If you have a Samsung SCD23 Camcorder (or any other camcorder from around the same years of production), and have experienced a distorted picture, or no picture at all in camera mode, yet you get video when you play back footage taped prior to this problem, this class-action lawsuit pertains to you. From everything I've researched, the problem stems from a CCD failure, for which, the fault lies with the manufacturer, and is an industry-wide issue. Canon, Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Ricoh, and Sony have already agreed to repair the problem free of charge, including shipping, regardless of warranty status. Samsung is the ONLY remaining major camcorder manufacturer who has not yet issued a recall/free repair offer. Therefore, I am looking into putting a class-action lawsuit together against Samsung. Please read on for info.



Ok, so here's the deal. I just got off the phone with Samsung, and as expected, didn't get much out of them. The first number I called (1-800-SAMSUNG) got me absolutely no where, as all that happened is I got a tech support guy who repeatedly kept informing me that my camera is out of warranty, and that there's no recall for it at this time, so servicing the unit will cost $150. He was purposely ignoring what I was telling him (which was I'd like to speak with someone who can give me a legitimate answer as to why a recall hasn't been issued, not keep parroting that a recall hasn't been issued). He couldn't even give me another number for a generic customer service center. So after fencing with this guy and his cookie cutter company lines, I asked him to make a note in the transaction file of the fact that I'm aware of the industry-wide CCD issue, and that I will be launching a class-action lawsuit for it. That ended that conversation.

I dug around on the net for a customer care number, and finally came across 1-800-522-2946. I gave that a try, and got through to someone who first kept delivering the message of my situation to a supervisor, and than finally just put me through to the sup himself. More company lines, like "I understand you being upset, but the parts being recalled by the other manufacturers are not used in our cameras (*remember that he said this for later)". I again went over how it is not coincidence that the camera was manufactured between the dates effected, and both I, my friend who bought the same exact camera on the same exact day, and countless others on line have had the same exact symptoms as the cameras being issued the service bulletins from other manufacturers. He asked me again exactly what it was that was happening internally to cause this. Hmmmm…. shouldn’t you already know all this, since you “know” that you don’t use the faulty parts in question? Why would you need me to “explain the details” again? I relayed the info again to him, and could hear him typing it in. After about 10 minutes of going over detailed facts, names of companies complying with repairs, the exact internal issues at hand, and having him fence back and fourth with me, the bottom line is as follows:

He took down everything I said, forwarded it to “someone else who needs to see this” (higher up, I assume; he only did this after he realized I wasn't your average, know nothing, complaining customer; I had facts up the a$$ to back up what I was saying, thus making the threat of a class-action lawsuit dead serious), and that was the end of the conversation. They have all my contact info (name, address, phone number, e-mail), so if whomever he forwarded it to comes to his senses, he'll take care of this issue before the lawsuit gets under way.

IN THE MEANTIME, I'm not holding my breath, and I'm going to move forward with the class-action lawsuit. I think we have MORE than enough grounds to fit. Let's look at the facts:

• Late last year (2005), complaints started accumulating about either a distorted picture, or no picture at all showing in the LCD or viewfinder of certain cameras. Video in playback was still functional for pre-existing footage (footage recorded prior to this malfunction).

• Amidst the onslaught of complaints, it was finally discovered that an industry wide problem was occurring. The CCD image sensor was disconnecting from the circuit board due to erosion of the packaging and glue holding the sensor. This was primarily caused by the use of cheap, epoxy like plastic packaging, instead of ceramic.

• The cameras effected by this were manufactured between October of 2002, and March of 2004 (which the Samsung SCD23 falls right into).

• Since this discovery, and all the complaints, just about every major manufacturer of cameras has issued a service bulletin, offering free repair and shipping through October of 2007, regardless of warranty status. Canon, Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Ricoh and Sony are all on the list of companies issuing these types of bulletins.

• Samsung remains the only major manufacturer not complying with this offer, in spite of certain models displaying the same, EXACT problems, and being manufactured within the dates in question.

