I have Sony Handy-cam MIni DV recorder too, The technology is obsolete, but I have had 15 Years of videos and kids growing to watch and record on a hard drive, I see the same grey lines that was described above evenly spread and whether you play on the TV or on the Video recorder itself the even gray stripes Appear,and I really though I have lost all the videos and memories, forever now that a head cleaning has been suggested, I am looking forward to doing that.
Hope that Helps, before these cameras start breaking apart.