My camera seems to be experiencing the same problem.
I'm going to send is to the place sony showed me to send it too.

PRECISION CAMERA REPAIR
3 ANNGINA DR
ENFIELD CT 060823222

If anyone else thinks they have the same problem I just youtubed some of the captured footage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swrnxp5XGqM

I'll write what was wrong when I get the camera back.

This is exactly what mine looks like.

Send me a PM when you find out what the fix and cost was.

I have not sent mine in yet and I have not used it for a while now.

I just got my camera back today and all looks good so far.

Here's the boxes they(joshua) checked off.

Head Clog- When gray bars, distorted video or scrambled audio occur during tape playback, the video heads* may need to be cleaned. Try using a cleaning tape to solve the problem. Cleaning tapes can be purchased where regular tapes are sold.

Tape Path- The camcorder's tape transport was out of alignment, which affect video recording and playback. We have adjusted the alignment to factory specification. Some of the tapes previously recorded with this unit before the repair may not playback correctly.

Explanation of Repairs
repaired record and playback operation

Software Download, Test, check and complete recalibration
Auto Focus Test, Check, Recalibration and Realignment
General Test, Check, Clean and repair all functions and system.

Description of parts used.
Mechanism Plate and associated parts
VAP assy and associated parts

repair price $499
shipping and handling $12
other charges $0.00
Total $511.99

I don't know if all this is done normally because my cameras optical image stabilization was malfunctioning also, along with a spec of dust inside the lens.


Anyone know what VAP assembly is? From checking online it costs $425.92 for the vx-2100 model version. I assume it's something to do with the image stabilization.