And so, there we are. I will be contacting lawyers shortly (my lawyers are literally a free benefit from my work place, as in 2 weeks vacation, 6 sick days…..free lawyers). I’ll plot out a course of action from there, and will keep you all informed. I just wanted to let as many people know as possible that this was going on, and I’m trying to do something about it. I don’t know what’s sadder; the fact that I had to pick the one company that’s going to be a jerk about this, or the fact that Samsung prefers their name be dragged through the mud, instead of handling this issue with some dignity. Please post if you are interested in participating. *I also encourage you/need you all to call the numbers I listed above, to let Samsung know this problem is real, it's widespread and it isn't going away.

I am responding to the message from Anomaly. I have had the same problem with my Samsung SC-D23 camcorder. Last week I tried to record something and had no luck. The image was not recording yet I could play back previously recorded tapes and view them on the LCD screen. The newly recorded sound also played back correctly through the camera speaker. I have purchased the camera a little over 2 years ago and until now it operated flawlessly. The part that aggravates me is the camera has only been used for a total of maybe 2 hours since purchased and has never been abused. It was manufactured in Aug. 2003. It seemed like a good purchase at the time but now, “NOT SO MUCH”.

I found this forum as I was searching for an answer to my camcorder problem.... black screen when in the camera mode. I'm not very techy, but I have tried everything else & can't find any other problem, so I am assuming mine is also a problem with the CCD issue. I've had my camcorder only a little over 2 years and it has not really been used too much. In addition, it has never been dropped or abused. I called the phone number you had listed for customer care & basically found out that the could "care less" about the problem. I told the rep about finding numerous other owners who are having the same problem & was just given the same old speel about it being out of warranty and I would have to pay for the repairs myself. I asked for a supervisor and he stated that he "is familiar with the forums that I referred to about the CCD problem, however are usually incorrect about their information". I told him I felt it was unacceptable that I should have to pay for repairs to a 2 year old camcorder which has been barely used when it is obvious by the number of complaints that this is a manufacturer's problem. I only received the same response - I would have to pay for the repairs myself. I then told him that I would be joining the class action lawsuit against Samsung & he just replied "okay". UGGGG!!! This really ticks me off - I do not have the extra cash to have these repairs done & I have a newborn daughter whom my family has not even seen yet & my camcorder is my only way of recording all these special moments of her! Please let me know if you pursue the class action suit as I would like to be part of it! Thanks!

Not to put a damper on your action but the widespread CCD issue only effects a variety of brands and models using CCD image sensors manufactured by Sony during the timeframe specified. Unless your camera uses a Sony-made CCD (I don't know if it does or not and you don't say), you would not be eligible for the "recall" which is sponsored by Sony through the various manufacturers. While very widespread, the issue is not literally industry-wide. Rather it affects a limited number of camera models from a majority of major manufacturers.

Sony CCD advisory notice

Since Sony is picking up the tab for repairs, manufacturer's have no incentive not to participate in this warranty extension campaign. However, in digital still and video cameras, Samsung has yet to rise above a poor record for quality and performance. Reviews reflect their status as a second-tier manufacturer who's low-end products are sold primarily through the likes of K-mart, Target, and Wal-Mart to consumers who typically don't do much research before buying.

Hi, same with with our Samsung VP-D500i camcorder -- no image at the LCD & viewfinder at standby and record modes, but we could view previously recorded tapes. At record mode -- the LCD screen is black, and it could only record audio. The Photo camera mode is working.

Any ideas WHY and HOW we might be able to fix this? thanks.

