The newly redesigned Sony DCRHC42 MiniDV Handycam® camcorder is portable enough to take anywhere while delivering spectacular-looking digital video. Capture digital still images with the enhanced LCD and Memory Stick Duo™ media capturing incredible digital movies with family and friends. The Sony DCRHC42 also features a hybrid, touch-panel 16:9 Widescreen LCD display, letting you capture more of the picture and the highest detail with every shot. Other features include Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® optics, Super NightShot® Plus for dark scenes, the Easy Handycam® operation button, the convenient Handycam® Station for quick access and video transfer, plus so much more. With the DCRHC42, expect stunning digital video.

Carl Zeiss® has been at the forefront of optical development for the past 150 years, and has teamed with Sony to deliver high-detail video with the Vario-Tessar® lens. The quality and precision of the Vario-Tessar® guarantees a crisp and crystal clear image, helping you capture all your important moments as you remember them with your Sony Handycam®. Experience the sharp detail and precision of the incredible Digital Zoom. The DCRHC42 camcorder’s 12x Optical Zoom lets you get as close as you need to be for the perfect picture without picture degradation every time. For enhanced shooting, use the 480x Digital Zoom to capture even the most distant picture. The Sony Megapixel CCD provides excellent detail and clarity for your digital video recordings and still pictures. Capture clear and crisp digital still images (up to 1 Megapixel resolution) directly to Memory Stick Duo™ media. With the Sony Megapixel CCD, you can enjoy true 16:9 wide-aspect video recording.

Unlike other wide-aspect camcorders that simply crop the top and bottom of the frame to mimic the look and feel of widescreen, the DCRHC42 captures more of the image, extending the scope from standard 4:3 Mega-wide shooting mode and recording the whole picture. Create digital video and playback for a complete theatre-like experience, or record in standard 4:3 Mega-wide shooting. The redesigned LCD also gives you the function and flexibility to do more. Whether capturing a fireworks display on a summer evening or snow-covered mountains in winter, the Hybrid LCD reproduces clear images in any kind of lighting environment. Even in direct sunlight, the Hybrid LCD provides accurate viewing while eliminating the “wash out” effect. Never fumble to get the perfect shot. The LCD frame is equipped with an easy-to-access Start/Stop Button, giving you even more control right at your fingertips. The redesigned LCD frame is also equipped with a convenient Zoom Button, allowing you to capture the best shot every time. Pinpoint and focus on your favourite image with just the simple touch of a button. The new Touch Panel LCD lets you set the correct focus and exposure with ease while shooting. Just adjust the Spot Focus and Spot Exposure levels by simply tapping the LCD screen. Find the most vivid and clearest shot every time.

The overall compact design of the Sony MiniDV Handycam® allows you to carry it comfortably in your hand and take it with you wherever you go. The lightweight and portable camcorder is the perfect companion when meeting with friends, family or capturing unexpected moments when you are on the move.

Connect Video Lights or External Microphones to your Sony MiniDV Handycam® using the Active Interface Shoe. Never worry about hooking cables or extra connections. The Active Interface Shoe automatically recognizes your Handycam® accessory for constant readiness.

The Sony Handycam® Station is a convenient cradle that serves as a charger and image/video transfer device all in one. With built in A/V, USB and i.LINK™ terminals, the Handycam® Station makes viewing footage on your TV or transferring to your PC simple.

Create your masterpiece using the bundled Picture Package™ software included with the Sony Handycam ® . Picture Package™ lets you add special effects and music to your movie for a professionally mastered look. Copy your edited movie to Video CD or CD-R or watch still pictures and home movies on your PC. With Picture Package™, your digital home video comes alive.

