One of the best in its category. Review on Sony DCR HC 42E

I got this camera in Nov 2005. Used it to quite often, and the result was excellent. I would like to say this is one of the best handycam in this class. The camera is extremely compact megapixel DV Handycam with Memory Stick Duo™,

Handycam Station, DV In, got Zeiss lens, Touch Screen LCD and has got true 16:9 widescreen mode. If you are an ameture and want a camera to do real good shooting.. then go for this.

Here is the technical specification:

Technical specifications

Audio

Audio System PCM (12 bit / 16 bit)

Audio Dubbing 12bit YES

Built in Microphone Stereo

Built in Speaker YES

Camera

Image Device: Size 1 / 5.0

Image Device: System Interlace 14bit DXP YES

Advanced HAD technology YES

Number of Pixels Gross (K) 1070

Number of Pixels Act Camera mode (K) 690

Number of Pixels Act Memory mode (K) 1000

Focus: Full Range Auto YES

Focus: Manual YES

Manual Focus Key Panel

Spot Focus (Touch Panel) YES

Spot Meter YES

Minimum Illumination (lux) 7.0

Minimum Illumination with NightShot (lux) 0.0

SteadyShot (Image Stabilisation) Super (electronic)

Camera Noise Reduction YES

Shutter Speed 1/2-1/3500

White Balance Auto / Outdoor / Indoor / One-push

Backlight Compensation YES

Interval Rec. NO

Fader Black, White, Mosaic, Overlap, Wipe, Monotone, Random Dot

Night Framing NO

Jacks

Audio Input YES

Audio Output YES

Video Input YES

Video Output YES

S-Video Input YES

S-Video Output YES

i.LINK (DV) Input YES

i.LINK (DV) Output YES

i.LINK (MICROMV) Input NO

i.LINK (MICROMV) Output NO

USB Terminal YES

Lens

Lens *Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar

F: 1.8-2.5 f (Focal Distance) (mm)

Precision Digital Zoom  YES

Zoom Key Lever / Button on LCD frame

Nightshot: Camera mode Super NightShot Plus

Still Image Recording

Compression of still image JPEG

Recording Media Memory Stick DUO

Memory Stick PRO Compatibility YES

Progressive Scan: NO

Progressive Shutter System: YES

Image Size: Max  1152 x 864

Image Size: VGA 640 x 480

Still Image Recording Mode Fine 1/ 4.0

Still Image Recording Mode Standard  1 / 10

MPEG Movie EX

Burst Record: Normal Speed

Burst Record Auto Exposure Bracketing: YES

Burst Record Multi 9 Pictures: NO