Could anybody share copy of service manual for this model. Thanks a lot

I appreciate the info, but this is all stuff I already know. I realize it is a limited number of camera models from most major manufacturers, as I already stated this in my original post. The fact that a whole slew of these Samsung cameras made in the same years, display the same EXACT problem down to a tee is why I have a very hard time swallowing the excuse that "we don't use the faulty parts in question". I'm assuming from the fact that the supervisor had this pre-planned answer ready for me, that this is not the first time this issue has been raised to Samsung, indicating it's more wide spread with them than they're going to let on. And I know it's the CCD, not only from the symptoms the cameras are displaying, but because several owners have also posted that they've sent theirs in to service (at Samsung, or elsewhere), and have been told this is the problem. Of course, with the staggering cost of repair/replacement, just about 0 of the owners elected to go through with it.


I don't see Pentax and Ricoh on that list. That's because they weren't added until December, even though Sony issued their advisory in October.

http://www.engadget.com/2005/12/05/...d-problems-too/

In other words, even though Sony is picking up the tab, there are still companies that are being late to react to this, or are claiming there are no problems. If Sony is picking up the tab, or not, I’d assume this is still a daunting task for all the manufacturers (getting all these cameras sent in, sorting them out as being covered under the service bulletin, taking the time to fix them with nothing to gain/loosing time on fixing products they could be making a profit on, etc.). And who knows if they’re covering 100% of this. This is all still fairly new. It hasn't even been half a year yet since the truth was finally shed on this problem (I’m sure the customers complaining to the companies covered in this bulletin were also told you’re out of warranty, and out of luck prior to the bulletin). My point is, I don't think we've seen the end of that list of manufacturers, or the end of the camera model numbers effected yet.

More importantly, if this is just an issue of a crappy Samsung camera that happens to have the same problems as the "good cameras with one bad part", and therefore doesn't need to be amended, why should Sony amend its problem? Why doesn't Sony just say "to hell with it, you bought cameras with crappy parts, deal with it" like Samsung is trying to tell its customers? Same EXACT issues with a decent portion of cameras. Why should all those other cameras be covered if Samsung can just say “too bad” for the same problem? Point is, this class-action lawsuit isn’t merely to allege that Samsung needs to be crammed into the Sony recall. It’s to get them to take responsibility for an obvious problem they have, Sony origins, or not.


While I'm sure they're not the greatest quality, the complaints I have read are primarily for the SCD-23. I have not come across very many complaints of this same issue (no image in the viewfinder/LCD, but EVERYthing else works fine) pre, or post era in question. Other internal mechanisms breaking (won't eject tapes, won't transfer to hard drive, etc); yes. But these same identical issues that the other manufacturers are recalling their cameras from the same era for; no. This only furthered my suspicion that there is a deeper issue happening, here. And while it's not on the higher end of the totem pole, I don't consider a retail price tag of $400 appropriate for what's turned out to be a disposable camera. By the way, I got mine at Fry's. I don't shop at K-Mart, Target or Wal-Mart for much of anything, let alone electronics.





I know how upset most of the owners are from the posts I've read (in this thread, and many, many others). But if you're mad a 2-year-old camera with 5 hours of use on it went bad, just imagine MY situation. I LITERALLY HAVE 10 MINUTES OF RECORDING TIME/FOOTAGE ON MINE!!! I still have all the original stickers on it, even the film over the LCD screen! I wanted to wait till it was older before I removed them because I'm an obsessive/compulsive freak like that. I like everything to stay as good as new for as long as possible. So you can imagine how ticked off I was when my basically brand new camera, which had LITERALLY been used one time prior to this for 10 minutes of recording, decided not to capture images the second time I went to use it. I was at a loss for words, save for a few choice curses. I would have thought maybe I was doing something wrong, except that, as I said, a friend of mine who bought the same exact camera on the same exact day had the same exact thing happen a month prior to mine. Again, I very, VERY highly doubt there isn't something more to this than "tough luck, that's Samsung crappy camera quality", especially since the only complaints I've read of such incidences were for the cameras of this era.

Anyhow, I will talk to the lawyers, and let them advise on what to do next. I'll keep everyone posted. In the meantime, please keep the posts/stories coming, and keep the calls going to Samsung. Thank you all for your help.

