Sony Handycam® DCR-HC40 Mini DV Camcorder

Pros: Easy to use in auto mode, excellent video performance, features
Cons: Difficult to access and use manual controls, price, still picture performance

As time goes by, consumer electronic products get smaller, lighter and cheaper while adding features at the same time. Unfortunately, nothing is free. The S ony DCR-HC40 is a digital camcorder that uses MiniDV ...

Pros: Easy to use, compact, touch-screen LCD
Cons: Expensive, weak on manual controls, rival manufacturers offer very competitive products at better prices

"I need to replace an old camcorder that I have from years ago with something new." "What are you looking for in a camcorder? Any particular features or specifications?" "I'm looking for something that's good quality and easy to use. I don't want ...

Pros: Easy to use, Digital, takes photos and video, touch screen LCD.
Cons: Not comfortable for big hands, poor resolution, digital camera quality is poor.

This is a consumer friendly camcorder that records a digital signal onto a tape medium. It has the usual features like an LCD screen, playback, as well as simple editing. You can download your data to the computer from either the memory card or the ...

Pros: Crisp video, great sound, nice options for upgrading
Cons: The still digital photos are just OK, Sony refuses universalism

My Sony Handycam DCR-HC40 is an upgrade for my family from a JVC SVHS video camera. My JVC was OK while it lasted, but it needed to be repaired more than once, and when my warranty expired and the same problem arose and it was to cost over $150 to fix ...

Pros: Easy to use, Sony, still capability, long battery life
Cons: Stills are grainy, hand-strap too thin length made for big hands (not many cons)

When I set out to buy a camcorder last summer ('04) to record our first child, I did a TON of research - partly because no clear "winner" quickly emerged among the Mini-DV newer camcorders. Being the type of person who wants to get all possible features ...

Pros: compact! Great analog video. Easy to use. Good low-light solutions. Clean audio.
Cons: Unexpectedly poor stills. Broke twice. Learning more about digital video than I really wanted.

I bought this camera as a new parent, hoping to preserve some of those precious early moments. I was excited that a megapixel still with high-quality optics would print well at up to 5x7, so I wouldn't generally need to also carry a camera. I expected ...

Pros: Quality video camcorder. Ability to capture still photos. Good low light capabilities. Computer friendly.
Cons: Camera must be removed from the tripod to change tapes which are only 60/80 minutes.

My DCR-HC40 camcorder is about 14 months old and is still recording in good quality. I have not had the problems that some others seem to be experiencing. I recorded my grandchildren's school play and transferred it to DVD using firewire and ulead "dvd ...

Pros: Sony quality, good video, small size
Cons: $200 more than other very nice sony models.

This is a very nice digital camcorder. Its got all the do-dads, and gee wiz stuff. But when looking for a camcorder the one reason you should be looking in my opinion is how good a video does its shoot. DISCLAIMER I didn't buy this camera. I looked at ...

Pros: Works okay on Northern latitudes only - Japan, USA, Europe
Cons: Doesn't handle moisture or lots of tropical light or booming bass signals too well

This camera works okay if all you do is shoot family (or porn?) videos at moderate latitudes such as Japan, continental US or Europe. Its battery circuit failed twice on moist climate (once in Tahiti and once in Hawaii), rendering it unuseable for what I ...

Pros: Small size, great body, video quality all the required connections
Cons: Poor still images, battery life, expensive accessories

I bought the HC40 for a variety of reasons. I wanted a small sized camcorder, and sony has the best reputation, I have had a good experience with other sony products. Though the sony products tend to be more expensive than similar products from other ...

Pros: Handy
Cons: LCD screen touch system not working

I used my Sony DCR-HC30E for a year, it was seldomly used. The touch panel sudddenly Hybrid LCD got out of order with out any cause. The screen lits but touch system is not working, I cannot change any setting due to this problem. Sony sucks.

Pros: Ease of use, excellent picture quality, good sound.
Cons: Difficult to hold with one hand.

After having a S-VHS camera, I'm very pleased with the results of this camera. I chose it due to being competitively priced against other models with equivalent features.

Connecting through the firewire port and using Pinnacle's Studio 9+ to burn to DVD, the results are excellent, colour & contrast are true to life and the sound is fine. By reorganising the icons in the menu, I can quickly access the manual controls and other functions. Though I miss the focus ring for manual control, I guess these things get sacrificed as the products get smaller.

My main criticism of this product is, for me I can't hold it easily with one hand as the strap is too low on the side of the camera. The Super NightShot plus is not as good as the brochures would suggest due to the slow shutter speed.

Pros: It fits easily into a trash compactor.
Cons: No factory support for a documented problem that disables the camcorder.

There is a documented problem with some of these camcorders in that they discharge the batteries overnight, even when attached to the AC converter. (See camcorderinfo.com).

Sony denies this problem exists, and will not repair it for free, once the 90 day warranty expires. (Unfortunately, sometimes the problem occurs only after 90 days).

It will cost you $268 if you want them to fix what is a design problem.

I know, because I have one, and the camcorder is basically a $600 paperweight.

There are rumors of a class action suit being initiated. GOOD!

Pros: It was nice while it was alive.
Cons: SONY=POOR product.

I rec'd this camcorder as a gift for Xmas '04. It was non-functional by May '05, soon after the 90 day warranty expired. We were recording my older daughter's graduation when video gave out and only recorded sound. The camcorder plays back but doesn't record video anymore. What's the point.

Sony wants >$250 to fix our $458 camcorder. BEWARE. This is the second issue we've had with Sony products in the past two years. VERY DISAPPOINTED.

Pros: Nice compact camcorder with good picture quality & alright night shot quality
Cons: Sony's warranty & customer service

Also, has charging problems which didn't start until one month after the 6month warranty. Contacted Sony telephonically & they were very abrupt & what I would call Rude. I use to think highly of Sony, but that's changing quickly. Read another review that claimed Sony said they had a bad batch of "charging circuits."