This is amazing!! the same thing was happening to my camera.... i tried the hard surface method a few times to no avail but then i just smacked it twice on the side and it is back to perfect order. thanks internet!

holy cow! this actually worked!!!!!!!!! thanks everyone!

Did this about 6 times. (dropped it 6 inches onto a book)After about 5 times the lens started to work and the error went away but it wasn't focusing, 6th time fixed that. I've also pressed the reset button just in case in my attempts to solve the error with settings that I had changed something I shouldn't have.

I can't believe it, banging the camera around fixed it! I have a 2 year old DSC-W1 and now it works again.

Since we bought the Sony PC200 in Feb this year it hasn't worked properly and is now frozen with Error 61 coming up. Initially it would say that you had 106 mins left or something then the battery would just conk out and the lens would froze until you recharge, now it is completely frozen and no pics/film can be taken. Error 61 is coming up and Access and it tells you to switch off & on which I've done loads and still frozen. Have spoken to Sony and will send it in for inspection as it is still under warranty. For you guys who have it still under warranty - if you look up Sony's website and find out where to return the camera to for inspection with proof of purchase and box, accessories etc it is Freepost. Good luck with Error 61 will letyou know the outcome Debbie

I have a Sony DSC-W1. I took it to the beach. It worked perfectly but after getting home, I got that E61. Got on the internet, did a search and found this page. I did not drop my cam, but after reading something about the motor, i decided to twist the lens couter clockwise until I heard a snap, and voila!!! I hit power and the error was goe, lens working perfectly. Everything is A-OK!!!

Is it possable to use this method on the DSC - P41 or is it just for the model with the optical zoom...? I want to try this but am worried it won't work on my particular machine....

Well, my sister who is away at college had this problem, as she described the problem over IM, I looked on google for a solution. I suggested hitting it and dropping it (just as I read on here) and she said she had been doing that out of frustration already, with no luck. As I suggested various permutations of what you guys said (do it on, do off, on with autofocus off/on, etc) she grew more and more frustrated and then announced she had thrown it accross the room (I'm not kidding). Her IM fell silent and shortly she came back on, of course in all caps, shouting that it was now working. So, if you're alternative is to go without a camera (considering repair can cost as much as a new camera) try elevating the trauma level!

hi, just did the tapping lens thing, worked a treat, thanks pete

U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E!! You think whacking something to make it work happens only in the movies, but it worked like a charm. Lucky for me I only had to drop it once. I have a Sony DSC-P32 and got the same E:61:00 error message and was out of focus. What I did was placed my sony in a sock and wrapped the rest of the sock around it once so it doesn't damage my wood table. I hesitated but I eventually dropped it about 1.6 feet on my wood table (I measured 2 feet and it seemed a bit too high to drop for the first try). I pulled it out of the sock and VOILA, the error message is gone!! My camera is back to normal. No one is crazy here! It really works! Thank you sooo much! -Art CA