DSC-T20 Cyber-shot Camera Vibration

Pictured left: DSC-T20, DSC-H3 right.

Pictured left: DSC-T20, DSC-H3 right.

Sony has discovered that some DSC-T20 Cyber-shot cameras sold in the United States may experience an issue with abnormal internal vibration and an inability to properly focus and take pictures. For cameras affected by this issue, Sony will provide free repair until July 17, 2011. In certain units, the lens cannot adjust properly due to a mechanical failure in the lens mechanism. When the automatic features of the camera attempt to adjust the lens, the camera body vibrates, preventing it from properly focusing or taking pictures.

Notes:

  • The symptom only occurs while the camera is powered on.
  • The vibration is similar to that of a mobile phone set to silent mode.

Affected Cameras

This issue affects some of the following DSC-T20 cameras sold in the United States:

  • Pink or Silver cameras with serial numbers between 500001 and 525350.

Note: Not all cameras within the serial number range are affected.

The model name and serial number are located on the label on the bottom of the camera.

How to Resolve the Issue

IMPORTANT: The camera mode settings may be initialized during the service process and all recorded data erased. Please make a backup of your camera’s internal memory data before sending it to the Sony Service Center.

During the free repair period, Sony will provide customers in the United States a prepaid shipping label so that you may send your affected DSC-T20 camera to the Sony Service Center for free repair.

Notes:

  • Please verify that your camera is a DSC-T20 with serial number between 500001 and 525350. The model name and serial number are located on the label on the bottom of the camera.
  • Verify that your DSC-T20 camera is experiencing the vibration issue and an inability to focus and/or take pictures.
  • Sony will provide free repair only for DSC-T20 cameras within the affected serial number range that are experiencing the issues described above. All other cameras are subject to normal limited warranty terms.

If your DSC-T20 camera is in the affected serial number range, and is experiencing the issues described above, please click here to order a prepaid shipping label.

If you have questions or require assistance, please call Sony customer support center at 800-784-6726.

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17
Jul 2008
POSTED BY Christopher MacManus
POSTED IN

Cameras/Camcorders, Hardware

DISCUSSION 229 Comments
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  • Thomas

    Seems like there is a lot of affected cameras of the DSC-T70 ranges – and others. I have the vibrating problem with my DSC-T70 – number 1502215 – and i contacted SONY to ask when they expanded the extended warrenty from the T20 series to include other cameras with the same fault – the answer was short and simple – Dont count on it, you will have to forward your camera to regular service …. and i am sure, that the cost by far superseeds the value of the camera – I can by a just as nice – NON-SONY product for less than the repair cost.
    Nice way to deal with a widespread problem – LOL

  • Amon

    It's obviously a big issue. I have DSC-T10 and it does exactly the same vibration problem. So Sony don't want to step up and take responsibility, fine, that's the last anything Sony I will buy.

  • mrkishokanth

    hi..im using DSC-T20 and im facing the same problem after more than a year of purchase!well,i bought my camera in singapore!the serial number is 2420048!how should i resolve this matter!do guide me,and for your information im in moscow currently!

  • http://Downinthelab.com Gary Burns

    I have a black model T20 with the vibration problem which was bought in the USA but the serial number starts with a 3 instead of a 5, called Sony and they said since my camera didn't match the criteria for the free fix program I'd have to pay $111.00. to have a technition look at it and possibly fix the problem. Nobody could tell me how they determined why only certain models were “affected” Judging from the 106 complaints on here I determined Sony just makes crappy cameras and are not willing to help their customers in anyway… I'm torn on what to do. Thinking I'll just go with another brand camera even with all expense invested in the accsesories and whatnot. Maybe we should start a class action lawsuit on what is definitley a manufacturing defect Sony choses to ignore.

  • Gary

    The bottom line is unless your camera falls into the “special color & serial number catagory”your basically screwed. Sony choses to ignore what is obviously a much bigger problem then what they will admit to. Not sure I want to spend $111.00 to fix what is most definitely a manufacturing defect,and they could only guarentee that my camera would be returned to factory specs. Whats to say its not gonna happen again.

