Sony DCR-HC42 First Impressions Camcorder Review

Starting with an MSRP of US$600, the DCR-HC42 is the cheapest Sony MiniDV camcorder this year to exhibit Sony’snew widescreen LCD screen, which is, in all honesty, pretty cool. It also sports the same redesigned exterior found onthe DCR-HC32 and DCR-HC21 (Review, Specs, $329). Aside from some added still functions, the DCR-HC42 doesn’t see any more upgrades from the DCR-HC32, save its imager, which is consistent with that of last year’s DCR-HC40 (Review, Specs, $539.94). As you’ll see, the DCR-HC42 doesn’t have toomuch to offer over some of the cheaper Sonys other than cosmetics.

Video Performance
The DCR-HC42, the next camcorder up from the DCR-HC32 in Sony’s new MiniDV camcorder line, features the same 1/5 inch, 1.07 gross megapixel CCD imager. Like nearly all Sony MiniDV camcorders released this year, the DCR-HC42 did not getan upgrade from last year’s model in the imager department. For this reason, we cannot expect dramatic improvements from the DCR-HC40’s video or low light performance from those of the DCR-HC42.

Last year, the DCR-HC40 performed pretty well in bright light conditions (3000 lux). Colors were crisp, and the HAD CCD helped to reduce noise. While we cannot be sure about the DCR-HC42, it should yield similar results.

The Front
The DCR-HC32’s lens and lens cover opening switch are located on itsfront. The front also housesthe camcorder’s memory stick Pro slot and the camcorder’s built-in stereo microphone. While the front of the DCR-HC42 hasn’t changed much from last year’s model in terms ofwhat it includes, the(mainly) new design of thiscamcorder makes me a fan already. The front of this camcorder looks nearly identical to that of the DCR-HC32.

The Top
On the top of the DCR0-HC42 rests its intelligent Accessory shoe. This is an upgrade from the cold accessory shoe found on the DCR-HC32, but isconsistent with the specifications of last year‘s DCR-HC40. Unfortunately, the intelligent shoe on the DCR-HC42 is of Sony’s new slimmed design. This new design deviates from the industry standard, and only operates withSony-made products. The shoe is located toward the back of the camcorder’s top, followed immediately by the camcorder’s zoom toggle and photo button. The camcorder’s zoom toggle is the same T-shaped unit, slightly elevated from the camcorder body, as found on previous models, and is one of the better zoom toggles out there¾forcontrol anyway.

The Left
On the left side of the DCR-HC42 is its new 16:9, 2.7”, widescreen LCD screen, above which external buttons for back light, display/battery info., and the camcorder’s Easy mode are found. The DCR-HC42is the cheapest MiniDV camcorder in Sony’s line to offer the new 16:9, widescreen LCD screen this year. On the LCD screen’smargin reside secondary buttons for zoom, record, and wide select (used to engage the wide screen mode).

The Right
The DCR-HC42, like the DCR-HC32, features a strap runningalong the bottom of the camcorder’s right side (to rest theuser’s hand during recording) which wraps around the camcorder to cover a long slender port cover on the upper portion of the tape mechanism. Underneath this port cover is the camcorder’s A/V input/output and LANC jack. All of the DCR-HC42’s other ports are located on itsdocking station. Docking station controls include A/V input/output, DC in., FW, USB, USB on/off switch, and release button.

The Back
The DCR-HC42 features the same 123K Black and White electronic viewfinder found on last year’s DCR-HC40 and DCR-HC32. It is located on the back of the camcorder, with the battery located beneath it. One thing that Sony has done correctly over the years, is maintain minimum battery protrusion from the camcorder’s back. Many other manufacturers continue to feature batteries thatprotrude from the back of the camcorder, almost passedthe range of the extended viewfinder, making it kind of annoying to use the viewfinder. To the right of the DCR-HC42‘sbattery is itsrecord button, and part of itsmode selector. Nearby is the battery eject switch.

