Ccd sensor is not functioning -

just so you know, your camera model was included in the list for what we call the "ccd program". this program has ran for 5 years and unfortunately ended march this year. sony gave free repairs for cameras and camcorders affected by the defective ccd imaging sensor before the said date. issue with the camera shows a black or distorted screen in camera mode. but the you should still be able to see the indicators on the screen. when switch to vcr you should be able to play back previous recordings that you made. better to really make sure its a ccd issue, play a tape that you're sure contains a movie recording and play it, then set it to camera mode and see if you get just a black screen. if you try recording using a tape, you may see nothing but should hear the audio part. if this is what's happening we can be sure it's a ccd issue. if your camcorder just won't turn on in camera mode, maybe the power switch turned defective or it can be other parts of the unit that stopped working.if this is the case, then of course, your unit may require service to address the problem.hope this info helps.thanks:)

Hi,
It is known problem of ccd imager chip failure in few Canon models and your S2 IS got that problem too, ccd imager chip will be replaced to get live view in camera mode to take fresh pictures.
Local camera repair shop will help you to replace ccd imager chip in camera or click Canon CCD Imager Support and talk to them if they can replace it for free.
Hope this info will help you.
Thanks.

Hi,
This is known problem of ccd imager chip failure in DSC-F717 camera and ccd imager chip will be replaced to get correct live view in camera mode to take fresh picture.

Sony offers free of cost ccd imager chip replacement till March 31, 2010
Click Sony CCD Imager Support for details.
Thanks.

The ccd sensor has almost certainly failed. To confirm, see if menu displays show normally on top of the distorted image and also whether photos taken prior to the fault display correctly.

Your Nikon camera was fitted with the notorious 5MP ccd manufactured badly by Sony; huge numbers of them have failed prematurely and there was a program to offer free repairs to those who complained.

Unfortunately the scheme finished last September and only continues for a couple of Sony models until March 2010. Every other affected make and model is now considered to be beyond the original design lifespan. Yours may be up to almost eight years old now, so has likely far exceeded it's five year design life.

If you can find the CCD unit as a spare part, then repair is possible, but without the repair being free it's completely uneconomical.

Time to start shopping...

Check out the Sony support website, there should be links there:
www.ita.sel.sony.com

If it's you're CCD sensor, it might qualify under this news bulletin;
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?mdl=DSCF717&news_id=161

Sony had a certain issue with the CCD chip on this camera. If it's this issue, they'll fix it free plus $20 until March 2010.

It is ccd imager chip failure problem and ccd imager will be replaced to get correct live image in camera mode.
Sony offers free of cost ccd imager replacement for DSC-F717 camera til Nov 30, 2009
Click Sony CCD Imager Support for details.
Thanks.

Sounds like the CCD is damaged. Sony was fixing this problem free of charge but has since discontinued the free repair. If your camera was exposed to excessive heat, such as in a car during the summer, the CCD could be damaged from an iodine vapor within the camera itself.

Here's a website that has a few photos showing some distorted images from a bad CCD.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/badccds.html

The Sony websites that listed information regarding the free repair are no longer available.

I know this doesn't help your situation but if you can obtain a new CCD from Sony parts or similar, there's a YouTube video showing someone replacing one in under 10 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnZdEc9KY-U

Sir, You have used the camera since 2004 upto 2008. Now, you know that 4 year is enough time for a digital camera to run. The only solution is to throw it to dustbin & buy a new one. Otherwise, you may spend money in vain with your existing camera. Why?

It' because of the damaged CCD. The replacement of the CCD wile solve the problem

Yess CCD problem- contact Sony they will either replace or offer a discount on a new model as this is some years old now.