1/5.5" CCD Imager, 1070K Megapixels Gross , 690K Effective Pixels Includes PictBridge ™ software Enhanced 16:9 offers true 16:9 video with wider angle and higher picture quality 2.7" 16:9 Wide Hybrid Touch Panel LCD Super SteadyShot ™ controls a higher range of shake and vibration frequencies to ensure your home videos are recorded with a greater level of smoothness Super NightShot ™ plus uses an infrared system and Colour Slow Shutter that allows you to record images in colour in total darkness STAMINA ™ battery power system provides up to 6 hours of continuous recording or playback time on a single charge using an optional NP-FP90 InfoLITHIUM ™ rechargeable battery Memory Stick ® Duo media Slot MPEG Movie EX Progress Shutter System Analog Digital Signal Conversion lets you convert or record any analog NTSC video source (e.g. VHS) to digital via the analog inputs. Analog NTSC video can also be passed through the digital camcorder directly into a PC via the i.Link ® interface for easy PC editing of your analog footage Digital editing solution thanks to the i.LINK ™ connector and supplied PC-application accessories like USB cable, Driver software, Picture Package ™ software Direct access to "Click to DVD"/VCD Burn USB Streaming allows you to broadcast live video with audio over the internet using the USB interface or stream your favourite recorded scenes stored on tape to your PC Easy Handycam ® button changes the camcorder’s settings to "Auto" mode for simple operation Intelligent Program AE (Auto Exposure) InfoLITHIUM ™ battery system with battery meter indicates power remaining in minutes and is not prone to memory effect like Ni-Cd batteries Multi-Language Operation: English, Simplified English, Canadian French, Traditional Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, Korean Manual Focus Remote Commander ® control included For more information on Battery Life and Storage Capacity, Click Here.

LENS/ZOOM

Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
Zoom Key (Lever/Button on LCD frame)
Zoom/Zoom Speed (Optical)
With Lever in "CAMERA-TAPE" position: 12x, variable (1.8 - 22.9 sec)
With Lever in "CAMERA-MEMORY" position: 12x, variable (1.8 - 22.9 sec)
With Button on LCD frame in "CAMERA-TAPE" position: 12x, 7.1 sec
With Button on LCD frame in "CAMERA-MEMORY" position: 12x, 7.1 sec
In "CAMERA" position in "CAMERA-TAPE" position: 12x, variable (1.8 - 22.9 sec)
Digital Zoom2: 24x (480x)
Selection of Digital Zoom Ratio (2 steps)2: 24x/480x (Menu)
Precision Digital Zoom3
F: 1.8 - 2.5
f (Focal distance in Tele Macro): Approx. 350mm
f (35mm conversion in "CAMERA-TAPE" position): 16:9 4: 46 - 628.5mm
4:3: 48 - 576mm
f (35mm conversion in "CAMERA-MEMORY" position): 16:9: 43.6 - 523.2mm
4:3: 40 - 480mm
25mm Filter
Lens Cover (Manual)
NightShot plus switch ("CAMERA-TAPE" position only)
Super NightShot plus ("CAMERA-TAPE" position): 1/4-1/100, Off (Menu)

CAMERA

Focus System: Full Range Auto/Manual Touch Panel
Manual Focus Touch Panel
Spot Focus Touch Panel
Auto Focus: Linear Mach AF
1/5.5" Interlace CCD Imager with Advanced HAD ™ Technology, 1152H
Gross Number of Pixels: Approx. 1070K pixels; Approx. 690K Effective pixels (in "CAMERA-TAPE" position); Approx. 1000K Effective Pixels (in "CAMERA-MEMORY" position)
Minimum Illumination: 7 Lux; with NightShot plus: 0 Lux
White Balance: Auto, Outdoor, Indoor, One-push (Menu) / One-Push Auto
Shutter Speed: Auto / 1/2 - 1/4000 sec (Colour Slow Shutter, Program AE, Slow Shutter, Super Nighshot plus) Auto: 1/60 - 1/250 sec
Program AE: 1/60 – 1/4000 sec
Slow Shutter (Digital Effect): 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30 sec
Colour Slow Shutter: 1/2 – 1/250 sec
Super Nightshot Plus: 1/4 – 1/100 sec
Auto Shutter (Menu)
Program AE5 (Menu + Touch Panel): Portrait, Beach & Ski, Sports Lesson, Landscape, Spotlight, Sunset & Moon
14-bit DXP
Auto Non-Flicker
Exposure Control Touch Panel (24 Step)
Backlight Compensation Button
Spot Meter Touch Panel
Iris Control/Gain Control (Auto only/Auto only)
Quick REC Start
Edit Search (Touch Panel)
Rec Review (Touch Panel)
End Search/New End Search (Touch Panel)
Smooth Interval REC6
Wait Time: 1 sec, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 120 sec
Monitoring Time: Approx. 12 hours
Self-Timer (Touch Panel)
Fader 7 (Touch Panel): Black, White, Mosaic, Overlap, Wipe, Monotone, Dot
Camera Noise Reduction
16:9 Default in "CAMERA-TAPE" position only
Clock Setting (Menu)
World Time (Menu)
Auto Date/Time Indication
SteadyShot ("CAMERA-TAPE" position only): Electronic, Super SteadyShot
SteadyShot ON/OFF (Menu)
Tele Macro

