Black screen

The Black Screen of Death is a common problem with Sony cameras from around 2004-2006. If you have a Sony, it's very likely that the CCD chip in your camera is toast. Good clue to this is if you can play tapes in the camera, which means the tape heads, screen, and much of the electronics are working fine.

You can try calling Sony at 1-866-703-7669, Custormer Information Services Center. They were sending shipping labels to customers with dead CCDs, so the cameras could be sent in for free repairs. This was a year ago - I'm not sure the program is still in effect. If not, they should still be able to tell you what it will take to repair the camera, since they know exactly what the problem is. (You might end up with a refurbished unit, but that's what your camera would become anyhow.)