  • buddy1925

    You got it right Ibrahim! My T300 which I bought in the Philippines also vibrates. Have you been able to resolve the problem with Sony?

  • Michael

    Another Sony T 300 and T100 owner here from Canada. I got the exact problem with both cameras. The screen vibrates and the camera itself gets hot easily. I'm a loyal customer for all Sony products until NOW. I hope Sony do take this issue seriously.

  • Heather

    I called customer support because my DSC-T70 started to vibrate today. Hopefully they will issue a recall for this one also.

  • Julio Mora

    I have a Sony T300 camera and it is also affected by the vibration problem related to the focusing motor just like the T20. I am in cominication with Sony about it.

  • frostiesf

    Anybody heard about this problem with the T300? Sony are refusing to acknowledge the problem for a free repair but I think that it is a bit of a coincedence that it is now happening with another one of their models! Not sure I want to pay £115 for a repair if it is a common problem and I can get a new camera for a little more.

    • Orchid 15

      Don’t give Sony another dime of your money. They know there is a problem and seem to be using this as a money grab instead of owning up to their defective products. Put the money to a new camera…just not another Sony.

  • tommy18NY

    I have the same problem with my T300 which is about little over a year old. Tried taking the battery out for a while but still doesn't work…after about 5-10 mins and then back to normal.

  • thelma sangga

    This same problem is occurring on my camera as well which i purchased in Tokyo, unfortunately my 1 yr warranty is just expired. how can i trust sonny..

  • thelma sangga

    when i used it i will shakingit, i never buying another sonny camera..

  • thelma sangga

    also mine i will shaking my cam.. i never by again another sony cam

  • supernikita

    I have the same problem with my DSC-T500, which I've bought about 2 years ago. I haven't try warranty because it isn't cover my local region outside USA. The problem started appearing after about half year of using.

    It looks like self-excitation of stabilization feature when power consumption is increased. It usually happened when battery is discharged by half or at hot external temperature. I'm already get used to it. Usually I shake camera or switch on and off several times and it stops vibrating.

    Eventually I believe the problem can be easily fixed by changing some electric component (capacitor) or maybe even with updating internal software (by managing power consumption at switch on). But I also believe Sony isn't going to do it for rather old cameras.

    I used to have Pentax and Canon before and all of them had different problems. :-( So I only can say that life is imperfect in general. :-(

  • Tim Riley

    Sony claim that they have no record of any complaints about this vibration problem on the T-70, everybody need to tell Sony via their local web page (mine is http://www.sony.co.uk) scroll down to “contact” click on “step 2″ and in the question box state “this is a complaint” and complete all the relevant details. If Sony get enough complaints they will do something about it, and it doesnt hurt to mention the Sony insider site

  • Johnny Wu

    There's same problem with T70 ,camera vibration when turn on

  • Johnnywmh

    .I think Sony should repair this kind of problem at its service station all across the globe.

  • Johnny Wu

    There's same problem with T70 ,camera vibration when turn on

  • Johnnywmh

    .I think Sony should repair this kind of problem at its service station all across the globe.

  • alaksl

    I have a DSC-T20 between the serial numbers, but I have not purchased in the USA

  • Kim

    Same deal… T300 camera just started vibrating last week after only owning it for 1 1/2 years. Contacted Sony and they said to try to reset it, or to have it sent in for repair. I loved this camera and did a lot of research on it before I bought it… but this is ridiculous now. Considering every single person who owns a cyber shot seems to be experiencing the same exact problem, I don't understand how Sony is being so ignorant of the problem. I'm going to hold on to it in hopes that they expand their recall to include my model, but if that doesn't happen within the next few months I'll try to repair it via the method someone suggested in a previous post. And if that doesn't work… I guess I'll be going out to buy a Nikon. Or a Canon. Or literally anything BUT a Sony. What a waste of $400.

  • Guest

    My T300 has been doing the vibration act for about 6 months. I stopped using it long ago. I just go t off the phone with Sony and they did nothing but apologize. Apologies don't fix a $400 camera that was just out of warranty. If we ALL call and raise a stink, we might get results. This will definitely be my LAST Sony product. If Sony doesn't recall these camera's.

