have a Sony VX-2000 that I use to shoot weddings. All of sudden I'm noticing spots on the video I've been taking that weren't there before. Depending on the way the light hits them, they are very noticeable and appear white on the screen. I checked the lens and filter and they appear clean. I cleaned them again and took another test and they are still there. Do video cameras work like Digital SLRs where dust spots actually get in the sensor? The lens is fixed so I don't see how that could happen but I'm grasping at straws. Any ideas?

The most likely cause of the spots is a defective CCD which means your VX-2000 is no longer usable for taking video. If you need a spare VCR, the tape recorder section is still usable. My Canon L1 failed that way and the cost of repair was the same as buying a new camcorder. You could probably still use it as a fixed camera in well lighted scenes where the hot pixels would be hard to see. But if you move or zoom the camera those hot pixels will stand out like a sore thumb.

Dave

Yes this sounds like your CCD has gone bad. I have had it happen on some of my SD camcorders. Believe it or not, one of HDNET's high def cameras has a CCD with a bad pixel. Shows up in their interviews.

I've noticed that the spots appear dark sometimes andl light other times. Is that conistent with a bad CCD?

I've noticed that the spots appear dark sometimes andl light other times. Is that conistent with a bad CCD?
I think it is but when mine failed the bad pixels were always white. Since yours is a 3CCD model, it might act differently? Bottom line, there is no inexpensive fix for the problem. Some professional cameras have spare pixels that can be programed to replace defective pixels. But consumer priced camcorders don't have that feature. If you intend to stay in the wedding video business it might be a good idea to buy a VX2100 while it is still available. This might be a good time to upgrade to some HD equipment? I never made a nickel doing wedding videos so I chose to get out of the business. I enjoy having Saturdays to myself.

Dave