Sony Handycam issue - repair/replace?

Another case of Sony defective products or is it a case of Sony making disposable cameras/camcorders - after one year when you get a black screen in your DCR HC42 camcorder or Sony whatever you just throw away the item or pay huge sums of money to repair.
Buyers beware, Sony seems very insincere!!!

hey mate
i think what u say is right
hope sum1 from sony views our posts are respond.

They'll replace it enough people complain and if you keep an eye on what's going wrong now. But, if like me, you only check out SONY's site when your cam goes down, you can miss the boat. And my problem - blank LCD - was not exactly like the others so I was out of luck. Paid $180 to have it fixed.

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UPDATE FROM SONY:
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http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-news.pl?mdl=DCRTRV33

11/27/2006: Important Notice About Your Sony

Anyone know if they will fix the CCD-TRV12 with the same issue?
Occasionally you will be using it in camera mode, and after a few minutes, you'll start getting video... might last a minute tops, then goes to the black screen, and if you look really close, you can see a VERY faint shadow of an image...
Plays tapes that were recorded fine, and records audio without issues...
I *Think* this uses the same CCD as the TRV22... The owners manual is for the TRV12, TRV22, TRV33, TRV112 and TRV212.
Thanks

It's quite obvious that Sony has gotten arrogant regarding it's products. I did not know about the renewal of the "campaign" on image sensor problem for camcorders made prior to 2004 (I bought mine in 2003). My image sensor went bad 2 months ago and I did not have time to investigate the problem or do any web research. I found the CNET website and discovered yesterday that the campaign was renewed and ended 3/31/09.....Sony refused to honor this campaign on my camcorder (I spent $750 for it) even though I a) knew nothing about the campaign and b) it was only a few days after the expiration.

I have done business with plenty of other companies who have "goodwill" accounts and will honor things like this to keep customer happy and maintain good word of mouth. They lost both with me and I will tell everyone I know about my experience. Goodbye Sony

I'm HankLCD4E from SonyListens and I have read your issue. We would like the opportunity to review your situation. Please contact us at SonyListens@am.sony.com. Please include the model number and serial number of your unit, detailed information regarding the issue you are having, and your contact information, including your telephone number.

I was very surprised to be contacted by Hank at SonyListens via CNET to resolve the issue with my defective Sony camcorder after being turned down flat by 3 different people at 2 Sony customer centers. Hank contacted me and arranged to have my camera repaired at their expense including shipping and it was done within 2-3 weeks time. Also thanks to Carl at SonyListens for intervening with the Sony Repair center when they tried to charge me $20 to ship my camcorder back (it certainly doesn't cost $20 to ship and Sony had already agreed to pay all).

The lesson for me is that if you have a problem with Sony products, go to SonyListens first. Thanks to CNET as well since i wouldn't have gotten a forum to listen to the problem were it not for this website.

Thanks Hank@Sony Listens and thanks CNET!

I too have found out two days ago my DCR-TRV19 has the black screen of death (on the viewfinder and LCD). I have emailed customer service and then in turn was told to contact live support. I did so and Christian told me that it is going to cost me $201.00 (plus taxes) to repair their faulty camcorder. I seen on the Sony's website that if your product is less then 7 years old they will repair it. However all the news post reguarding the defect in the CCD are gone. And Christian acted like I was on crack trying to get this fixed. I maybe used the camera for a total of 2-2 hours total. Everything is brand new and working perfect except I am unable to use due to the black screen. I have a boat load of Sony products in my home (PS2, PS3, Walkmans, another Sony camcorder, PC, Home Theatre) However I will no longer purchase another Sony product and I will sell my PS3 and move on to Xbox. When I charged the battery fully and performed reset per their website still same black screen. I googled and found ebay (like new) replacement for $139.99 shipped for free, or I can pay the $201.00 plus taxes and shipping.... no brainer, however after this experince I am done with Sony. In this economy I cannot afford to re-purchase a camcorder because it was contrsucted with sub-par parts. I would have jumped on the orginal recall/fix but it was working and I knew nothing about the repair. I tried looking for SonyListens on CNET however I am unable to locate any information on Hank or them. Any help would be appreciated.

