Electronics giant Sony is offering free repairs for selected Cyber-shot digital cameras exhibiting problems displaying images on their built-in LCD displays due to a glitch in the image sensor. High temperatures and humidity reportedly play a role in the problem.
The impacted models are the Cyber-shot DSC-F88, DSC-M1, DSC-T1, DSC-T11, DSC-T3, DSC-T33, DSC-U40, and DSC-U50; they were sold worldwide between September 2003 and January 2005. Sony will only repair cameras exhibiting the problem; the company declined to say how many cameras might be affected, but described the number of cameras affected as “very low.”
It isn’t the first time Sony’s had to recall Cyber-shot cameras: battery problems led to a recall in 2003. Similarly, faults in Sony-made CCDs sidelined cameras from several digital camera makers in 2005. The company also cited similar problems in 20 of its other camera models in October 2005.
The recall follows on a disastrous PR year for Sony, in which it has been forced to recall more than 10 million batteries it manufactured for its own and many other computer-makers’ notebook systems. The company has also taken public relations hits on the rollout of Blu-ray DVd technology, delays releasing its PlayStation 3 gaming console, and copy-protection software clandestinely distributed on Sony BMG music CDs which made Windows computers vulnerable to attack.
