Sony DCR-SR42 Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Nov 15, 2007 10:13 AM 
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Audio (3.0)
Audio options are slim to none on the DCR-SR42 (Review, Specs, $0.00), as the camcorder lacks an accessory shoe and mic and headphone jacks. The only control you have over the built-in stereo microphone are two level settings: Normal and Low. In Normal mode, sounds are recorded at a fixed level, no matter how loud or soft. In Low mode, sounds are recorded at a variable level that adjusts to loud or soft tones. Nevertheless, you won’t notice much of a difference with such a cheap onboard mic. At this price point, it’s hard to find a camcorder that offers advanced audio options.
Playback (3.0)
Playback on almost any Sony is simple, and the DCR-SR42 does not stray from the rest. In order to access Playback mode, you can either press the external Playback button in the LCD cavity or the on-screen playback button in the bottom left corner of the LCD screen. Once in Playback mode, a blue screen appears containing miniature thumbnails that represent individually recorded clips. The zoom toggle shifts the amount of displayed thumbnails between six and 12 at a time. A row of buttons line the bottom of the LCD screen: Video mode, Video Playback, Photo Playback, Memory Stick Photo Playback, and Playback Options.
In order to play back a clip, touch its corresponding thumbnail and it begins playing within the entirety of the LCD screen. A number of on-screen Playback controls line the bottom and sides of the LCD screen: Previous Clip, Next Clip, Stop, Rewind, Play/Pause, Fast Forward, and Playback Options. The Playback Options menu contains the following items:
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Video Playback Options |
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| Visual Index | Add, Add By Date |
| Visual Index 2 | Delete, Delete By Date, Delete All |
| Visual Index 3 | Divide |
While playing a clip back, you can press the playback options button and Volume and Data Code settings will be available.
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The Playback menu |
The Playback screen in action |
Connectivity (4.0)
Onboard connectivity options are rather absurd on the DCR-SR42. You get a DC input, an AV-out jack, and a Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo slot. No USB! If you want to transfer your footage , you’ll have to rely on the included Handycam Station, which includes the same DC-in and AV-out terminals, and the USB. Why Sony felt the need to withhold an on-camera USB is a riddle. It could have saved a lot of hassle and skipped the docking station altogether.
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The ports on the Sony DCR-SR42 |
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The Memory Stick slot is embedded within the LCD cavity with no cover of any sort, so you’ll have to make sure the LCD screen is closed when the camcorder is not in use. The AV-out terminal is on the right side of the camcorder, housed by a rugged oval shield attached to the body of the camcorder via two thin plastic strips. The DC-in is located in back to the right of the battery, and features a rectangular design that is less prone to pulling out. The DC-in jack is protected by a tiny rectangular plastic strip.
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The Sony DCR-SR42 in its docking station (above), |
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