Sony DCR-SR42 Camcorder Review

Not many additional items are needed for an entry-level HDD camcorder. There is no need to buy discs or tapes. A backup battery is a must-have at this price point, and a small camera bag will seal the deal.

Other Features (2.0)
Drop Protection - In those fateful instances where gravity takes aim at your camcorder, Sony has included a Drop Protection setting to prevent any lost data in the event of a G-force tragedy. When Drop Protection is enabled, the camcorder automatically shuts off when it senses sudden, jerky movement. The DCR-SR42 may be cosmetically injured, but the data should remain intact.

Super NightShot Plus System - The DCR-SR42 follows in the NightShot legacy with Super NightShot Plus. As if regular NightShot wasn’t enough, the DCR-SR42 is equipped with an infrared light that can be activated from within the Movie settings. Now footage will appear even more eerily greenish.

Fader - For dramatic transitions, you can turn on the fader, which begins each clip with a fade-in and ends each slip with a fade-out, activated by the record start/stop button. Choose between black or white.

Digital Effect(s)- Almost every Sony we’ve seen this year has included Digital Effects, but our faithful readers know all you get is an Old Movie effect and nothing else. This time, you can only apply the Old Movie effect in 4:3 mode, not 16:9.

Battery Info- When the DCR-SR42 is powered off, you can check the remaining battery life by pressing the display/battery info button. A screen containing a horizontal battery charge level meter appears. The remaining recording time is displayed at the bottom of the screen.