CAMERA (Still Image)

MS Photo REC in "CAMERA-TAPE" position (VGA only): 16:9
Recording Method: Field

VIEWFINDER

Colour
0.3" (0.75cm)
123,200 Dots
Backlight Select8 (Normal/Bright)
Viewfinder Wide Display Type (16:9 LCD set)/Wide Display Type (4:3 LCD set) (Menu)
AUDIO PCM Digital Stereo Recording (12-/16-bit)
PCM Digital Stereo Playback (12-/16-bit, 32K, 44K, 48K)
PCM Mix Balance (Menu)
Audio Dub9 Touch Panel (12-bit)
Hot Shoe Mic./Line
Built-in Stereo Electric Condenser Microphone with Auto Wind Position
16mm Speaker
Speaker Volume Control: +/- Touch Panel
Multi Sound Switch: HiFi Sound, Bilingual Switch (Menu)
Audio REC compatible with Optional microphone: Wide Stereo (Menu), Normal Stereo (Menu)
VTR DV Format
VTR REC
Fast Forward/Rewind Time (Using AC adapter): Approx. 2 min 40 sec (DVM60)
Fast Forward/Rewind Time (Using fully-charged battery): Approx. 2 min 40 sec (DVM60)
Clear Frame Still/Slow
Frame Advance (+/-)
LP REC (Menu)
LP Playback
Zero Set Memory (with remote)
Time Code
Advanced Data Code (Rec. Date/Time, Camera Info)
OSD On/Off Button
OSD Output: LCD, LCD & Video Out
Signal Conversion Function
Playback Zoom 1.1-5x (Touch Panel + Zoom Lever)
TV Type Select

JACKS (Camcorder)

Special Stereo Multi AV Jacks: Video In/Out, S-Video In/Out
Interface Connector for Handycam Station
LANC (Stereo minimini Jack)
DC In

JACKS (Handycam Station)

Special Stereo Multi AV Jacks: Video In/Out, S-Video In/Out
i.LINK (DV)
USB Terminal (mini-B)
DC In
LCD SCREEN 2.5"
Number of Pixels: 123,200 dots
Hybrid LCD Monitor
Touch Panel
LCD On/Off10
Backlight On/Off Button
Backlight Brightness Select11: Normal/Bright (Menu)
Brightness Control: +/- (Touch Panel)
Colour Control (Menu)
Upside Down/Mirror
Opening Angle: 90 degrees
Turning Angle: Counter Clockwise: 180 degrees
Clockwise: 90 degrees
For Monitoring: 0 degrees
Noiseless Still/Slow
Anti-glare Treatment
Anti-fingerprint Treatment
Viewfinder: 16:9 Wide Display Type (LCD set), 4:3 Wide Display Type (LCD set) (Menu)
REMOTE COMMANDER ® CONTROL RMT-831
"CAMERA-TAPE"/"PLAY/EDIT" Common: Zero Set Memory (PB/Audio Dubbing Only)
"CAMERA-TAPE"/"CAMERA-MEMORY" Common: REC Start/Stop, Zoom, Photo (Only Memory Stick Recording)
"CAMERA-TAPE"/"CAMERA-MEMORY"/"PLAY/EDIT" common (Display)
"PLAY/EDIT" position (PB/Stop/FF/REW with Pause/Slow with Select/Search, Forward/Search Reverse)
"CAMERA-MEMORY" position: Play/Index/-/+
Mode: VTR 2 only