I just found this site, and am another one of the unhappy owners of as SCD23. I have obtained all the schematics and mechanical diagrams for the unit and I was thinking of tackling the problem myself. However, if a C-A-L is going to be started I suggest it would be wise to wait. So that Samsung cannot say "your broke it when you opened up the case". Please let me know if you go forward with this suit. Thanks.

I was talking to a friend recently & told her about my Samsung Camcorder problems. As I described the "black screen" to her, she said she had the exact same problem with the same model last year. She didn't think to get on-line to check out the problem. Instead she was just told it was no longer under warranty & was referred to the only Samsung repair shop in the area. They charged her $75 just to look at it & another $75 to fix the, yep, you guessed it, CCD. She was told "these parts just go out after a while & need to be replaced". I told her about the possible class action suit & she is interested in participating. She still has her receipts. Maybe Samsung is not a top of the line model, but I believe my husband paid about $400 for my camcorder & to me, personally, that is not exactly cheap. And to have to pay another $150 to replace parts just 2 years later after very little use is absolutely ridiculous.

Was searching the web to find out where to take my Samsung SCD23 for service as the screen is black and it won't record, but it will play back. I found your post and want to know, what now? Should I get on the phone to Samsung service or do you need to get some information from me?

Thanks

I have the same problem and I want to know about the class-action lawsuit because is no fair that we paid for those cameras and now they don't work right. In that case I better buy disposables cameras. I hate this because I buy it to record my son since he born now he is 21/2 and for the last six months I been having problems with the camera sometimes it works but I have to turn it on and off.
Please let us know what is going on.

we also have the problem . had to get the cam "fixed" at a local shop. They fixed the black-out screen but we still have the problem with the cam fast forwarding and rewinding at it's own will. Now also the power is not working and there is a piece of metal shaking around inside (the cam was not dropped , I was simply viewing a tape on the computer when the power went ! )

Someone should deffinetly take responsiblity for such a problematic product!

Ct.

I have the same problem and have called the phone given, and got no luck as far as getting it repaired free of charges. The represensative even said, he had never of such issues before.

How do we register for this class action ?

[
I just called Samsung this morning about this problem. Wish I'd had your information first, but I'll call back and let them know that I know what's going on. Please include me in the class action.

__________________
L.A.

I’ll tell my story now that it is over--hopefully. My SCD23 died last week. I used it and it sat on a table for a day or two, I picked it up and there was the grainy black screen of death. I tried the settings, gentle jiggling, charging/removing the battery; nothing helped. Everything worked fine except it was blind. I bought it two years ago and recorded two tapes until 6 months ago, then I used it a lot for maybe 10+ tapes in last 6 months plus a few hundred stills in all. Upon searching around I found this thread as well as others, and info about the Sony CCD failures. I called Samsung after this and they told me $150 and send it in, could cost more plus my shipping. I asked about the CCD, they didn’t know about it he said. I thought about it. Problem is I just spent my play money on a camera and I need a camcorder. I could buy another, get it fixed, or fix it myself…

Deciding I was mad at them (really MAD, or I would have sent it in) I carefully tore it apart myself and got the CCD out. I have to find a microscope to look at it for wire failure yet. The chip says 280h-328 on the back, but I can’t trace this to Sony yet. The new one says 280h and a larger number like 543, you can see them through the hole in the board. So I ordered a new one from samsungparts.com for $102, or 111.54 shipped. I just put it in and got it back together, and the thing can see once again. Everything works fine now. I don’t like Sony because of their proprietary technology and politics, but they burned me good on this. I can’t see myself buying a Samsung anything again, and CCDs don’t seem to wear out in 2 years/<20 hours use in any other equipment Sony or not. I assume the new CCD is not defective BTW. If Samsung pays me for my trouble I might reconsider how I feel about them.

