Can't record or take photos

take the lense cap off

sir,
you must have run a dry run before recording them in blank tape

The playback head is probably dirty and cannot show the picture - the screen is blue. Run a blank tape in the tape drive and execute a record all the way through the tape. Then play back a pre-recorded tape to verify it plays back ok.

If camcorder shows old recorded tapes picture with correct colors in LCD but does not show live view in camera mode to record new movie then its ccd imager chip failure.
And if camcoder shows live view and old recorded tapes in its eye piece view finder but does not show any thing in LCD the its problem of broekn/ cracked flexible wire between lcd board and main board of camcorder.
Let me know your finding with bit detail to provide you solution/ helpful info.

I had that problem also and I found that using smaller tapes helped. I was using the 120 minute tapes, I think they may be too heavy.

It could need a head adjustment. Any camera store can do that for you.

THIS IS YOUR CCD.. SAMSUNG IS VERY AWARE OF THIS BUT STILL CHARGES A ARM AND A LEG

You can see an image in a camcorder viewfinder any time the camera's actually on in record mode, whether or not the camcorder is actually recording. So that's no guarantee.

Assuming the obvious (you have the right kind of tapes, they're not in write-protect mode, you rewind before playing, etc). I recommend that you borrow a tape of the same kind from someone else and check it on playback in your camcorder. This should lead you know understand if you have a playback problem or a recording problem.

A properly functioning camcorder will report this if it has both a card for recording and a tape mechanism for recording, with a switch set "in card position" when you press the movie mode record button. If you have a camcorder like this, look for a button marked "photo" that is used specifically for snapping still photos.

You may have a problem with the image sensor device (CCD). From October 3, 2005 through October 2, 2007, Sony will repair, free of charge, affected products exhibiting the above-mentioned problem where it is caused by the image sensor device. Sony will also cover the cost of shipping and handling from and to addresses within the United States and US Territories for service to correct this issue. To see if you have this problem: Power On your camcorder (make sure the battery is fully charged). Check the LCD screen and verify that the display icons are turned on. If you cannot see the icons, press the Display button until the icons are visible. Put a tape in the camcorder. With the lens cap off, record some video. NOTE: Be sure to speak during the recording so the video will contain your voice. Rewind this section of the tape (using tape counter to verify start of your recording). Play back the recorded video and use the LCD screen on the camcorder to view it. You should hear the audio you recorded and the Display icons/text will still appear. If your camcorder is affected by this CCD issue, the picture will either be extremely distorted, or there will be no visible picture (just a blank LCD screen with the display icons still visible).