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control
We usually consider Sony camcorders (MiniDV anyway) to have the best automatic controls in the industry. Sonycertainlygoesout of its way to make itscamcorders easy to access and easy to use in automatic mode. The DCR-HC42, like many Sony MiniDV camcorders, features an Easy mode, accessibleby use of an external button which sets basically all of the camcorder’s features to automatic defaults. Sony MiniDV camcorders don’t include manual shutter speed options or independent iris (F-stop) adjustment. All themanual controlsthat they do offer, are available only through Sony’s Touch Screen menu system. While this system does make these camcorders more sleek and pleasantto look at, the touch screen function also makes manual adjustment during recording a big pain, as the user musttap the LCD to make changes. The onlyupsidesto the touch screen menu function arethe Spot Metering and Spot Focusing options. These spot functions allow the user to touch any area of the LCD and force the focus or the exposure to adjust to that particular area.

Unfortunately, we did not get anopportunity to thoroughly analyze the individual automatic controls on the DCR-HC42. Stay tuned for the full review, which will include such analysis.

Overall Manual Control
The touch screen menu system on the DCR-HC42 makes manual control adjustment cumbersome. The user must go into the camcorder’s menu system each time he/she wants to change a manual setting. This takes up time, not to mention the tapping the user must do on the LCD screen to actually make the changes. The good news is that the DCR-HC42 doesn’t really offer thatmany manual controls in the first place, making the tediousness of accessing them not such a big deal. Manual control over focus, exposure (an undisclosed proportion of shutter speed and iris adjustment), and zoom are available. Focus, while adjusted within the touch screen menu, does include actual numerical focal length indicators. This is a step up for Sony which usually doesn’t include such amenities.

Zoom
The zoom on the DCR-HC42 is a bit disappointing. Sony has onlyupgradedthe DCR-HC42’s optical zoom to 12x,from last year’s 10x, while the DCR-HC32 sports a 20x optical. One positiveis the camcorder’s nice ergonomic zoom toggle, although this isnot a change from last year‘s model.

Focus
Manual focus can beadjustedwithin the camcorder’s touch screen menu system. This basically involves the user pressing either “plus”or “minus”to move a cursor along a line representing focal length. Thankfully, Sony has included actual numeric focal length values to let the user know a little bit more about what they are actually doing to the camcorder. This is an improvement over last year’s models.

Exposure (Aperture)
Exposure on the DCR-HC42, as an undisclosed proportion of shutter speed to F-stop values, is only available for adjustment along an ambiguous+/- meter, similar to that of Focal adjustment, but lackingany numerical or proportional information.

Shutter Speed
There is no manual shutter speed on the DCR-HC42, only auto exposure presets for particular environments, such as Sports, Sunset/Moon, etc.

White Balance
The DCR-HC42’s touch screen menu system includes standard white balance options, including outdoor, indoor, one push (manual), and auto. These optionsare consistent with those on last year’s models. It would be easier to access these options with an external button of some sort, as touch screen menu systems, and indeed, menu systems in general are tedious to use, but we’ve come to expect such

a setup from nearly every manufacturer except Panasonic.

Gain
There are no manual gain options on the Sony DCR-HC42. This isa shame, but who really uses gain on such a low-end camcorder?

Still Performance
The DCR-HC42 features the same Memory Stick Duo Media Slot as seen on the DCR-HC32, although, also likethe DCR-HC32, no media is included with the camcorder. Unlike the DCR-HC32, the DCR-HC42, because of its larger pixel count,can capture still images at a resolution of 1152 x 648 to Memory Stick Duo. This upgrade comes with anincrease of $100 from the price of the DCR-HC32. The DCR-HC42 also captures stills to tape and card at a resolution of 640 x 480. Unfortunately, there are no burst mode or burst functions on the DCR-HC32.

VCR Mode
The DCR-HC42’s touch screen menu system works as the camcorder’s navigational device when in VCR or playback, mode. Small touch screen buttons will appear at the bottom of the screen for play, forward, back, and stop. As far as connectability for playback goes, the DCR-HC42’s docking station includes the camcorder’s DV (Firewire), A/V output, USB, and DC in ports. Unfortunately, there is no S-Video port, so you’ll have to use the A/V ports to plug into the TV.

Low Light Performance
The DCR-HC42 has the same imager as last year’s DCR-HC42, which means that we expect good things from thislittle guy, even if it is a one-chip camcorder. We did experience some bad blue noise from a DCR-HC40 last year, though further testing with other unitsled us to believe that this wasn’t a chronic, widely reaching problem. At this point, we cannot talk about the DCR-HC42’s low light performance as we haven’t had anopportunity to thoroughly test the camcorder.

