"Charlie" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I've been considering the HC42 too and have a question about the
widescreen format. Does it mean that you can only record in widescreen or
you can still record in 4:3 as well? I'm only interested in 4:3 at the
moment - any recommendations for a sony that would do for only 4:3 that's
similar to the HC42 in features?

I also noted from a website that the HC42 has a non standard cradle and it
also has a proprietary mic/headphone slot so you can only use sony stuff
with it.

Any advice on the widescreen issue appreciated.

cheers, Charlie

The widescreen/normal switch is one of the few dedicated switch's on the
camera.

Could anyone tell me if this is a good camera to get for family use? I'd
like to be able to edit videos using firewire and then write to DVD. Don't
think that has a baring on the camera though..

Does the camera perform well in indoor night lighting as would be used in a
lounge. Not pitch dark.

And finally .. best price you know of in the UK ?

Thanks!


Craig

Websites:
http://www.thelisters.co.uk/
http://www.myschoolmates.com/

In message , Craig Lister
writes
Could anyone tell me if this is a good camera to get for family use? I'd
like to be able to edit videos using firewire and then write to DVD. Don't
think that has a baring on the camera though..

Does the camera perform well in indoor night lighting as would be used in a
lounge. Not pitch dark.


The HC39 - effectively the same model but without firewire/analogue in -
seems reasonable. The indoor performance is nothing wonderful to write
home about, but is pretty much par for a small (and relatively
inexpensive) camera (a bit of noise etc). Certainly in "indoor meeting
room" conditions I was happy with the performance. I'd only add that
its strength is if you're filming widescreen format - where the wide LCD
works well. For ordinary 4:3 format there may well be cheaper (similar,
older?) models available still.

And finally .. best price you know of in the UK ?

Google?
--
David Pearson

Thanks for that.

We're expecting a baby in September, so it's main use will be recording it's
first few years. Widescreen is good, as I'd prefer that. I do do video
editing so hence the HC42 is my best option right now, as I need the
firewire in/out stuff....

Can you recommend competition to this. Same functions, different model?

Thanks,
Craig


"David Pearson" wrote in message
...
In message , Craig Lister
writes
Could anyone tell me if this is a good camera to get for family use? I'd
like to be able to edit videos using firewire and then write to DVD.
Don't
think that has a baring on the camera though..

Does the camera perform well in indoor night lighting as would be used in
a
lounge. Not pitch dark.


The HC39 - effectively the same model but without firewire/analogue in -
seems reasonable. The indoor performance is nothing wonderful to write
home about, but is pretty much par for a small (and relatively
inexpensive) camera (a bit of noise etc). Certainly in "indoor meeting
room" conditions I was happy with the performance. I'd only add that
its strength is if you're filming widescreen format - where the wide LCD
works well. For ordinary 4:3 format there may well be cheaper (similar,
older?) models available still.

And finally .. best price you know of in the UK ?

Google?
--
David Pearson

In message , Craig Lister
writes
Thanks for that.

We're expecting a baby in September, so it's main use will be recording it's
first few years. Widescreen is good, as I'd prefer that. I do do video
editing so hence the HC42 is my best option right now, as I need the
firewire in/out stuff....

Can you recommend competition to this. Same functions, different model?


Not really. I reviewed the small Canon models (830, 850 kind of thing)
but preferred the feel, build quality (ie it feels quite solid, less
plasticky) and handling of the Sony. I bought one for an organisation I
work with so I don't actually have it so can't do you any demo material!


"David Pearson" wrote in message
...
In message , Craig Lister
writes
Could anyone tell me if this is a good camera to get for family use? I'd
like to be able to edit videos using firewire and then write to DVD.
Don't
think that has a baring on the camera though..

Does the camera perform well in indoor night lighting as would be used in
a
lounge. Not pitch dark.


