Sony Handycam DCR-SR40

Today allow us to have a look at the very exceptional specs of the Sony Handycam DCR-SR40. I'm positive you'll be crazy for it. Truthfully you will go crazy over it. Like I consitantly do, I try to dig up and also display the best deals obtainable anyplace on the internet right below the specs.

Today's Review By: Jacob Poole

Given their ease of use and the fact that they potentially eliminate the need for media, it's a wonder that hard-drive-based camcorders still haven't replaced DVD-based camcorders in the post-MiniDV world. After all, a camcorder the likes of Sony's Handycam DCR-SR40 can store as much as 440 minutes of MPEG-2 video in its highest-quality setting on its built-in 30GB hard drive. Dropping to the lowest-quality option bumps that up to 1,250 minutes. Plus, you can record as many as 9,999 fine quality JPEG images, but since the camera uses only 340,000 pixels to capture video or stills, don't expect to get decent 4x6 prints from this camcorder.

As usual, Sony's touch-screen interface is a touchy subject. Some people love it, and some hate it. However, even fans of the system may find the 2.5-inch 4:3 LCD a bit cramped and as with any touch screen, fingerprints build up fast. If you often adjust shooting modes and other settings, you should try the touch-screen interface in a store before committing. One of the nicest things about the screen is the three buttons--two for zoom and one for record--to its left.

Though not as responsive as we'd like, they're conveniently located, and the fixed zoom offered by the LCD-mounted buttons provide a nice counterpoint to the variable zoom rocker. Unlike the hard-drive camcorders further up Sony's line, the DCR- SR40 doesn't include an accessory shoe, so you can't add a video light, a flash, or a microphone. Likewise, it doesn't include a line-in jack or analog-to-digital converter, so you'll have to move up the line if you want to use a camcorder to convert your old tapes to digital format.

Despite its smallish CCD and an effective pixel count of 340,000, we were impressed with the image quality of the DCR-SR40. While obviously not as sharp as the footage you'd get from a camcorder with more pixels, such as Sony's own DCR-SR80 or DCR-SR100 models, the SR40's footage still yielded an admirable amount of detail with few compression artifacts and well-saturated colors. Colors were a touch cool when shooting outdoors and slightly warm indoors, but not as bad as those of some other camcorders we've seen.