Dear friends, I am from Brazil and had exactly the same problem. It seems to be the CCD problem again. Sony charged me aprox. US$ 800,00 to repair it although this problem is happening all over the world with different customers typically after 1 or 2 years. There is a project problem with DSC-F717 and they know this. I am an electronic engineer and I know what I am talking about. I am very disappointed with Sony. The should perform a recall (as a serious company should act) instead of ignoring customers. I know that my camera is not under guarantee anymore (just 6 months) but, I do not consider 1,5 years old (after aprox. 1400 pictures) as a reasonable life of a digital camera that is (or was) the top of line of Sony´s Digital Cameras. Specially because I am a very, very careful person with all electronic devices. My camera is like new without any scratch and has never fallen. The local representative service also informed me the CCD must be changed together with the whole set of lens (from Carl Zeiss). This is the recommendation from Sony. It is an absurd. Sony charge us because of their project problem not only the CCD but the whole set of lens. I sent a complete report to Sony aprox. 2 months ago and they just ignored me (as did with customers all over the world) and answered (after 1 month and a lot of complaints) that the camera was not under guarantee anymore (obvious as it was 1,5 years old). Serious companies who have project problems perform a “Recall” even with products that are not under guarantee. At least should charge us reasonable costs. I gave up of my Sony and bought a Nikon. Now, my mission is to send this information all over the world helping customers to decide what digital camera they should buy. I regret to tell you that F717 from Sony is a failure model. Good camera if it is still working. If you want more details, please send me a e-mail ( f717failure@hotmail.com ) that I will send you a complete report (the same that I have sent to SONY USA, BRAZIL, JAPAN and CARL ZEISS - GERMANY. We can make the difference (all together). Maybe Sony will show us (customers) more respect in future. Regards and good luck.

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