Sony DCR-SR42 Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Nov 15, 2007 10:13 AM
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Still Features (3.5)
The DCR-SR42 (Review, Specs, $743.99) has some very limited abilities to capture digital still images to the 30GB HDD or a Memory Stick PRO Duo card. Images can only be captured at VGA size (640 x 480) in either Fine or Normal quality. The DCR-SR42 offers a Self-Timer that can be set to a fixed 8 seconds, and that pretty much does it for still features here. Let us do some math here for you. 640 x 480 is approximately 0.3 megapixels. The average point-and-shoot still camera this year had a 7.1 megapixel sensor – that’s 23 times the resolution of this camcorder.
The JVC GZ-MG155 (Review, Specs, $479.98) can snap stills up to 1152 x 864 in size and features a Continuous Shooting mode and a video light.
When playing back stills, the on-screen playback controls consist of Return, Previous Clip, Start/Pause Slide Show, Next Clip, and Photo Playback Options. The Photo Playback Options menu is modeled after the Video Playback Options menu, and contains the following items: Print, Copy, Slide Show Settings, Data Code, and Delete.
Still Performance (8.55)
We tested the still performance of the Sony DCR-SR42 by shooting a GretagMacBeth Color Checker chart at an even, bright light, then running the stills through Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, noise, and saturation. At best, the camcorder was able to produce a color error of 7.02, which was on par with other camcorders in its class. The noise measured 1.6475 percent, which was skewed due to heavy noise in the blue channel.
Outside of the lab, the SR42 was not much of a still performer. What good is a 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels) image in an age of 11-megapixel pocket cameras? The score for this section, based primarily on the color accuracy score, can be misleading, and does not factor in the small photo size. Be sure to consider the Still Resolution score below.
Still Resolution (1.88)
The still resolution was tested by shooting an Applied Image ISO 12233 resolution chart at an even, bright light and running the stills through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder was able to produce an approximate horizontal resolution of 375.2 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) – with a 8.79 percent oversharpening – and a vertical resolution of 263.4 lw/ph – with a 3.46 percent clipping and a 27.2 percent oversharpening.
In order to get this best score, we needed to boost the exposure on the SR42 by one increment.
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