The HC39 - effectively the same model but without firewire/analogue in -
seems reasonable. The indoor performance is nothing wonderful to write
home about, but is pretty much par for a small (and relatively
inexpensive) camera (a bit of noise etc). Certainly in "indoor meeting
room" conditions I was happy with the performance. I'd only add that
its strength is if you're filming widescreen format - where the wide LCD
works well. For ordinary 4:3 format there may well be cheaper (similar,
older?) models available still.

And finally .. best price you know of in the UK ?

Google?
--
David Pearson



--
David Pearson

Right..
Sounds good!
On your words, I shall purchase!
Found it for just under £400...

"David Pearson" wrote in message
...
In message , Craig Lister
writes
Thanks for that.

We're expecting a baby in September, so it's main use will be recording
it's
first few years. Widescreen is good, as I'd prefer that. I do do video
editing so hence the HC42 is my best option right now, as I need the
firewire in/out stuff....

Can you recommend competition to this. Same functions, different model?


Not really. I reviewed the small Canon models (830, 850 kind of thing)
but preferred the feel, build quality (ie it feels quite solid, less
plasticky) and handling of the Sony. I bought one for an organisation I
work with so I don't actually have it so can't do you any demo material!


"David Pearson" wrote in message
...
In message , Craig Lister
writes
Could anyone tell me if this is a good camera to get for family use?
I'd
like to be able to edit videos using firewire and then write to DVD.
Don't
think that has a baring on the camera though..

Does the camera perform well in indoor night lighting as would be used
in
a
lounge. Not pitch dark.


The HC39 - effectively the same model but without firewire/analogue
in -
seems reasonable. The indoor performance is nothing wonderful to write
home about, but is pretty much par for a small (and relatively
inexpensive) camera (a bit of noise etc). Certainly in "indoor meeting
room" conditions I was happy with the performance. I'd only add that
its strength is if you're filming widescreen format - where the wide LC
D
works well. For ordinary 4:3 format there may well be cheaper
(similar,
older?) models available still.

And finally .. best price you know of in the UK ?

Google?
--
David Pearson



--
David Pearson

Craig Lister wrote:
Thanks for that.

We're expecting a baby in September, so it's main use will be recording it's
first few years. Widescreen is good, as I'd prefer that. I do do video
editing so hence the HC42 is my best option right now, as I need the
firewire in/out stuff....

Can you recommend competition to this. Same functions, different model?

Thanks,
Craig


"David Pearson" wrote in message
...

In message , Craig Lister
writes

Could anyone tell me if this is a good camera to get for family use? I'd
like to be able to edit videos using firewire and then write to DVD.

Don't

think that has a baring on the camera though..

Does the camera perform well in indoor night lighting as would be used in

a

lounge. Not pitch dark.


The HC39 - effectively the same model but without firewire/analogue in -
seems reasonable. The indoor performance is nothing wonderful to write
home about, but is pretty much par for a small (and relatively
inexpensive) camera (a bit of noise etc). Certainly in "indoor meeting
room" conditions I was happy with the performance. I'd only add that
its strength is if you're filming widescreen format - where the wide LCD
works well. For ordinary 4:3 format there may well be cheaper (similar,
older?) models available still.


And finally .. best price you know of in the UK ?


Google?
--
David Pearson



Craig

I have also been considering the HC42, but have recently been looking at
the similar HC39, because Amazon have it on offer at £369.88, compared
to £414.50 for the HC42 at Dixons on line. See:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...704155-4342858
and
http://www.dixons.co.uk/product.php?sku=006199

The main disadvantage as I see it of the HC39 is that the viewfinder,
which you might want to use instead of the ‘large, bright’ LCD in order
to conserve battery life, is only black and white. Would be very
interested to hear from David (Pearson) about battery life when using
the LCD and occasional zoom: I would be quite happy with say 1 hour. I
would prefer not to use the viewfinder as I find the B/w viewfinder on
my ancient current camera a real pain. I am also forever worrying
whether the batteries will run flat: spare batteries represent extra
bulk to carry around and are expensive.