MULTI-LANGUAGE OPERATION

Menu/Warning Messages: English, Simplified English, Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, Korean
Default Language: English
OTHERS Charge on Camcorder
USB Streaming
Direct Access to "Click to DVD"
Direct Access to Video CD Burn
Menu Touch Panel
Active Menu
Start/Stop Button on LCD Frame
Zoom Button on LCD Frame
Wide Select Button
Auto Shut Off (Menu)
Remote Sensor/Remote On/Off (Menu)
Beep Sound / On/Off (Menu)
Warning Messages
Front Tally / On/Off (Menu)
InfoLITHIUM Battery System
Tape/Battery Remaining Indicator
Battery Information
Demonstration Mode (Menu)
Easy Handycam button
Display Guide
Weight (without tape, battery, etc.): 410g
Weight (with battery)12
NP-FP50: 470g
NP-FP70: 510g
NP-FP90: 560g
Power Consumption (VF/LCD/VF+LCD): 2.6W / 3.0W / 3.2W
Power Requirements (AC adapter/Battery): 8.4V / 7.2V
Charge time for 1-hour shooting (Floating charge): NP-FP50: 20 min
Charge time for 1-hour shooting (Charger) NP-FP50: 30 min Dimensions (WxHxD): 54.7 x 90 x 111.7mm
Active Interface Shoe
Calibration (Menu)
Digital Effects (Menu)13: Still*, Flash* Motion* , Luminance Key*, Slow Shutter, Trail*, Old Movie
Picture Effects (Menu)13: Mosaic, Solarization*, Monotone*, Sepia*, Neg. Art*, Pastel
MEMORY Recording Media: Memory Stick ® Duo media/Memory Stick PRO ® Duo media (Serial only)

MEMORY (Still Image)

Recording Mode: Fine (1/4)/Standard (1/10)
Recording Method: Progressive Shutter System/Frame REC
Image Size: 640x480 (VGA), 1152x864, 1152x648 (16:9)
Compression: JPEG
DCF Compatible
Exif2.2
PictBridge ™
Interval REC (Wait Time: 1 min, 5 min, 10 min)
Date/Time
Print Mark (DPOF)
Continuous File Number REC
Image Delete: One/All, Folder
Image Protect (On/Off)
Tape --> MS REC(VGA 16:9 WIDE PB: 640x360)
Line In/DV In --> (VGA 16:9 WIDE PB: 640x360)
Multiple Folder Compatible
Burst REC 14:Normal, Auto Exposure Bracketing
Index Playback (Touch Panel)
Review
Playback Zoom 1.1-5x (Touch Panel + Zoom Lever)
Slide Show (Menu)
Formatting: MS Initialization (Menu)

MEMORY (MPEG MOVIE)

MPEG1 Format
MPEG MOVIE EX: Presentation (320x240), Video Mail (160x112)
Index
Audio (MPEG)
Date/Time
Tape --> MS REC
Line in / DV in --> MS REC
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES AC-L25 AC Adapter
NP-FP50 Rechargeable Battery Pack
DCRA-C121 Handycam Station
RMT-831 Remote Commander Control
Special Stereo AV Cable
Shoulder Strap
Installed Button-type Lithium Clock (ML1220)
Lithium Battery (CR2025 Installed in Remote Commander control)
Picture Package/Image Mixer VCD2 / USB Driver (CD-ROM)
USB Cable
Detachable Shoe Cover

REMARKS

“Click to DVD”: Available with selected Sony VAIO ® models.
Digital Zoom: The factory setting is "Off". Available in "CAMERA-TAPE" position only.
Precision Digital Zoom: "CAMERA-TAPE" only.
f (35mm Conversion in “CAMERA-TAPE”): In 16:9 mode, the focal length figures are actual figures resulting from wide angle pixel read out.
Program AE: "Sports Lesson" invalid in "CAMERA-MEMORY" position.
Smooth Interval REC: Not available in "CAMERA-MEMORY" position.
Fader: Not available in "CAMERA-MEMORY" position.
Backlight Select (EVF): Backlight brightness will automatically be set to "Bright" when connected to an AC adapter.
Audio Dub: SP mode only.
LCD On/Off: LCD will be turned on/off in accordance with LCD open/close.
Backlight Select (LCD): Backlight brightness will automatically be set to "Bright" when connected to an AC adapter.
Weight: Including a battery and a 60-min. tape.
Digital Effects/Picture Effects: Not available in "CAMERA-MEMORY" position. Options marked with are available when playing back.
Burst REC: 2016x1512 file sizes = Max. 3 images; 1600x1200 file sizes = Max. 4 images; In VGA size = Max. 21 images