Sony DCR-HC40

Posted by T3 Online on Wed 31 Oct 2007

Cutting edge? No. Solid and reliable? Yes

Camcorders may not be evolving as quickly as digital cameras but they're still incredibly popular, and the latest ones from Sony show why. The HC40 is a mid-range model, which means it has a megapixel sensor and a digital- video input, but it's lumbered with a plastic shell and lacks advanced features such as true widescreen recording or a built-in flash. Despite the lightweight, metal-free construction, however, this device is far from fragile.

As with previous Sony camcorders, its focal point is the 2.5-inch, 123,000- pixel hybrid LCD. Sharp, bright and dripping with glorious colour, it almost feels sinful to sully the touch-sensitive display with grimy fingerprints. New this year is a record button on the screen to aid self-portraits, as well as a button to switch off the display backlight in bright conditions. The 10x zoom is smooth and precise, benefitting from a SteadyShot image- stabiliser and the ever-impressive Super NightShot Plus infrared system.

You'll look in vain for manual movie- making features here, with just spot- metering and spot-focusing controls (via the touchscreen) to tempt more advanced users. It does have an improved MPEG movie function that can record 320 x 240-pixel clips to the capacity of its MemoryStick Duo card (8MB supplied). These clips are jerky and no match for some digital camera movies, let alone the superb 520-line footage the 'corder lays down on MiniDV tape. Stereo sound quality is great too, with virtually no audible interference from the swift zoom or tape motor.

It's not the most advanced of camcorders - especially in the digital realm - but it's compact, competent and supremely easy to use.