Even if it is not a Sony chip, that is very poor performance. Otherwise it has worked very well for the price, I can’t complain about much. The stills are very poor in low light, but that is typical for the price from what I have read. They are not great but usable in brighter light. You can get about 800 stills on a 128 card, and USB file access is very easy. The ulead video software has not worked that well for me, but again that is part of the low price I suspect. On my PC it is very buggy when I capture with the firewire, or it could be my PC. The video is pretty good on the tv, mpegs look good, had to download the special codec to play the mpegs made on it. I only paid $250 at Aldi for it, but paying for this repair would have bought me a much nicer unit.

For those who want to know about fixing it, if you have or can put together computers and can work with fragile small things then you can do it IMO. If you screw up and wack something with your screwdriver or what not, you are done. Proceed at your own risk! You have to work anti-static also, and be able to deal with tiny ribbon connectors. About all I used was a tiny Phillips and a sharp mini awl for the ribbons (to push tabs out if retainer would not slide out). I have a pic of it apart I can post but don’t have a cable for my new camera yet. You can find parts/service info here: http://www.eserviceinfo.com/download.php?fileid=13605 Take most of the screws in the case out and it will fall apart. Note where the long screw goes, next to the viewfinder I think. [Edit: it fits there but don't go there. Long screw goes next to all the video plugs on the side under rubber cover; secures lens housing/mic/light.] Leave the tape door alone, two in the tripod mount can stay in, body will fall apart when you get them all. Then you have to take the main board loose to unscrew the lens assembly, I flipped that part upside down first, and had to take some ribbon cables off to get at screws also. I unplugged the lens cover/light assembly to get it out of the way. Take lens frame off board, take frame off lens, wait for your new CCD.

To put back in, has to be clean of dust so really better to do this all at once if you can. Take (2 black screws on mine) out of CCD and ribbon off to get lens assembly off of it (note what way it goes). On mine the rubber seal and tiny lens stuck to the CCD and need to be in the lens assy. Can’t be dirty or dusty at all! I used a glass cloth and artist brush to clean. Then take new CCD, remove tape on glass, insert the right way into lens on pegs. Make sure rubber and lens is in there right under it as you do, I stood lens up and put CCD down into it. Screw it in, reverse above to put camera back together. The ribbon clips catch at end and slide into socket, the short ones you can flip out sideways with a fingernail. Get ribbon all the way in socket and put clip in, make sure it faces right way. The lens assembly you wiggle back into its plug being very careful of what you are pushing on, screw its frame back on. Make sure the tabs on the housing of camera go in right spots, it fits funny, you have to jiggle it around some and then it just goes back together when right. I had to move some wires behind the light that stuck out, and push the DC plug over to fit. Put screws all back in and you are done. If it resists, don’t force anything or you will have a broken something. Good luck if you do it. Stuff is small, my eyes kind of hurt a little after I was done. I’d say it took over an hour to get apart and more to put back together being very, very careful. If you could get it fixed for $150, only 50 for labor would be a good deal IMO. Maybe this will help someone else out there with a dead one. 031306

I am having the same problem with my Samsung SCD103 which I purchased a little less than 2 years ago. I was traveling with my in-laws in the Dominican Republic and was recording fine. We stopped at our hotel, got out of the car and tried to start taping agian and we got the same black screen everyone else is talking about. I tried changing tapes, recharging, removing and replacing the battery, rereading the entire owner's manual for a clue as to what it could be and came up with no solution. I am just like Anomaly in the fact that I still have all of the stickers on it and it looks just as if it were just taken out of the box. No scratches, no wear and tear. Perfect condition except for the black screen. I also can use playback (even of the video I took moments before it went black) and if I try to record I only have audio on playback. Please add my type to your list and to your class action lawsuit. This is very upsetting as I now live in the Dominican Republic (a 3rd world country) as a missionary and need this camcorder desperately and cannot even think about getting it fixed here and not sure how well it would journey to the U.S. for repair much less being able to afford that. Please!!! Keep me informed on the lawsuit and I will call the number you gave me 1st thing tomorrow through my internet phone. Thanks for seeking out legal help for us all Anomaly!