Sony Handycam issue - repair/replace?

If you go to Sony.com and read the posts here, there is a place at their web site where you can call Sony and have them repair your camcorder. I had a problem with my screen going black after a trip to Florida. Apparently, the handycam has a problem with high attitude and moist environments. I called Sony and they repaired my Sony TRV250 for free. Check it out and good luck.

Important Notice About Your Sony Product
Posted: 10/03/2005


Thank you for your support and patronage of Sony products.

It has recently come to our attention that a limited number of products, manufactured prior to March 2004, that incorporate a certain type of image sensor device (CCD) may exhibit the following:

When the product is used in camera mode, the LCD panel and/or electronic viewfinder exhibits either a distorted image or no image at all.
We have determined that this only occurs in a limited number of devices, but may be accelerated if they are exposed to hot and humid environments.

From October 3, 2005 through October 2, 2007, Sony will repair, free of charge, affected products exhibiting the above-mentioned problem where it is caused by the image sensor device. Sony will also cover the cost of shipping and handling to service to correct this issue.

Please contact the Sony Customer Information Services Center for further assistance at 1-866-703-7669.

I bought SONY DCR-TRV250 as my baby 7 monthes: October 2003. After about 1.5 years,it couldn't record any pictures, only blue screen, but the sound could be recorded.

Hopefully Sony can fix this point.

gt

I have had my Sony DCR-HC30 since Oct 2004, used it quite heavily but was still surprised when the lcd stopped working Nov 07 - controls worked OK but you had to guess the location on the touch screen. So here I am with a 3yr old cam - no warranty and difficult to use. Sony website said repair $199 - new camera only $250+. I fully expected to junk the camera and was going to take it a part for a bit of DIY but googled the model number for repair help. Found a link quoting a class action suit vs Sony and a brief note on a recall for the model along with the phone number - thought what the hell? and rang. Now I know why I bought a Sony - 20 mins of questions and a diagnostic test then they said they'd repair at no charge including the shipping. THANKYOU SONY - brilliant. Dont get me wrong I'd ather not have the problem but I wonder how many other manufacturers would offer a repair. (or am I missing a law suit settlement??)

After experiencing the same problems with my DCR TRV33, I have managed to find a link on the Sony website that says Sony will repair this for free, as it is a defect in the CCD. Go here for the information...

http://esupport.sony.com/perl/news-item.pl?news_id=118&mdl=DCRTRV33

I hope this helps! I am sending mine on Monday, so I will drop another post when I get it back (hopefully all repaired OK)

Good Luck!

Hi All...

Go to the following link at Sony USA website. There is a defect with the charge coupled device (CCD) which is a known problem with a batch that made there way into the TRV series of Mini DV camcorders. Sony got sued and settled, but had to offer all customers a free replacement CCD. They will send you a UPS pickup label, send it to them in Texas, and you will get it back within 10 days.

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?mdl=DCRTRV33&news_id=118

Got mine back (TRV33E) a couple of weeks ago after8 days at the repair facility. Works great!!!!

Let me know how you get on.

As a gift, brand new, direct from Sears, I received my DCR HC30. It was used approx. 20-25 hrs max. I took it with me the other day to the hospital where my son was having surgery. The same issue. Black screen, yet LCD works fine.

I am going to contact sony and see what they say, or are willing to do. If nothing I will partake in a lawsuit.

I just got off the phone with Sony and they are fixing all DCR-HC30 camcorders.

GO to their site/trouble shooting section for more info.

I charged up my HC-30, which I have barely used, on Christmas Eve and put a brand new tape in it so it would be all set to go when my 9 and 10 year olds opened their gifts. Imagine my disappointment when all I got was a blank viewfinder! Since I can't let things go, I wasted a good part of this precious morning pouring over the manual and trying to resolve the problem (which, in turn, irritated my wife). Too bad I didn't know about this forum beforehand. I will contact Sony and let you know the result. Thanks for the tip!

Hey guys please please help me......i have Sony DCRTRV 22 .........and same problem occuring in my camcorder now .........but the only problem is that i am from canada so m yquestion is would they fix in canada for free or is it just for US customer?......please help guys anybody from canada who faced the same problem as this and so who should i contact guys like sony canada or states?

Hi,

U can get ur camcorder repaired worldwide for free...it's not only for US. u can contact any authorised centre for this, and tell them about the Sony notice . I got mine repaired in india.

