Has anyone ever out there successfully repaired a Sony Handycam without
going stark raving mad? 
My success has been mostly repairing Panasonics and JVCs, mostly larger
units, I've just realised that I now have 3 Sony camcorders of varous
descriptions that have me absolutely stumped. One 8mm has a mecha problem,
the cassette carrier will not insert properly and lock down. By the time I
got all the casings off and realised I had to remove another 3 layers of
PCB to get to the belts and cogs etc, I gave up and reassembled it. I'm
really scared that when I do actually find the defective part, Sony spares
will tell me that it's no longer available.
The other is a Mini DV that will not recognise when it's got a tape in it,
I need a microscope for that one and a much steadier hand, and maybe a jig
or two. I've been quoted $500 to repair it by the local Sony agent, I
emailed another repairer who told me that this price was "cheap"
and "go for it".
Then theres my old betamovie BMC100 thats lost all video, a lost cause or a
simple recap job maybe the vicon tube has lost emission? 
Maybe, why are these things so darned difficult to fix?

Regards,
Peter 
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+