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Sony DCR-SR42 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with  40x Optical Zoom
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Sony DCR-SR42 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom

You're always making memories. So don't stop capturing them. The DCR-SR42 Handycam contains 30 GB of built-in Hard Disk Drive (HDD) storage for up to 20 hours of recording time (LP). A generous 2.5-inch touch-panel LCD monitor keeps all the controls at your fingertips, while 40x optical and 2000x digital zoom keep all the action up close and personal. And when it comes time to share your memories, it couldn't be easier than with the one-touch DVD burn capability and the Memory Stick Duo media slot. The DCR-SR42 puts the simplicity back into shooting and sharing your videos.

DCR-SR42 Highlights

1/6-inch Advanced HAD CCD imager 1/6-inch Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 340K effective pixels provides stunning detail and clarity for exceptional video (up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance.

40x optical/2000x digital zoom The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, the Digital Zoom interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zooms.

Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario- Tessar lens Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating for increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfect renditions of subtle tones.

2.5-inch touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD The 2.5-inch LCD screen provides excellent viewing clarity. The high-resolution 123K pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles and provides sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback.

Handycam Station included Simply placing the camcorder on the supplied Handycam Station cradle provides quick connections to a compatible TV for viewing or a PC for editing and sharing, all while charging the battery so your camcorder is always ready to go.

Memory Stick Duo media slot Capture still images up to 640 x 480 resolution, directly onto Memory Stick Duo media for easy transfer to PCs and emailing, printing, or sharing video and images with other compatible Memory Stick media devices.

Super SteadyShot picture stabilization system An advanced version of Sony's SteadyShot system that controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies, to achieve an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of video like some other image stabilization systems.

On-screen zoom and record buttons For additional control of the camcorder, the DCR-SR42 features zoom and record buttons on the frame of the LCD screen. This allows the user more flexibility when holding the camcorder, especially in overhead or low angle shots.

USB 2.0 interface USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect your hard disk Handycam to the computer and fast transfer of video and still images for editing. The camcorder can also be used as an external storage device, convenient for archiving, storing and trasporting your videos and still images.

DVDirect compatibility The DVDirect system allows for easy transfer to a stand-alone DVD burner via USB 2.0. The VRD-VC30 allows for easy transfer of video for DVD Burning. While the VRD-MC3 allows for seamless transfer of both video and still images for archiving on a DVD.

Easy PC backup Easily back up your footage to your PC using the supplied software. The footage will be stored on your PC's hard drive for archiving purposes and viewing at a later time; the footage is stored by date allowing for quick access. In addition, only new footage is transferred to your PC each time you backup your footage.

One-touch disc burn Easily burn a DVD copy of your footage using the supplied software. Simply connect your DCR-SR42 to your PC via the Handycam Station and supplied USB cable, and press the one-touch disc burn button.

HDD Smart Protection A unique Shock Absorber protects the Hard Disk Drive from physical damage if the unit is dropped. When the 3G Sensor detects a drop (loss of gravity), the power to the Hard Disk Drive is turned off in order to prevent damage; during this time the DCR-SR42 remains powered on and recording video to the built-in buffer. Once the unit has recovered from the drop the buffer is then recorded to the Hard Disk Drive.

Super NightShot Plus infrared system With Sony's Super NightShot infrared system, you can capture natural-looking video, even when shooting in low light. Record subjects up to 20 feet away using the built-in infrared system, but without the overall monochrome color common with earlier low-light recording systems.

Additional Features

  • Manual focus
  • Scene selection modes
  • Picture effects
  • Fader effects
  • Battery information
  • Easy Handycam button
  • InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system
  • Tele Macro function
  • Multi-language menu

  • 30 GB built-in hard drive; record up to 20 hours

  • Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens; 40x optical/2000x digital zoom

  • 2.5-inch touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD

  • Super SteadyShot picture stabilization system

  • Handycam Station included; one-touch disc burn

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Our Price: $897.55

Note: Item may be sold and shipped by another company. Learn more.
Product Details:
Product Length: 7.6 inches
Product Width: 7.0 inches
Product Height: 6.5 inches
Product Weight: 0.81 pounds
Package Length: 7.5 inches
Package Width: 6.6 inches
Package Height: 6.3 inches
Package Weight: 2.35 pounds
Average Customer Rating: based on 73 reviews
 
 

Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Review:4.0
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

1SONY DCR-SR42 30GB HDD Handycam Camcorder with 40X Optical Zoom  Jun 15, 2008
I bought this unit relying on the reputation of SONY and never thought SONY could offer such a bad quality video on his handycams. It is awful. It is a real lemon ! I won't recommend to anyone to buy this model. Sorry SONY but you just deceived me !

4It's what I was looking for!!!  Jun 08, 2008
If you are looking for a camcorder easy to use and easy to share video with, the Sony DCR-SR 42 is the camcorder for you!!! Compact with a very nice designe!

5Better than anticipated   Jun 06, 2008
The Sony DCR-SR42 w/30GB Hard Drive is better than I expected when I placed my order. It is so easy to use. The digital camcorder playback is so crisp and clear. And the colors are reproduced so faithfully. I am also impressed that the camera can easily be used at night and otherwise under poor lighting conditions. I am very pleased.

The software that comes with the camera is easy to use and probably satisfactory for most users. But I use other software programs for both camcorder and still photos because they have more features.

It is true that the still photographs are only of snapshot quality. But they are much better than the photos taken with my Palm Zire (a PDA with a 1MB built in camera). Of course my PDA is sneakier - has a crude camcorder function - and is always with me.

Of course, for personal or family use, I would confidently recommend the Sony DCR-SR42. More good news: this is not the latest model and should be available at a bargain price.

4 of 5 found the following review helpful:

1Make sure you can edit MPEG-2  May 20, 2008
This camera uses MPEG-2 format that Windows Movie Maker can't read; I bought Sony Vegas Movie Studio thinking that would work but it won't load on my computer.
Sony says it's not their fault, it's Microsoft's fault because if Visual C++ won't load. Microsoft is no help.
Sony said they would help if I'd bought from directly from them, but because I bought from Amazon, I was on my own.


2 of 3 found the following review helpful:

2Very poor video quality  May 15, 2008
I have to say, first of all, it hurts me to write this review. I wanted to like this camera. I really, really did. I loved the size, the shape, the ease of use. I even ordered an extra battery on how much I was going to use it. But I just didn't like the video quality. It is plain bad. I even thought I was going to be able to live with it, but I watched a few videos last night and made some side by side comparisons, and it was just too much for me to bear. I am taking it back to the store tonight to get my money back.

The interlacing was AWFUL. If the camera moves slightly, the lines dominate the screen. Even in bright sunlight, it looked like a youtube video. A few months ago, my wife won a "FlipVideo" hard drive recorder that takes very simple video with no zoom, etc. Seriously, these videos were better than this Sony's. This was the deciding factor in me taking this camera back. I am going to try another camera to see if it is just this one or all Hard Drive based recorders.

 
 
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