  • David

    Same problem on my cam DSC-T2 Pink, purchased in France (2008)!!

  • briana

    i own a dsc-700. i have had it for two years, and the beginning of this year i started to experience the vibration. i just thought maybe it was cause it was getting old , but now i see that it is happening to everyone. this is not my first sony camera, and it is not the first to break on me either. my mother has had multiple sonys as well as myself and they have all broken. my camera would vibrate and after shutting it off it would work again, but then soon start to vibrate. it is ridiculous that so many people have this problem but sony refuses to recall or refund for these cameras. now i get a new error message saying that i have no memory space left on the stick, yet when i go to my pictures, i have not one picture on my camera. i'm done with sony

  • Cecily_005

    did any of you get this problem fixed? mine has the same problem ??? :-/ ugh!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sergej-Kulincenko/100000194134456 Сергей Кулинченко

    I have same problem with my both DSC-T500 black and DSC-T20 pink, purchased in Korea (2009)!!.
    Also I think Sony should repair this kind of problem at its service station all across the globe.

  • Cat_gone_crazy

    My camera started vibrating about half an year ago and then after sometime I just couldn’t get it to take pictures, so I brought it to be fixed, yes 144 $ and as soon as I got it back, yes the camera took pictures, but they were unclear and blurry and after about 2 days it started vibrating again… wow…

  • Dm_hammond

    hi the exact same problem is occuring with my camera as well, except mine is a cyber-shot DSC T10 would i still be entitled for the repair?

  • Graham Swan

    My Sony T300 camera has started to vibrate occasionally. please advise.
    Graham Swan.

    • Orchid 15

      Unless you want to pay almost $200 to Sony to fix their defective product….put the money to a new camera…just not another Sony.

  • Christina

    I have the Sony Cybershot DSC-T70 and it is not covered under the recall, even though it does the shaking too. It’s their crappy Cybershot cameras that have the problem but they aren’t gonna recall all of them just one model. Don’t buy any Sony cameras if they can’t fix something that is messed up in all their stupid cameras.

  • miko00032

    I have the same problem with my Sony DSC-T20 gray colored. But my serial is not one of those being recalled. How come Sony only recalled those serial numbers, when this problem is almost present in any Sony camera? I will never buy another Sony camera, neither do I suggest this product to one of my friends and relatives.

    Everybody make mistakes, that is excusable. But Sony is not fixing it, that is DISGUSTING!

  • Wehoguy

    My DSC-T70, silver, just started this yesterday. WTF!??! I can’t believe it’s so prevalent in this product!

  • Anonymous

    Hi, just to add my name to the list of unhappy T70 owners. Bought in Bangkok in January 2008, I think, though I’m now in the US, but Sony offer worldwide guarantees, so there should be a worldwide recall, not just in places where consumers have a bit more power. Started vibrating about 6 months ago, at first you could close the shutter and open it and it would be ok most of the time, but now it’s all the time. Sony really can’t continue to deny all knowledge of it – this is a clear design fault and from the number of people posting here, it looks like an inevitability at some point after the warranty runs out (conveniently for them)

  • disgruntled

    I own a silver DSC-T20 sony cam that has this problem.
    I learned from the net that this was indeed a factory defect, and there was a free repair.
    I live in the Pilippines so the serial number is different, so I confidently went to the sony service center only to know that they were asking me to pay for repairing a factory defect!

  • jj

    I have Cybershot T-70 too. It vibrates after several shots every time I use it. Looking at this forum alone, there are so many people who are having same vibration problem. This is clearly manufacturing defects. Shame on Sony! We should avoid buying their products. Because they will not stand behind the products.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MLEBEPTZ5YLOMYB642C5SCVTJU hendrix

    I also have this kind of Problem..I feel woried wid my cam. SONY pls make a step for this Issue.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WY3K6RTV2CGMR34V5ODAWY2BXA Barfie Mermaid

    Sony can’t figure out how to fix this. I bought my t-300 2 months after it was released and it took great pictures until month 13 when it started shaking. I managed to stop it here and there by holding it horizontally until it stopped. After about 7 months of it I couldn’t stop the shaking and sent it in to the Laredo, Texas service center. $171 later it was returned 1 week later working fine with a 90 day warrantee. Unfortunately, it is now shaking worse than ever 6 months after the fix. I’ve been on hold with various Sony Customer service people for over 3 hrs now and it is still not resolved nor have I been able to speak to a supervisor/manager. I am so disgusted.

