this hack is ideal for those moments when you're busy filming and you forget to go and press record again as it will always be continuously filming like a normal video camera.

Dave Blackhurst · June 22nd, 2016, 03:49 PM

Finally got around to installing the app - took longer to figure out the instructions than to actually install it...

Once installed, you go to the Apps tab in the menu, select the app, and get a whole bunch of things to fiddle with!

I did a RX100M3, an RX100M4, and an RX10M2, so far only tested the 100M4 for 4K limits...

The good news is you can turn off the 5 minute limit on 4K, the bad news is you get the little "heat" indicator at about 8 1/2 minutes (indoor, around 76f ambient, screen tilted off camera, and an aluminum grip that seems to act nicely as a heat sink attached).

So, the hack looks to work (still need to test against the 30 minute limits on the other cameras), but the little M4 is still just a "short clip" 4K camera....

FWIW, the older RX10 didn't have apps, and so no easy way to "hack" it, though I would guess it is using a similar "operating system"...

Alex Anderson · August 23rd, 2016, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff Totten

Sony 30 minute limit HACKED!
A first real Sony hack removes the 30min video recording limit and unlocks the language menu

Looks like some brilliant people have created a Play Memories APP that runs on many newer Sony Cameras. The app REMOVES the 30 minute time restriction.

I have installed the APP to my A7s-II and RX10-II and both work perfectly. I made a 90minte recording this morning on My A7s-II and stopped it on my own. I'm currently on my RX10-II right now and it's running time is 2:13 minutes as I type this. (running off USB plug in)

Both camera tests were done indoors under air conditioning. No heat problems whatsoever on either camera. I'm leaving the screens unfolded and away from the body. Both camera felt mildly warm but "hot" at all.

This is a breakthough! It's quite possible that these cameras can now be used reliably for long form recording!

On the other side,....I'm sure that is something that Sony marketing must be extremely unhappy about. As many of us know, the 29 minute limitation is not just there for tax purposes, it plays a FAR more important roll of separating these cameras from the "camcorder" markets.

There is no Full Frame A7s-II "camcorder" today. but with this app installed, your A7s-I/II is one step closer now.

WOAH!........

what is the direct link to download this app along with instructions on how to do it? I have never done this before.

Dave Blackhurst · August 24th, 2016, 03:20 PM

https://github.com/ma1co/OpenMemories-Tweak This has the "instructions"

https://sony-pmca.appspot.com/apps has the list of apps to download....

It's a little confusing figuring out how to get it on the camera, took me a while to get it, but once it was on one camera, the rest were easy!

June 19th, 2016, 02:14 AM	#16
Peter Rush Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK/Yorkshire Posts: 2,069	Re: Sony 30min recording restriction HACKED! This hack works for the A6000?

June 20th, 2016, 01:21 PM	#17
James Manford Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,393	Re: Sony 30min recording restriction HACKED! Hi Peter It works on ANY NEX camera with Wifi / Apps ... so even the older NEX-5R which can be bought for peanuts on ebay (£150) ... and essentially be used as a video camera until it gives an overheat error and switches itself off (which never happens from experience if you open the LCD screen allowing heat to leave the camera). I tested my A7ii and recorded a nice chunky 44GB single movie file in XAVCS 1080p 50fps ... absolutely no problems what so ever. I would still advise hitting the record button if you get a chance but this hack is ideal for those moments when you're busy filming and you forget to go and press record again as it will always be continuously filming like a normal video camera.

June 22nd, 2016, 03:49 PM	#18
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Sony 30min recording restriction HACKED! Finally got around to installing the app - took longer to figure out the instructions than to actually install it... Once installed, you go to the Apps tab in the menu, select the app, and get a whole bunch of things to fiddle with! I did a RX100M3, an RX100M4, and an RX10M2, so far only tested the 100M4 for 4K limits... The good news is you can turn off the 5 minute limit on 4K, the bad news is you get the little "heat" indicator at about 8 1/2 minutes (indoor, around 76f ambient, screen tilted off camera, and an aluminum grip that seems to act nicely as a heat sink attached). So, the hack looks to work (still need to test against the 30 minute limits on the other cameras), but the little M4 is still just a "short clip" 4K camera.... FWIW, the older RX10 didn't have apps, and so no easy way to "hack" it, though I would guess it is using a similar "operating system"...

August 24th, 2016, 03:20 PM	#20
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Sony 30min recording restriction HACKED! https://github.com/ma1co/OpenMemories-Tweak This has the "instructions" https://sony-pmca.appspot.com/apps has the list of apps to download.... It's a little confusing figuring out how to get it on the camera, took me a while to get it, but once it was on one camera, the rest were easy!