Can’t really advise re other makes, except that you might want to have a
look at this month’s ‘Which’ (local library?) as it contains a report on
camcorders. Their 5 year reliability survey (14,000 replies), found
that Sony were best, Canon, Panasonic, Samsung middling, and JVC worst.
They didn’t test the Sony ‘39’ or ‘42’, but the DCR PC109E was the
best buy (‘£600’. Great video picture and sound quality’), with the
cheaper DCR HC40ES (‘£480’) as a close runner up. Both models were
rated 4/5 for image and sound. Typically for a new Which report, both
these models have been discontinued. However, where available, they are
still expensive. Other models tested were from Panasonic, Samsung, and
Sharp.

So, decisions, decisions. I don’t really trust Dixons: read too many
bad reports on the internet, but have always found Amazon a brilliant
firm to deal with – fast, no quibbles about returning goods, and they
refund any postage if there is any problem! So I suppose it will be the
39 for me. Would be very interested to hear what you get and what you
think of it!

Best wishes with the baby - get some sleep while you still can !!!!

Regards

Rod

Craig

For some reason only just got your posting (below) , so the message I
posted a few minutes ago is a bit superfluous. Where did you find the
42 at sub £400? The cheapest I came across was Dixons.

Regards
Rod




Craig Lister wrote:
Right..
Sounds good!
On your words, I shall purchase!
Found it for just under £400...

"David Pearson" wrote in message
...

In message , Craig Lister
writes

Thanks for that.

We're expecting a baby in September, so it's main use will be recording

it's

first few years. Widescreen is good, as I'd prefer that. I do do video
editing so hence the HC42 is my best option right now, as I need the
firewire in/out stuff....

Can you recommend competition to this. Same functions, different model?


Not really. I reviewed the small Canon models (830, 850 kind of thing)
but preferred the feel, build quality (ie it feels quite solid, less
plasticky) and handling of the Sony. I bought one for an organisation I
work with so I don't actually have it so can't do you any demo material!


"David Pearson" wrote in message
...

In message , Craig Lister
writes

Could anyone tell me if this is a good camera to get for family use?

I'd

like to be able to edit videos using firewire and then write to DVD.

Don't

think that has a baring on the camera though..

Does the camera perform well in indoor night lighting as would be used

in

a

lounge. Not pitch dark.


The HC39 - effectively the same model but without firewire/analogue

in -

seems reasonable. The indoor performance is nothing wonderful to write
home about, but is pretty much par for a small (and relatively
inexpensive) camera (a bit of noise etc). Certainly in "indoor meeting
room" conditions I was happy with the performance. I'd only add that
its strength is if you're filming widescreen format - where the wide LC

D

works well. For ordinary 4:3 format there may well be cheaper

(similar,

older?) models available still.


And finally .. best price you know of in the UK ?


Google?
--
David Pearson


--
David Pearson

Hi,
I've been considering the HC42 too and have a question about the
widescreen format. Does it mean that you can only record in widescreen
or you can still record in 4:3 as well? I'm only interested in 4:3 at
the moment - any recommendations for a sony that would do for only 4:3
that's similar to the HC42 in features?

I also noted from a website that the HC42 has a non standard cradle and
it also has a proprietary mic/headphone slot so you can only use sony
stuff with it.

Any advice on the widescreen issue appreciated.

cheers, Charlie


I'd only add that
its strength is if you're filming widescreen format - where the wide LCD
works well. For ordinary 4:3 format there may well be cheaper (similar,
older?) models available still.

"Rod Bean" wrote in message
...
Craig

For some reason only just got your posting (below) , so the message I
posted a few minutes ago is a bit superfluous. Where did you find the
42 at sub £400? The cheapest I came across was Dixons.

http://www.prcdirect.co.uk/prc.filer...oducts/DCRHC42

But I'm not endorsing this site.