Shutter button popped off & I am out of warrenty.

Cranky - did you really fix your DSC-H1? Were you successful in replacing the button that broke. Let me know if there is any trick to taking this apart? I am going to try and do this myself. Red1

Yay! Replacing the shutter button worked for me following these steps. I've been using a thumb tack/safety pin to take pictures since May!
My only gripe: why send the part in a ridiculously huge box, Sony? 7 bucks to ship instead of 2. THough the shipping was sorta quick... I guess $27 to fix instead of $180 is still the better deal. THANKS for 411!!!

I found one and fixed it myself from Tigerdirect.com Sony
RELEASE ASSY Part Number
X-2149-056-1
$22.31



You need to use pliers to gently turn the bezel clockwise about 1/4 turn to get old one off, then reverse the procedure. Works like a charm! Good Luck!

The fix is so easy I thought of it in my sleep. The button had fallen off our H2 while my wife was taking pictures of dolphins. And you guessed it, the button fell into the ocean.

Sony sells the Shutter Button Release Assembly for $18.00 plus tax & shipping.

Anyway, the fix does not require you to take apart the camera. Using a rubber jar opener you can turn the little silver ring just a little bit. Use your finger nail and lift it off.

Look for the little plastic piece that broke and also the little snap ring. On the underside of the ring that you removed, you'll notice two little feet.

When putting the new assembly back together, line up those feet with the two slots, pressing down and turning the ring just slightly should hold it in place.

Cranky...

Great call on ensuring both feet from old button are removed. These could easily obstruct operation of other internal movable parts throughout the camera. The only part of the plan that I wasn't able to follow through on was the installation of the new part.

The internal workings wouldn't budge enough to allow alignment of the ridge on the bottom of the button with the valley in the button socket... What is more, I didn't want to break the feet off of the new button, so I took the back shell of the camera off to look for a better solution. I too was baffled at the ingenuity put into the construction of the inside of this Sony camera. I'm sure the solution is simple, but without significant investment of time I wasn't easily able to discover how to dis-assemble the camera enough to get the necessary clearance. We don't need much, just about an eighth of an inch of movement in the socket will be enough to allow sufficient clearance to get the button to turn so the ridge could settle into the socket valley without breaking the feet off.

However, I found I didn't need to completely dis-assemble the camera to get the socket valley to shift back a fraction of an inch. I found that I as long as the camera back-shell was removed I could insert a slotted screwdriver in between the battery pack housing on the BOTTOM of the camera and pry it carefully apart. This gives just the limited ammount of movement to the button socket on the TOP of the camera. My button then slid in easily without risk of breaking the fragile feet off the bottom of the button housing.

You have the solution = get the newer camera.
This is the problem with all small electronics and home electricals- they are made not to be repaired.
The hours needed to take an item apart figure what it needs- is money better spent on a new model.
Also consider the rapidity that stuff changes
how can there be a spares set up?
Having got the newest camera - you could then have fun trying to fix it your self, if you get lucky you will have two cameras

WoW! I am so glad I had found this thread. Found out the information was very help full! I would like to say thank you to everybody who had posted on here!

My camera is the Sony Cybershot DSC-H5. Never had relized what a common problem this had. Called Sony's toll free last week. Ordered the part number :x21083252

About three days later had received the part. The
old part was easy to take off. Had a heck of a time getting the new piece on. I used and xActo hobby knife. Must of had something cought in there.

Then the new part was easy for me to snap in to place. Now my camera works great! The part only cost me $27.35 order it from Sony. I wish every body there camera repair! Again, I thank you!

Our shutter button broke on our DSC-H2 Sony Camera. We removed the bezel by turning it with a needle nose pliers by turning clockwire(when looking at the camers from the lense side) Only need to turn it a hair. You won't hurt anything turning this silver bezel (button/bezel together)-you throw it away anyway. Order a new part from Sony -phone number - 1-800-488-7669 pn-x21083252 total cost $26.61 including tax,shipping,handling. it's called a release assembly. It's the bezel and botton together.
To reinstall the new one place button on opening where the thiner silver of this bezel is close to the front of camers. Make sure it almost flush/almost flat- not sticking up. Gently push it down and turn a hair counter-clockwire. It's simple. Not a $180 job like every camera repair shop wants to charge.

Don't throw your Sony Cyber-Shot camera away!

We found a website who has created an entire comprehensive photo instructions for the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H Series Shutter Button Installation.

They also have the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H9 Shutter Button Installation Instructions as well!

Please note that we STRONGLY recommend using a flash discharger. This is for your safety and also for your camera's safety.

Hope this helps to get your camera working and start capturing memories again!

I have a solution! I've had this issue THREE times, and now i'm all out of warranty. i should buy another camera, but i really love my Cybershot, and i don't really have extra cash right now. I've found that a yarn needle works wonders. Alike the toothpick idea, I snapped a yarn needle down to a 1/4 inch and covered it with duct tape. I advise using safety glasses while cutting the needle. It's been working for about two months now without an issue, and I use my camera on a daily basis. The needle I use specifically is a Dritz Yarn Darner. You can find them at any sewing supply store for somewhere around $2.00. Good luck, everyone! It's a shame that for as much as this camera still runs, Sony offers no recall or assistance.