Sony digital camera worth fixing?

rfuerst911sc · 09-24-2006, 08:37 AM

Well my trusty Sony 3.2 digital camera apparently has died the LCD screen all of a sudden does not light up. I have replaced the batteries,cycled the unit off and on and have played with all the buttons per the instructions and no go. I do get numbers,letters and symbols as it is telling me battery power,limit on the memory stick etc. It is about 4-5 years old if that matters. I went to Best Buy today and guy said from the description I gave him it's toast, he says when they go they generally don't give warning which mine didn't. So does anyone fix these or is this another item in our disposable economy? And is 4-5 years all these will live?

hardflex · 09-24-2006, 08:51 AM

My screen got a crack in it, inquired about repair but it cost as much as a new, better camera.

I can still use mine, it makes the same good pictures, you just have to aim it right and upload the pics to a computer.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Which model sony is the camera? If it a cybershot 70 or 75 want to sell the accesories for the camera?

rfuerst911sc · 09-24-2006, 10:20 AM

It's a Cybershot DSC-P72 what items are you looking for? I have the original Sony 16mb memory stick along with 2 Lexar 128mb sticks in the Sony metal case. Also have the carry case,manuals,cords ,software etc. Let me know.

Moneyguy1 · 09-24-2006, 11:53 AM

Most modern electronic devices are not meant to be repaired for catastrophic problems. Even most TV manufacturers do not replace individual components, they refer to the entire (what we used to refer to as chassis) as a "module".

serge944 · serge944's Garage

I paid 100 bucks to get my sony screen replaced. The POS camera broke the first day I used it. My olympus was much more sturdy when it came to ski falls...

Even for just 100 bucks, I'm sure you can get a better camera these days.

osidak · 09-25-2006, 08:55 AM

probably the back lights went out -

notfarnow · 09-25-2006, 09:58 AM

Funny, I had the same problem with my Canon a75. Really pi$$ed me off, because they said it wasn't worth fixing.

I had resigned to buying a new one, but decided last week that I might as well take it apart before throwing it out.

With the back cover off, I was able to see that one of the clip-on connections that goes to the LCD display was "tweaked". I straightened it out, put it back together and it works great. Took maybe 15-20 minutes... My wife thinks I'm a damn superhero!

Lesson: If you're going to throw it out, it might be worth taking apart to see if it's something obvious.

RickM · RickM's Garage

I had a relatively high end Cannon camcorder that had it's second drum go bad. I took pics of the camcorder, case and all the accesories. Sold on Ebay for $75. Parts are hard to get and expensive so it's very worth it to some people out there. In hindsight I should of sold the camcoder alone for parts and the accessories as a second package.

BeyGon · 09-25-2006, 11:43 AM

I have had a Sony Cybershot 505 for a few years, I loved that camera, it finally started dying and I got in touch with Sony Repair. They wanted $211 to fix it. I like it so much I almost did it. But bought a new one instead. $211 for a five year old camera just didn't seem good to me. New camera, new warranty, more pixels, and more money.

rfuerst911sc · 09-25-2006, 01:21 PM

I am bothered by the fact that it seems 4-6 years is the expected life of the LCD screen according to the Best Buy dude and if accurate is unacceptable to me. Granted the prices have fallen but still is buying a new digital camera every 4-6 years the norm? I guess I expected more especially from Sony. I guess I'm old school expecting it to last a long time.

84porsche · 84porsche's Garage

I would get a free estimate and see what it'll cost you. But if it was a 3.2mp before, you can get that for cheap. Buy a duplicate on ebay if you liked the camera that much, this way your accessories don't go to waste. I have a Sony DSC-V1 and it is starting to have problems and approaching 4 years old but I know if I get 3 or 4 years, I am content with it. My brother has had his Sony for 8 years and still working.

Consider getting a new camera, the only problem with the new Sony cameras is that changed the Memory Stick to the Memory Stick Pro Duo which makes the original ones obsolete. I inherited about 10 memorysticks from friends who upgraded cameras.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

The time spent debating, getting estimates, is wasted. Sorry to say but consumer electronics like this are disposeable. Memory sticks and all. I got a 5.1 MP Nikon and a 1GB SD card for under $300 at BestBuy. In and out in 30 minutes. Done.

I guess I learned my lesson after I spent $350 to fix an old video camera that worked for a month or two before it broke again. I could have bought a new camera with mfr warranty for a bit more. Never again.

911boost · 911boost's Garage

I have that camera as well (its an DSC-P7). Can you believe it went through the washing machine with a load of laundry and still works? The only thing that pooped out was the memory stick.

We ended up buying another Sony since my wife who is the primary user really liked the menu's etc., so if you think the LCD is replaceable by you, I might be able to have my arm twisted enough to part with it.

Bill

911boost · 911boost's Garage

bump.

serge944 · serge944's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by rfuerst911sc
I guess I expected more especially from Sony. I guess I'm old school expecting it to last a long time.

Sony sucks. The only decent products they put out nowadays are their displays - TVs or computer monitors.

syncroid · 09-26-2006, 04:48 PM

I have a Sony DSC-F707 camera that is about 4+ years old. It died one day. I was thinking of getting a new one but really like the feel and simplicity of this one. I contacted Sony and for $249.00 usd they said they would fix it, replace it with like unit, or give me the next up model if they could not fix it. I got my original camera back and it works great. I couldn't be happier with Sony's customer service or the camera that they fixed for me.

Brother · 09-26-2006, 04:55 PM

My sony DSC-F505V is over 4 year old. Still works well. Unfortunately, i think the cable is dead. I haven't tested a new one. I plug it in to the computer and the camera says PC mode but the computer never registers the camera as being there.

84porsche · 84porsche's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Brother
My sony DSC-F505V is over 4 year old. Still works well. Unfortunately, i think the cable is dead. I haven't tested a new one. I plug it in to the computer and the camera says PC mode but the computer never registers the camera as being there.

Could be a driver issue? Try on another machine and see if it recognizes the camera?

BeyGon · 09-26-2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brother
My sony DSC-F505V is over 4 year old. Still works well. Unfortunately, i think the cable is dead. I haven't tested a new one. I plug it in to the computer and the camera says PC mode but the computer never registers the camera as being there.

why don't you just get a card reader and plug the memory chip into it. If I could find the cable from mine-same camera-I would give it to you. I just don't have any idea where it is, never used it.