Sony DCRHC40 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [4.25mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001BVHL4
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,468 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 22, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer The DCR-HC40 MiniDV Handycam gives you all the features you’d expect from a Sony camcorder in an ultra-compact design that’s as beautiful as the images it captures. It features a 1.0 Megapixel Advanced HAD imaging chip and a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens which combine to capture video with incredible detail and clarity, making every video picture perfect. It also includes a huge 2.5" hybrid SwivelScreen touch panel LCD display with a 3D menu system, Super NightShot Plus infrared recording, USB streaming, and digital still image capturing on MemoryStick DUO media. Only Sony could pack so many features in a camcorder so small.

The MiniDV Format offers more precise image detail and color accuracy than previously possible with analog camcorders. The superior quality of digital video results from:

• Higher Resolution -- up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution, on select models for sharper picture detail.
• Component Color Sampling -- preserves three times more color information than analog VHS and S-VHS video, for brighter and truer colors.
• Time Base Correction -- stabilizes the picture, eliminating video jitters.
• Error Correction -- fills in missing video data, providing seamless, professional-looking video.

Features of the DCR-HC40 include:

	Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating offering less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfect renditions of subtle tones.		Digital Still Memory Mode: Capture digital still images directly onto Memory Stick media for easy transfer to e-mail, printing, or sharing with compatible Memory Stick devices.
	With a press of the Easy Handycam button, most of the advanced functions of the camcorder are "locked out" leaving only the buttons essential for recording operational.		Super NightShot Plus Infrared System: An advanced version of Sony's NightShot Infrared system that allows users to record natural color images in low-light conditions, but without the blurring common with other lowlight recording systems.
	Battery information is momentarily displayed without having to power on the camcorder. Quickly access the battery's status by pressing the Battery Info button. The Recording Time Available is displayed in minutes on either the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.		Sony's i.LINK DV (or MICROMV) interface gives you true digital-to-digital editing, without the "generation loss" of analog editing. And the i.LINK interface is compatible with a range of Sony digital VCRs, Sony edit controllers, and Sony PCs with editing software.
	MPEG Movie EX Mode: Unlike earlier MPEG1 Movies, MPEG Movie EX will allow you to record 320 x 240 resolution MPEG movies uninterrupted up to the capacity of the Memory Stick Duo Media. These movies are perfect for emailing to friends and family.		Stamina Power Management: the combination of low power consumption and an optional InfoLithium battery give Sony Handycam models incredible operating time. To keep tabs on battery life, Sony's AccuPower meter displays the number of minutes remaining -- right in the viewfinder.

And more:

This camera can connect directly to select printers. Learn more about PictBridge.

• 1.0 Megapixel (Gross) Advanced HAD CCD Imager 1/5" Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 690K (effective) pixels provides excellent detail and clarity, with exceptional video performance (up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution). Realize great looking digital still images utilizing 1000K (effective) pixels. The Megapixel technology enhances your digital videos and digital still photography performance.

• 10X Optical/120X Digital Zoom
  The optical zoom helps to bring the action up close from far away. In addition, the digital zoom interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zooms.

• 2.5" Hybrid SwivelScreen LCD Display (123K Pixels): Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The 123K pixel LCD display makes images sharp and detailed during playback or when monitoring recording. The Hybrid Reflective-Transmissive LCD Screen provides accurate viewing in sunlight or bright light, virtually eliminating the wash-out common with traditional LCD Screens.

• Progressive Shutter: Mechanical shutter system that provides Progressive Scan performance while utilizing an interlace scanning system. Digital still images will be sharp and clear with excellent definition.

• Analog To Digital Conversion with Pass-Through: Convert and/or record any analog NTSC video source to digital video via the analog inputs. Analog NTSC video can also be passed through the digital Handycam camcorder directly into a PC via the i.LINK interface in real-time for easy PC editing of your analog footage.

• InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter System: Charge the battery at any time because unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony’s rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening "memory effect." Sony’s exclusive AccuPower meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes in the viewfinder or the LCD screen.

• Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization System: An advanced version of Sony’s SteadyShot system that controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies, to achieve an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of video like some other image stabilization systems.

• 12-Bit/16-Bit PCM Digital Stereo: 16-Bit offers the same outstanding sound quality as compact disc. 12-Bit recording enables you to add an additional audio track with compatible audio dubbing equipment or i.LINK interface compatible computers.

