Some 2002- 2004 digital camera/camcorders to stop working

[handyguy]

Well, at least its a free fix.....

"Defect could cause some digital cameras to stop working
By LEONARD FISCHER

First, the bad news: Five popular makers of digital cameras and camcorders have acknowledged a defect that could cause hundreds of thousands of units manufactured from 2002 through 2004 to stop working correctly.

Now, the good news: All of the companies have agreed to fix the problem for free -- even if your camera or camcorder is out of warranty.

The defect can occur in more than 150 different models sold by Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fuji and Konica Minolta that use image sensors, called CCDs, made by Sony's semiconductor group.

The glitch involves the "glue" that holds the image sensor in place, says Rachel Branch, a Sony spokeswoman. Heat and humidity can cause the glue to deteriorate, disconnecting the sensor's wiring. This results in the camera capturing distorted images or no images at all.

Sony estimates that the problem has occurred or will occur in only one-half of 1 percent of cameras sold with the company's sensor in the United States because "it's not as hot or humid here as it is in, say, Singapore," Branch says.

Sony: www.css.ap.sony.com/consumer/template/ANDetails.aspx?Id=45536. Sony also has set up several phone numbers for assistance. Professional customers in the eastern United States can call 201-833-5300. Professional customers in the western part of the country can call 866-766-9272. Consumers in any part of the United States can call 866-703-7669.

Canon: www.canon-asia.com/index.jsp?fuseaction=image-phenomena_notice. U.S. customers should call 800-828-4040 for information about scheduling service.

Fuji: http://www.fujifilm.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/ServiceSupportProductContent.jsp?dbid=83901...quicklink=true

Konica Minolta: www.konicaminoltasupport.com/English.importantnotice_en.0.html

Nikon: http://support.nikontech.com and search for all service and repair documents

http://cgi.thecalifornian.com/cgi-bin/techwrapper.pl?URL=http://www.gannettonline.com/...html&AFFIL=CAL

[Paul William]

So thats why my Sony TRV-250 (P.O.S.) stopped working! - Paul

[lumis]

atleast they're offering to fix it for free.. i wonder if they volunteered this or had their hand forced..

[edDV]

So thats why my Sony TRV-250 (P.O.S.) stopped working! - Paul

Make sure they agree that is the problem before you send it in. Sony's high flat fee for service is nearly enough to buy a new Digital8 at today's prices.

[Paul William]

Sony estimates that the problem has occurred or will occur in only one-half of 1 percent of cameras sold with the company's sensor in the United States because "it's not as hot or humid here as it is in, say, Singapore,"

Not as hot in the U.S. as it is in Singapore? The inside of my wife's car, where she occationally stashed the camcorder in between child play photoshoots, is plenty hot. I doubt she is the only "camcorder mom" with this problem. The .5 percent of the cameras Sony estimates will be returned, is because only geeks like us who read this group will learn about the recall. When my camcorder died, I just went out and bought a new one, making sure it wasn't a SONY.

- Paul

[Halm1]

Might be a free fix, but we're still on the hook for shipping and insurance to Sony. Seems to me there should be some compensation for that as well.