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Sony DCR-HC42

Sony DCR-HC42
Sony DCR-HC42Sony DCR-HC42Sony DCR-HC42Sony DCR-HC42Sony DCR-HC42Sony DCR-HC42Sony DCR-HC42Sony DCR-HC42Sony DCR-HC42Sony DCR-HC42
alaScore 85

619 reviews

May, 2025

alaTest has collected and analyzed 619 reviews of Sony DCR-HC42. The average rating for this product is 3.6/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders for all reviews. Reviews about the size and image quality are on the whole positive. The price and portability also get good feedback. There are mixed opinions on the color and reliability, while some have doubts about the viewfinder.

usability, portability, price, image quality, size

viewfinder

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Sony DCR-HC42 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 85/100 = Very good quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 619 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (31% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (34% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (12% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (7% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (16% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

usability
  Show positive (80%)Show negative (20%)(Show all)
portability
  Show positive (84%)Show negative (16%)(Show all)
price
  Show positive (73%)Show negative (27%)(Show all)
image quality
  Show positive (79%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
size
  Show positive (79%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
zoom
  Show positive (85%)Show negative (15%)(Show all)
battery
  Show positive (67%)Show negative (33%)(Show all)
reliability
  Show positive (48%)Show negative (52%)(Show all)
design
  Show positive (61%)Show negative (39%)(Show all)
durability
  Show positive (67%)Show negative (33%)(Show all)
viewfinder
  Show positive (23%)Show negative (77%)(Show all)
color
  Show positive (53%)Show negative (47%)(Show all)
memory
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
control panel
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
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Showing 567 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

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Showing 1 - 400 of 567 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (52)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Sony DCR-HC42

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 8 user reviews of Sony DCR-HC42 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.5/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.co.uk. People really like the battery and image quality. The usability and price are also mentioned favorably.

price, usability, image quality, battery

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

May, 2025

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Sony DCR-HC42

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 382 user reviews of Sony DCR-HC42 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 3.3/5, compared to an average user rating of 3.9/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.com. People really like the size and image quality. The price and portability also get good views, whereas there are some critical opinions about the viewfinder and reliability. There are some mixed reviews about the design.

usability, portability, price, image quality, size

reliability, viewfinder

67% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

May, 2025

Expert review by : Alan Stafford (techadvisor.co.uk)

Sony DCR-SR42 Handycam camcorder

 

When you're recording a special occasion, keeping things simple is the safest way to go. Just point, press a button and let the camcorder do the rest. That's the approach championed by the Sony DCR-SR42 Handycam camcorder (available for around £300...

Though the Sony DCR-SR42 may seem pricey, its powerful telephoto lens and simple operation make it attractive for informal videography.

Jun, 2007
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Expert review by : Chris Jager (goodgearguide.com.au)

Sony DCR-SR42

 

Small and attractive design, 30GB hard drive, very user-friendly, 40x optical zoom

Only 0.68 megapixels, camera is too light, poor stills mode

If you are willing to forgive the sub par visuals, the DCR-SR42E is a pretty decent camera; especially for inexperienced users. However, there are plenty of similarly priced non-HDD cameras on the market that will give you a superior performance.

Jun, 2007
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Expert review by : Richard Baguley (goodgearguide.com.au)

Sony DCR-HC42

 

High quality video, compact size

Fuzzy still images

A lightweight camera that's got the goods.

Jul, 2005
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Expert review by : Richard Baguley (goodgearguide.com.au)

Sony DCRHC42

 

Although the Sony DCRHC42 is a lightweight in both price and heft, it's far from lightweight in quality. The DCRHC42 produced great-looking video in o...

High quality video, compact size

Fuzzy still images

A lightweight camera that's got the goods.

Jul, 2005
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Expert review by : Tracey Capen (pcworld.com)

Sony DCR-SR42 30GB Hard Drive Digital Camcorder (0.68MP, 40x Opt, 2000x Dig, 2.7

 

When you're recording a special occasion, keeping things simple is the safest way to go: Just point, press a button, and let the camcorder do the rest. That's the approach championed by Sony's DCR-SR42 Handycam ($540 as of April 24, 2007), which...

Powerful zoom ; Touch screen eases menu navigation

Lacks white balance calibration ; Low-quality still images

May, 2007
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Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com)

Sony Handycam DCR-SR42 review

 

Sony Handycam DCR-SR42

Compact and lightweight; large storage capacity; bundled dock; built-in lens cover.

Mediocre video and still photo quality; no wind filter; small, fingerprint-magnet touch screen LCD; software free for Windows but $100 for Mac.

Given its mediocre video quality, the Sony Handycam DCR-SR42 seems overpriced for what it delivers.

May, 2007
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Expert review by (pcworld.com)

PCWorld.com - Sony DCR-HC42 MiniDV Handycam

 

Although the Sony DCR-HC42 is a lightweight in both price and heft, it's far from lightweight in quality. In our tests, we rated the $560 DCR-HC42 ...

Jun, 2005
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Expert review by : Richard Baguley (pcworld.com)

Sony DCR-HC42

 

Photograph: Rick Rizner

Active Interface Shoe (hot shoe) ; 2.7-inch widescreen LCD

Image stabilization is electronic, not optical ; No manual controls ; Dock required for video transfer ; Images have purple fringing ; Poor low light performance

Jun, 2005
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Expert review by : Joshua Goldman (cnet.com.au)

Sony Handycam DCR-SX41series review: Sony Handycam DCR-SX41series

 

Sony Handycam DCR-SX41series

Simple operation; 60x zoom lens; small, lightweight design.

Soft, digital-artifact-laden video; noticeable purple fringing on subjects.

If internal flash memory, zoom range, and a touch-screen LCD are on your list of needs before video quality, check out the Sony Handycam DCR-SX41.

Sep, 2009
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Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com.au)

Sony Handycam DCR-SR42

 

Given its mediocre video quality, the Sony Handycam DCR-SR42 seems overpriced for what it delivers.

Compact and lightweight ; Large storage capacity ; Bundled dock ; Built-in lens cover

Mediocre video and still photo quality ; No wind filter ; Small, fingerprint-magnet touch screen LCD ; Software free for Windows but costs extra for Mac

The Handycam DCR-SR42 exemplifies, for the moment, that there are still no bargains to be had in hard-disk-based camcorders -- unless you really don't care about the video quality. If you want a decent hard-disk model, you've got to pay a little more....

May, 2007
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Price comparison for Sony DCR-HC42