I went ahead and filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, currently the status is awaiting a response from Sony.

I will never buy another Sony product again. I have bought Sony products all of my life. My 2003 camcorder imager (CCD) went bad (as diagnosed by Sony) about 2 months ago. Unbeknownst to me (until I found CNET) there were TWO campaigns on this problem by Sony. I didn't have time to investigate the problem until 4/6/09 and I discovered that the latest campaign expired 3/31/09. Sony refused to do a "goodwill gesture" and knowingly turned away a loyal customer. My still camera is a Canon and I have had no problems with it. My camcorders have always been Sony...until now. Consumer Reports rates Canon higher than Sony and that confirms Sony's inferiority in product and customer relations (Canon also offers a 1 year warranty on it's camcorder).

GOOD RIDDANCE SONY. And I am telling EVERYONE I know. Dumb decision to lose a customer over a simple fix. The $270 you wanted to fix YOUR problem (not including shipping and tax) was spent on another brand's products.

All-telling is that Sony's website doesn't even give customers an opportunity to email them. The American auto companies thought they could cheat customers too and look where they are today....Sony -- you may be a "foreign brand", but you are losing customers fast.

To clarify, my camcorder starting going bad about 2 months ago, but it wasn't until 4/6/09 that I discovered CNET and the 2 campaigns by Sony. A phone call to Sony on 4/6/09 confirmed that the image sensor "went bad" (their words).

I to have the same problem but with Samsung camcorder Image sensor packed up they wont replace either this is a well known problem with a lot of manufacturers from year 2002 but would like to keep it quiet
I read somwhere that most companies used a certain sensor that became useless after a certain period of time I was told it would cost me around

I too have the same model Sony DCR-HC19E. I too have recently faced the same problem. It looks like the video cable that connects the LCD has come loose or is broken (as touch panel is working although I cannot see the display). I too very carefully handle my handycam. It has never fallen down or suffered any type of abuse. Now after visiting this forum I realise that this is a manufacturing defect (so many people are facing the same problem) yet Sony advises to get it fixed on payment basis at their service center.

Really this experiance has severely dented the image that I had of SONY as a brand.

My camera also went bad last year. Worse than that, right when we took our honeymoon trip to Tahiti. You can probably imagine how frustrating for us this was. At the time, I did not even think about fixing it as I knew the price would be steep.

Only yesterday I became aware of this deffective sensor causing the black screen. Symptoms are exactly the same.

My frustration just escalated when talking to Sony Customer Service they baically said that the extended warrant period was over, and there was nothing they could do. In my mind, that was a bad decision by them, because now I am going to look for my rights, and am not going to go for only $250 to fix the issue.

I just found out about this recall issue when my DCR-TRV27 wouldn't work tonight. I called Sony and their tech support refused to acknowledge this problem. When I sent them a copy of the press release, they immediately said I had to talk to customer support. When I called them, they admitted the problem, but refused to cover my camcorder for free. Instead they want $350 plus parts to fix it! If this is how Sony is trying to keep customers in a bad economy, they are out of their minds. I have always bought Sony because the higher price came with quality. No more! If they won't stand behind this product and fix THEIR error, then they will lose this customer. I will also write a review about their customer service on every board and review site I can find.

I expected them to try to help me, but the agents did not even seem interested in helping me. When I asked for a supervisor, one told me that he had no supervisors and that I could pretty much take it or leave it, he didn't care. When I asked for customer relation's number, he gave me a number that is not working now. So much for customer service. I used to beleive in Sony but they have lost me for a customer. I can buy other brands at half the cost and get shoddy products and bad customer service, just like Sony. I am done with Sony.