Sony Camcorder won't eject the tape?

My Sony Digital 8 had a tape stuck and wouldn't eject. After reading everyone's comments I tried thumping the bottom of the camera and it started moving. I unplugged it for a few minutes and plugged it back in and tried this procedure several times and the tape finally ejected. The tape is eaten up but my camera is operational again.. Thanks for all of the tips and tricks.

D.Jackson
October 2016

I tried possibly all the battery removing and ac power only techniques. But none worked.
Read this forum, gave the camera a good whack on all sides, and boom, the tape came out just fine! Id also like to mention that the tape was loose, i.e I could see the film outside the cassette.
Thanks for the tip guys!

Mangal
April 2014

Dropping the camcorder several times from all sides, from a hight of about 40cm onto carpet fixed all the tape issues!

Hugh
December 2012

Removing the battery and using just the power cord worked for me. Thanks everyone for posting.

Faye
July 2011

My tape also was stuck in Sony DCR-TRV18E. I had my the camcorder in Play mode. removied and inserted the battery several times (more than five times). The tape seemed to get back into casette bit by bit as there was a short period of spooling sound after each time I but the battery back. Then finally open/eject button worked and the casette came out.

JS
January 2010

I could not get my tape out of my Sony TRV330. I tried slapping the bottom of the camcorder and it worked. But when I put another tape in it also got stuck. I gave up and disassemble my machine. After digging for a while I finally found the tape eject button. The eject button looked like a little white piece of plastic and it took me a while to figure out it was a button. The eject button was screwed on to the cassette tape door frame, right behind the battery release button. Which likely why hitting the door and messing with the battery caused the tape to eject. There is a little node that protrudes from the door frame that is designed to push the eject button when you open the tape door. Over time the joint got slightly misaligned, just enough to completely miss pushing the eject button. I could see and test that everything else worked fine and when I pushed the eject button with my finger, the tape ejected fine. I realigned the door frame node with some pliers and put my camcorder back together and it is working fine now. Taking it machine apart and putting it back together took a long time and it had some tricky parts.

Dan
December 2009

Had this problem just now with my DCR-TRV460 Digital8. Stuck tape in, camera ate it and didn't fully eject (compartment slid out but did not open). Wouldn't open or slide back in after this.

Removed the battery and replaced, compartment slid back in and ate the tape a little more, but ejected fully, allowing me to remove the tape. Camera is fine, tape was bad.

Scott
December 2008

Taking the battery out and putting back in did the trick for me too.

p@ul
March 2008

I read somewhere to give it a big thump! After all it's technically beyond economical repair anyway!

Take the battery out first and thump it from all angles.

Worked first time, and the subsequent time too! I've kept it 2 years longer this way!

Pete
May 2007

Have you tried taking it apart? I know it sounds thick, but I tried it to a VCR and simply scrolling back the knob which allows the tape to eject and enter, allowed the tape to come back through. That might sound like a load of garbage, but I hope it works! :)

Chad Bronson
November 2006

Did you try removing the battery and using only the ac cord,eject the tape.I know it sounds silly but it worked for me.

Louie
June 2005

I have similar problem with my TRV-730 Sony. The camcorder simply does not recognize that there is a tape in the camera and will not eject it. Most experts recommend sending camcorders in this condition back to Sony for repairs but there is a minimum charge of about $250!

Matt
May 2005