Sony Sony DCR-HC42 MiniDV Handycam

Sony DCR-HC42 MiniDV Handycam

Sony DCR-HC42 MiniDV Handycam Review, by Richard Baguley June 23, 2005

Show More Show Less

0 Comments | 0 Topics | Print Only This Review

• Reviewed by: macmon

  Strengths: Good recording on well lighted area.Has pass through port for analog to digital.

  Weaknesses: Not durable.Poor Philippine sony service.Only the main office have competent tech and adequate equipment testing it.If you want to waste your money buy a sony.

  Overall: I was very happy at first to get this very first digital video recorder after my dad's last purchase was an analog type. Got nice video from it unfortunately it did not last. After 18 months of use my unit went dead. Cant transfer video to my Mac computer. Unable to record sound and what made it worse was the incompetent tech on the satellite sony service center. I had to go to the main sony office to have a competent one test it and guess what. The main board is busted.Good thing I got an extended warranty that costs around 300 dollars (equivalent in Phil Peso) to have it fixed if not under warranty.And now after using it again for some time. the problem is the tape needs to be reinserted many times before it can be taken in.I am disappointed with Sony since I have known them to have durable equipments. I guess I was wrong and they now I am and advocate of not getting any Sony products.Want to waste your money, buy a Sony.

• Reviewed by: randman

  Strengths: lots of features, great touch screen, easy to use

  Weaknesses: horrible dot crawl even in well lite indoor setting, lots of yellow and blue flecks

  Overall: I don't think I will keep this one, surly there must be a better camera in this price range that gives better quality. Like everyone else I agree that Sony should have included at least a small memory stick.

• Reviewed by: thecleaner

  Strengths: Too many to list

  Weaknesses: Low light performance. Heads get dirty to easy. Beware of sony's warranty. After 90 days, it's a fixed price $240 to repair

  Overall: I've only taped about 3hrs worth of video and already the unit is telling me the head is dirty. So I cleaned it. Warning is gone but I've got gray bars across the screen now. No matter what I do I can't get the gray bars to go away. After browsing the forums, this appears to be a common issue with Sonys, their heads are too sensitive. Many have had to exchange their camcorders to get the problem fixed.

• Reviewed by: paulteasdale

  Strengths: Small compact. Nice digital touch screen. I like the color viewfinder. Many cool features. I like what I see at this time. Audio sounds good. I love the docking station.

  Weaknesses: Confusing lame software. No insturction manual for software. It took me 2 hours just to get the video on my computer. It was very frustrating.

  Overall: Don't buy from the absolute cheapest. Buy from the dealer with the best rating in the bottom 5 prices. I like how the lens cover is built into the camera. Downloading software to the computer is disappointingly slow. I thought I would just burn onto CDS but this is not a realistic option.

• Reviewed by: williamsww

  Strengths: Compact size, 2.7" LCD screen

  Weaknesses: Optical zoom is only 12X

  Overall: This is a good miniDV, although it is more expensive than other brands, such as CANON, JVC. 2.7-inch Wide Hybrid Touch Panel LCD is beautiful. I think it is a nice gift for ladies.