Sony DCR-SR42 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom

Merits:

1. It's a Sony! (Brand value).
2. Compact & light-weight.
3. Carl Zeiss lens.
4. hard disk memory, easy 2 transfer 2 computer.
5. I got the refurbished one from sonystyle.com 4 300 bucks. Thats pretty cheap 4 a 40x zoom HDD camcorder from sony.
6. Motion picture quality is good.

Demerits:
1. Does not have a view finder.
2. The Still picture quality is not that great (As indicated by others too).
3. Does not have a neck strap (Or any provision 4 that).
4. You need the camcorder dock 2 charge as well as transfer movies into Computer.
5. The bundled video editor doe not have much functionality. Only you can cut a video, i could not find any option 2 merge several videos into one.

Overall i like this camcorder, i will buy some video editing software 2 work on the videos a bit.

I regret buying this camcorder. Video only looks okay when shot outside in the sun. If you shoot video inside, it looks very grainy. Forget about taking pictures with this camcorder since the resolution is so low. The pictures look awful! I'm buying a different one. Don't waste your money!

It was not as new condition as I expected....since it was told that the item was in the shop 4 display only.....Since no accessories is provided so please add the price & then think whether it is economical or not?????

Very Low Quality & Blurry. I would compare the quality of this video camera 2 the standard video camera you get from a cell phone. I am going 2 try 2 return this camera.

I bought this unit relying on the reputation of SONY & never thought SONY could offer such a bad quality video on his handycams. It is awful. It is a real lemon ! I won't recommend 2 anyone 2 buy this model. Sorry SONY but you just deceived me !

Stop stopping. None of us likes 2 switch tapes in the middle of a shoot, or waste time rewinding & capturing. That's why the DCR-SR42 Handycam camcorder contains a 30GB built-in hard disk drive (HDD) storage & allows you 2 capture up 2 20 hours of recording time (LP) so you don't need 2 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 2 share your memories, it couldn't be easier with the one touch disc burn capability & the Memory Stick Duo media slot. The DCR-SR42 puts the simplicity back into shooting & sharing your videos.