What's in the box:
DCRHC40 MiniDV Digital Handycam, AC-L25 Power Adaptor/ In Camera Charger, NP-FP50 InfoLithium Rechargeable Battery, RMT-831 Wireless Remote Commander Remote Control, USB Cable, MSG-M8A Memory Stick Duo Media, MSAC-M2 Memory Stick Duo Adapter, CR2025 Battery, Multi A/V Cable, LCD Cleaning Cloth, CD-ROM w/Driver (Picture Package Software v1.0 for Sony)

Product Description

CL) Sony DCRHC40 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great home cam, March 1, 2004

By 

Matthew Walsh (San Carlos, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony DCRHC40 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I needed a cam to make some movies of my new daughter. I wanted something compact so that I would never hesitate to carry it around. I also wanted to make sure it was easy to use and took great video indoors. This narrowed my choices down to the Sony PC-105, TRV22 and the Canon Optura 300 / Elura 50. Except for the TRV22, all were the vertical style which while small, were awkward to use (the Sony being the worst with its horrible zoom control). The Canon's also do not have the IR-illuminated night shot capability. So, I was all set to buy the TRV22 especially since it has outstanding low-light capability when I tried out the HC40. The HC's form factor is just so great, I couldn't pass it up. It to me seems as small as the PC105 but is the much more hold-able horizontal style everyone prefers.

So I bought both the TRV22 and HC40 and compared them at home. Yes, the TRV22 does shoot noticably better in low light conditions, but practically speaking the HC40 is good enough for me, and the form factor more than makes up for it. I'd give it 5 stars if 1) its low light ability was as good as the TRV22 and 2) if its auto focus responded a bit quicker.

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome compact Mini DV camcorder, October 23, 2004

By 

DC Machead "DC Machead" (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony DCRHC40 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I used to have a Canon Elura 2, but I despised its nightshot capability and the battery life was dismal. I discovered this camera searching several review sites and after seeing it in person, I was sold by its compact size.

This camera is very easy to operate and the quality of footage taken with it is phenomenal. There aren't a lot of buttons on this camera, as most of the configuration settings are accessed through the screen-based menu system. I've read a lot of people find the menu system annoying, however I find that it's laid out quite nicely. Once you pick a setting, the camera will shut down other options that aren't applicable given the settings you've selected.

I'm very happy with the nightshot mode. If you've ever watched Survivor, the night shots shots taken with this camera look like.

The zoom control on the camera took some getting used to and I've found that using your right hand middle finger to control it works quite well. You'll also want to adjust the hand strap to firmly hold your hand to the camera.

I have not used the software that comes with this camera and that seems to be where a lot of the whining comes from on CNet. If you're going to get a DV camera and you plan to edit the footage, invest in some decent video editing software (or buy an iMac).

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Comes with motor noise for your listening pleasure, June 24, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony DCRHC40 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I bought DCRHC40 because of the compact size and because it was a SONY product. But, I hate to say that the whole HC series of camcorders come with a motor noise when you put a tape in it, which gets recorded on tape also. You can hear the noise even when the unit is in standby mode. The noise goes away when you switch to Memory Stick mode. If you don't have too much noise around you when recording, you will clearly hear the motor noise on playback.
I sent mine to Sony Service Center for repair, thinking it was only my unit that had the problem. But, the Sony technician told me that he tested out some other units and all of them have the motor noise. He said he even checked the DCRHC20 and DCRHC30 and they too have the motor noise. They sent it back to me saying "No Fault Found".
I also went to the local store with my miniDV tape and checked out DCRHC40 and DCRHC65 (which is a larger model), and they too have motor noise. I called Sony Customer Support and even after talking to 5 different people and 2 weeks of arguing with them, they did not refund my money. They said they could not do anything about it because it "meets factory specifications". I asked them to tell me how much motor noise in decibels (dB) was in your specs. They had no answer for that, I told them that "specifications" means that you should have "specifics" on how much noise is allowed. Sony Customer Care was just using "meets factory specifications" when there are no specifications on the acceptable noise level at all.

I did not expect this from a Sony product and Sony customer care.

Please consider this motor noise issue before you buy any of the DCRHC series of SONY camcorders.