Anila

Hey Anila,
So they are still repairing it for free right?.....and also yaar agar if u dont mind aap ka koi msn contact ho ga?......so i can ask more questions and all dat as am really worried abt my camcorder thanks please reply

Hi Saad,

Nice to see u conversing in Hindi!!! by the way, this can b reapaired till Oct2007 I guess...there is a notification isued by Sony..u will find it in the threads here itself...U can try to take a copy of it and take it to any authorised centre for repair...

And yes, dont worry about such small things as camcorders...There are better things to take care of!!!

In case u have any more query, u can post it here...I dont have an msn id!

Anila

I just got off the phone with Sony Customer Relations. They do *NOT* acknowledge the CCD defect for the DCR-HC42, even though I explained that I had gone through the troubleshooting procedure posted on the Sony site (for the TRV33) and got the results indicating the CCD problem. They did offer to fix the problem for a "50% discount" off of the "normal" repair cost ($105 = (210 x .50)), with a 90 day warranty. However, given the nature of this problem (failure after one year), I am not willing to invest another hundred dollars for one more year of use out of this product.

This is very disturbing, because it means that Sony only reacts to lawsuits and is not interested in proactively rectifying problems with its products or generally keeping customers loyal and satisfied. Folks, be warned that the CCD problems may be still out there in other products in your closets or those still on store shelves waiting to be purchased.

Sony has defective CCD's installed in several of its range of Camcorders and cameras. No other brand of camcorders,cameras seem to suffer from this defect. One of the defective models is the Sony DCR HC42 camcorder. Why are they refusing to fix this problem free of charge when they know that they are fully culpable by selling a defective product? Shame on you SONY Corporation!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi,
I also own a Sony DCR-HC42 and have the identical problem with the CCD. Black when I try to record and have the lens open but the older tapes I already recorded display fine. I know it's the CCD. Having no luck trying to get this repared from SONY. Very disappointed with them - next time will get JVC and steer all my friends away from this company.

I'm also experiencing this issue. I had a JVC prior to this - that still works - Sony - no!! Will contact them to see if I can get a break on the repair.. This is the very last item I will buy from Sony...

I called Sony support with respect to the CCD issues on the DCR-HC42. There is no note from Sony acknowledging this is an issue for the model in question. They have problems with DCR-HC30 and TRV33. The proposed fix is $201. I've left an email inquiry through the web. I would think if enough people report problems, they may open HC42 models to free fix as well.

I'm new to posting, so please bare with me. I took out my Sony DCR-HC20 yesterday to video something. Got the blank screen with funny lines on it. The playback worked fine. I was really unhappy, cause I can count on both hands how many times I'd used it. I got it around three years ago, but it's been a good little camera till now. I did some surfing and calling. The camera shop said, Sure send it in, it's worth it. We'll fix it, for $150+. Sorry, but I'm too much of a tightwad to spend that, when I can get a new camera for not much more. I found this thread and got on the Sony site. It said out of warrenty and will fix for $212. So, I called and the little guy at tech support said they'd fix it FOC. Just send to Laredo. I'm really happy, since I didn't want to buy a new one and I don't use it that much. He said if it finked out again, they'd fix it again. Hope it doesn't. That'd be pretty crappy. Plus, somebody here said they'd only fix through 10/07. Hope this fix is a lifetime one. Guess Sony isn't what they used to be. Will have to do some major review reading before getting the next sony anything. I hope other people who have this problem try Sony first instead of the camera shop. I was ready to pay them to do it. Spread the word!

I found out that the problem I had with a black screen on my TRV33 could be fixed on this website. I had to send it in to the Laredo Sony location and it was fixed free and did not take long.

If Sony is not currently offering a fix for your particular camera, I would really persist in contact with them. Sony obviously had a pervasive problem for a while. I assume they have corrected the problem!!

I called Sony helpline, they explained about a bad batch of CCD's and said they would repair FOC. I am sending my 106E in today. I will reprot back. A part of me wanted a new camera tho .. lol.

I was wondering if your camera was covered by the original lawsuit or they made an exception. I have the same issue with a DCR-HC42 which wasn't included on the FOC repair list....

Hi, well my camera a DCR PC106 isn't on 'this' list http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_4743.html But I was quoted by Sony STaff that it would be replaced FOC. I sent it off yesterday and will let this board know what happens.

The CCD Sensor needs replacement.. Email me for further details..

Regards,
davy Garg