Quick Review Camcorder : Sony DCR-HC42

We tested this model in lighting conditions approximating a relatively sunny day. Comparable to its smaller siblings the Sony DCR-HC42 performed well in bright light conditions. The camcorder has a 1/5.5-inch CCD, 690K effective video, and 1 MP for stills, which is a vast improvement on the DCR-HC32 and HC21. This model produced a crisper image with better color representation. Unfortunately the boost in imager specs did not improve the noise that plagues the low-end HC-series.

The DCR-HC42 had a horrid low light performance, producing images that were plagued by a blue noise; the dimmer the light settings, the more unpleasant the noise levels. The noise produced by this model is fouler than that found on the low-end DCR-HC21. However, the bigger sibling does retain better color information than the less expansive models. The DCR-HC42’s images are barely usable in lighting conditions that are comparable to a dimly lit bedroom.

That nasty blue noise plagues even the DCR-HC42’s still performances. The blue noise is most noticeable in the reds and magentas of the color spectrum. The camcorder does produce bright crisp images, but it definitely lacks proper color representation. The blues are potent while the yellows and greens are dull and muddled.

This model can capture stills onto a memory stick at the standard 640 x 480 and 1152 x 864 resolutions in 4:3 mode, while capturing stills at 1152 x 648 in widescreen mode. Widescreen still options are not often offered on low-end consumer camcorders. This model’s smaller siblings are only capable of capturing stills at the standard 640 x 480 resolution. The camcorder has also added two Burst modes and Exposure Bracketing. Burst takes several consecutive photographs with a single push of the photo button, while exposure bracketing takes three photographs at different exposures.

The DCR-HC42 tries to provide convenience and good ease of use to its users. The camcorder is fairly portable; it can be carried with relative comfort, slipping easily into a sizable purse. With the Sony Easy Handycam mode you can relinquish all quality control decisions to the camcorder with the push of a button. The camcorder provides great automatic controls, and adjustments are made fairly swiftly.

While the camcorder succeeds at being a great auto pilot with its Easy Handycam mode, unfortunately it does not provide the same accommodations to users who seek control over the quality of their image. With the camcorder’s poor low light performance, manual control options such as shutter speed and gain would have been helpful. This model also fails to provide its user with a manageable menu system to access the scarce available image control options. The menu system is engaged through the touch screen LCD, hindering ease of use. The screen is littered with menu options which the user has to rifle through to locate the desired selection. 

This camcorder provides convenience for those who want the joy of recording without the decision making process. Sony’s DCR-HC42 is a good camcorder is suitable for point-and-shooters and beginners. It provides decent images in bright light conditions but in dimmer settings it falters and can only offer nearly unusable video. The camcorder's most notable feature is its 2.7” 16:9 touch screen LCD, which is rare for a camcorder in this price range. Although other camcorders in this price bracket do not offer such an impressive LCD, they produce better video and manual controls; this is true of Panasonic’s 3 CCD PV-GS65, for example. Even Sony’s low-end DCR-HC32 camcorder provides better low light performances.