Sony DCR-SR42A 60GB Handycam Camcorder

Sony Updated: 2007-09-26
Sony DCR-SR42A 60GB Handycam Camcorder

Stop stopping. None of us likes to switch tapes in the middle of a shoot, or waste time rewinding and capturing. That's why the DCR-SR42A Handycam® camcorder contains a 60GB built-in hard disk drive (HDD) storage and allows you to capture up to 41 hours of recording time (LP) so you don't need to mess around with tapes. A brilliant 2.5" Touch Panel LCD display keeps the controls at your fingertips while a 40x optical/2000x digital zoom makes sure you catch all the detail. And when it comes time to share your memories, it couldn't be easier with the one touch disc burn capability and the Memory Stick Duo™ media slot. The DCR-SR42A puts the simplicity back into shooting and sharing your videos.

1/6" Advanced HAD™ CCD Imager, 680K Pixels Gross
1/6" Advanced HAD™ (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 340K (effective) pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance.

40X Optical/2000X Digital Zoom
The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, the Digital Zoom interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zooms.

Professional Quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® Lens
Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating for increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfect renditions of subtle tones.

2.5" Touch Panel SwivelScreen™ LCD Display (123K Pixels)
The 2.5" LCD screen provides excellent viewing clarity. The high resolution 123K pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback.

Handycam® Station
Simply placing the camcorder on the supplied Handycam Station cradle provides quick connections to a compatible TV for viewing or a PC for editing and sharing, all while charging the battery so your camcorder is always ready to go.

Memory Stick Duo™ Media Slot
Capture still images up to 640x 480 resolution, directly ont oMemory Stic Duo media for easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick® media devices.

Super SteadyShot® Picture Stabilization System
An advanced version of Sony's SteadyShot® system that controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies, to achieve an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of video like some other image stabilization systems.

On Screen Zoom and Record Buttons
For additional control of the camcorder, the DCR-SR42 features Zoom and Record buttons on the frame of the LCD screen. This allows the user more flexibility when holding the camcorder, especially in overhead or low angle shots.

USB 2.0 Interface
USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect your Hard Disk Handycam Camcorder to the computer for fast transfer of video and still images to your computer for editing. The camcorder can also be used as an external storage device, convenient for archiving, storing and trasporting your videos and still images.

DVDirect® Compatibility
The DVDirect system allows for easy transfer to a stand-alone DVD Burner via USB 2.0. The VRD-VC30 allows for easy transfer of video for DVD Burning. While the VRD-MC3 allows for seamless transfer of both Video and Still images for archiving on a DVD.

Easy PC Backup
Easily back up your footage to your PC using the supplied software. The footage will be stored on your PC's hard drive for archiving purposes and viewing at a later time; the footage is stored by date allowing for quick access. In addition, only new footage is transferred to your PC each time you Backup your footage.

One Touch Disc Burn
Easily burn a DVD copy of your footage using the supplied software. Simply connect your DCR-SR42 to your PC via the Handycam Station and supplied USB3 cable and press the One Touch Disc Burn button.

HDD Smart Protection
A unique Shock Absorber protects the Hard Disk Drive from physical damage if the unit is dropped. When the 3G Sensor detects a drop (loss of gravity) the power to the Hard Disk Drive is turned off in order to prevent damage; during this time the DCR-SR42A remains powered on and recording video to the built-in buffer. Once the unit has recovered from the drop the buffrer is then recorded to the Hard Disk Drive.

Super NightShot® Plus Infrared System
With Sony's Super NightShot Infrared System you can capture natual looking video, even when shooting in low light. Record subjects up to 20 feet away using the built-in infrared system, but without the overall monochrome color common with earlier low-light recording systems.

Manual Focus
Allows the user to manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations where either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.

Scene Selection Modes
Scene Selection modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Beach, Candle, Fireworks, Landscape, Portrait, Snow, Sports Lesson, Spotlight, Sunrise & Sunset and Twilight.

Picture Effects
Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Monotone, Pastel and Sepia. Effects available in Playback mode: Monotone, Pastel and Sepia.

Fader Effects-2
Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black & White.

Battery Information
At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and when the camcorder is turned off. The display will show how much the battery is charged, in 10% increments and the recordable time left when using the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.

Easy Handycam Button
Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people, so with a press of the Easy Handycam button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are "locked out" leaving only the buttons essential for recording operational.

InfoLITHIUM® Battery with AccuPower™ Meter System
Charge the battery at anytime because unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening "Memory Effect". Sony's exclusive AccuPower™ meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

Tele Macro Function
Useful for shooting close up shots, but without having the camcorder cast in a shadow on the subject. Images shot in the Tele Macro Mode will have the subject propely focused with the background unfocused so that the subject stands out.

Multi-Language Menu
Change the menu display from English to English (Simplified), Canadian French, Latin American Spanish or Brazilian Portuguese.