LCD/Viewfinder
The Sony DCR-HC42 is the cheapest MiniDV camcorder this year to include Sony’s new 2.7”Widescreen LCD screen. This feature is key intheredesign of most of Sony’scamcorders this year. The viewfinder on the DCR-HC42 is still 4:3 in ratio and black and white in color.

Audio
The DCR-HC42 records both 12 and 16 bit audio. This option can be accessed usingthe camcorder’s touch screen menu system. Unfortunately, there is no headphone jack or microphone jack on the DCR-HC42. This really forces the user to depend on the camcorder’s built-in microphone for audio capture andleaves no options to monitor or adjust the sound levels captured.

Handling
There are a lot of bad things happening on the DCR-HC42 with respect to handling. The main thing wrong with this camcorder is its touch screen menu system, which requires the user to constantly tap the camcorder in order to make any sort of adjustment. While this isn’t a problem when not recording, it is definitely one during capture. Another problem, whichmay not be apparent at first glance, centers around the camcorder’s docking station. The docking station is the only part ofthe camcorder witha Firewire port or DC input, requiring it to be carried around if you’d like to charge the battery or connect to a computer. This could be a problem when packing for a trip, if faced withlimited luggage space. Furthermore, if your battery runs out of steam, it is impossible to connect the camcorder to a DC source without plugging into the docking station. This meansno tripod recording while plugged into an external power source.

On a good note, the DCR-HC42, like all of the new Sonys, looks fabulous. It hasa much more aesthetically pleasing design than that of last year’s models. Further, the 16:9 LCD screen gives the user a better perspective on how playback will seem on a widescreen television.

Ports
An external docking station housesthe DCR-HC42’s DC in, DV (firewire) port, USB, and A/V output port. The camcorder also features A/V and LANC ports on its right side and a cold accessory shoe on its top. Unfortunately, there is no external microphone port, or manual audio level adjustment for that matter, making the accessory shoe pretty much useless for audio features. As mentioned in the handling section, there may be more problems caused by the docking station than its convenient, no-unplugging-necessary design may prevent.

Other Features
Secondary buttons There are secondary record and zoom buttons located on the LCD margin.

Software CompatibilityThe DCR-HC42 is compatible with Click to DVD software.

Super SteadyShot Image StabilizationIncluded is Sony’s electronic image stabilization.

Handycam Docking Station Sony’s Handycam docking station offers a convenient place to rest the camcorder during the connecting process. This station features a DV port, DC in, A/V output, a USB port, and a USB on/off switch.

Super NightShot PlusSony’s infrared night mode is included.

Enhanced 16:9 Widescreen modeA non-letterboxed widescreen mode is available and can be viewed on the camcorder’s 16:9/widescreen LCD screen.

Analog to Digital Pass-ThroughAnalog to Digital Pass-Through is not available as there are no analog inputs on the DCR-HC32.

Conclusion
For $600, the DCR-HC42 should be available soon for your purchase. While, at this point, we cannot fully and confidently assess its video and low light performance, we can say that it has the same size imager as last year’s DCR-HC40. Whether it will have similar video performance is open for speculation. As forthe DCR-HC42’s imager, Sony has made relatively few improvements from last year’s model. All manual controls remain the same, thatis to say, mediocre, and all are still accessed using the camcorder’s touch screen menu system. There is still no microphone input or manual audio level control on this camcorder,leaving audio on shaky ground. Additionally, the new accessory shoes on these Sony’s aren’t compatible with industry standard (or what we thought were industry standard) accessories. They do make the camcorder slimmer though.

Many of the upgrades we do see on this camcorder are cosmetic. For instance, the camcorder’s external design has been completely redesigned in a much more aesthetically appealing format. One of the camcorder’s more functional upgrades is a cosmetic upgrade as well; the new widescreen LCD screen is very much a functional upgrade, as it allows for much better monitoring of captured video, in line with the future of widescreen televisions. It is a cosmetic upgrade as well because it looks, well, fabulous.

The DCR-HC42 is the cheapest Sony MiniDV camcorder this year to include a widescreen LCD screen, capture stills at 1152 x 649, and have an intelligent accessory shoe. Other than that, all of the features seen here are available for less moneyon the DCR-HC32.