  • Sidney Aldredge

    i am having the same issue and do not have the number range to get a free fix, but mine is from the US.
    no more Sony’s produces for me.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VZUFX5A6724YRNAT3FKUSHMOUQ 小灰

    Sony service centre has the worse services ever!!!! this is obviously a PRODUCT DEFECT and they are playing dumb playing blind with it!!! I wonder why their products are still on the market RIGHT NOW! if their camera has experienced these kinds of problems then they should recall it! I went to their sony style centre and they wouldn’t give a DAMN about my complaint! I AM NOT PAYING A DIME TO FIX THIS SHITTY CAMERA! THEY’D BETTER FIND A SOLUTION TO OUR WOES! IF NOT THEN IT’LL RESULT IN SONY PRODUCTS BLACKMAILING

  • Anonymous

    In front of the Sony DSC-T100 is a smooth, mostly covered by the frame of the panel a large lens cover that slides over the stationary finger grip chrome. The text of the lid and the side handle can be read when the camera is set down, but it is the right way when the camera is swung the belt. Lens cover slides down to reveal the lens and turn on the camera. As the design goal is all internal, the zoom does not telescope outward when the camera is on.
    http://www.thesonyworld.com/dsc-t100-from-sony.html

  • margaret

    I have the same problem. Last October or November I spent over an hour online with a service tech. I guess that is a complaint. The service tech basically watsed my time. Doesn’t it get on your nerves when a company is deceitful?

  • http://www.facebook.com/bethanythomson Beth Thomson

    Do you know if Sony are offering this repair service in Australia?

  • Anonymous

    The Sony DSC-T100 uses a custom battery Li-ion battery for power. The number of shots the camera is capable of battery life based on CIPA and / or standard test conditions of manufacturer. Usually recommend picking up a spare battery fully charged and keep it handy for long trips, but the battery of the DSC-T100 is sufficient that some users may feel the need for a second battery. http://www.thesonyworld.com/dsc-t100-from-sony.html

  • Senthilalaguvel

    I have sony DSC-T300 the camera body vibrates, preventing it from properly focusing or taking pictures.
    The vibration is similar to that of a mobile phone set to silent(vibrating) mode. Most of the sony cyber shot cameras has this probles. Sony has to provide any some sort of assistance in fixing this. Sony manitains a brand name, reputation and moreover a wonderful support. Hope Sony Corp. will help us in getting this addressed ASAP.

  • Charlud508

    My silver Sony DSC-T20 does not fall under the specified serial number range but is also experiencing the same problem. It vibrates when switched on and is of course unable to take steady shots. Sony should definitely address this issue!

  • Primonesta

    Have the same problem with my T-300. Started last week after 2 years of happy using. Finding out that so many people have the same problem, with different models, its a real dissapointment, no more sony products for me…

  • Dedesmet

    I have a dsc T-2/B that has started to vibrate as well, I will get the word out to NOT buy Sony. They should fix a known problem, warranty or not Sony is supposed to be known for thier quality, and this is a known defect, not caused by misuse. what a bunch of crap. dedesmet@yahoo.com

  • sonyfk

    My Silver Sony DSC-T70 experiences the same problem too. Fix? I would shake it, until it stops. But now, it won’t fix even it has been shaked a million times. And the worst, my camera don’t fall on the said Serial numbers, nor the Model and the Country where it is purchased.

    I might buy another one and I’m sorry, it won’t be from you.. SONY!

  • Ajaybagri

    Add me as another victim of this problem…T 70 Vibrating…SONY …do something other your revenues and profits would vibrate too..Internet is a powerful tool and prospective customers do review our comments before they buy your products..
    If any body has a solution, pl mail me at ajaybagri@yahoo.com

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