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Sony DCR-HC40

Sony DCR-HC40
Sony DCR-HC40Sony DCR-HC40Sony DCR-HC40Sony DCR-HC40Sony DCR-HC40Sony DCR-HC40Sony DCR-HC40Sony DCR-HC40Sony DCR-HC40
alaScore 80

320 reviews

Dec, 2024

  • Negative

alaTest has collected and analyzed 320 reviews of Sony DCR-HC40. The average rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders for all reviews. People are impressed by the price and size. The image quality and portability also get good opinions. Opinions about the viewfinder and battery are mixed.

usability, portability, image quality, size, price

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Sony DCR-HC40 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 80/100 = Very good quality.

See all Sony Camcorders

Review analysis

(Based on 320 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (39% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (37% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (10% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (5% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (9% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

usability
  Show positive (79%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
portability
  Show positive (88%)Show negative (12%)(Show all)
image quality
  Show positive (66%)Show negative (34%)(Show all)
size
  Show positive (86%)Show negative (14%)(Show all)
price
  Show positive (60%)Show negative (40%)(Show all)
design
  Show positive (97%)Show negative (3%)(Show all)
durability
  Show positive (83%)Show negative (17%)(Show all)
zoom
  Show positive (73%)Show negative (27%)(Show all)
battery
  Show positive (50%)Show negative (50%)(Show all)
memory
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
reliability
  Show positive (71%)Show negative (29%)(Show all)
control panel
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
viewfinder
  Show positive (50%)Show negative (50%)(Show all)
color
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
More features

Showing 203 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

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Showing 1 - 176 of 203 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (116)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Sony DCR-HC40

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 46 user reviews of Sony DCR-HC40 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.co.uk. Reviewers are impressed by the price and portability. The size and image quality are also mentioned favorably.

usability, image quality, size, portability, price

85% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Sony DCR-HC40

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 120 user reviews of Sony DCR-HC40 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 3.9/5, compared to an average user rating of 3.9/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.com. Comments about the size and price are generally positive. The image quality and portability also get good feedback. There are some mixed reviews about the viewfinder.

usability, portability, image quality, price, size

78% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Expert review by : Jan Ozer (pcmag.com)

Samsung SC-D6040 DuoCam

 

Good quality audio and video ; new controls on LCD panel

Some usability issues

The Sony DCR-HC40 produces good video quality for an entry-level camcorder.

Nov, 2004
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Expert review by : Easy Camcorder (easycamcorders.com)

Expert Review

 

Although the DCR-HC40, as the top of this year's HC line by Sony, includes an improvement in CCD size and still capabilities from its fellow camcorders, its performance is remarkably similar to the DCR-HC30, which nearly serves to render invalid any...

LCD quality, - Ease of use, - Decent low light and video quality

Zooms, - Still options, - Mediocre manual control

Nov, 2004
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Expert review by : Robin Liss (camcorderinfo.com)

Sony DCR-HC40 First Impressions Camcorder Review - Sony MiniDV Camcorders

 

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Sony introduced five new MiniDV camcorder's including the middle of the line DCR-HC40. The DCR-HC40 replaces last year's DCR-TRV33. At a selling price of $700, the DCR-HC40 is Sony's lowest priced Megapixel...

Feb, 2004
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Expert review by (best-digital-camcorder-reviews.com)

Sony DCR HC40

 

Sony DCR HC40 is a MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder with a 10x Optical Zoom.

The Sony 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...

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Consumer review (epinions.com)

Sony DCR-HC30E Touch screen

 

Handy

LCD screen touch system not working

Jun, 2007
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Consumer review (epinions.com)

Don't try to take this puppy to warm, moist places with lots of light

 

Works okay on Northern latitudes only - Japan, USA, Europe

Doesn't handle moisture or lots of tropical light or booming bass signals too well

Mar, 2006
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Consumer review (epinions.com)

Don't try to take this puppy to warm, moist places with lots of light

 

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...

Works okay on Northern latitudes only - Japan, USA, Europe

Doesn't handle moisture or lots of tropical light or booming bass signals too well

Mar, 2006
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Consumer review (epinions.com)

Great Camcorder for the price

 

Quality video camcorder. Ability to capture still photos. Good low light capabilities. Computer friendly.

Camera must be removed from the tripod to change tapes which are only 60/80 minutes.

Feb, 2006
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Consumer review (epinions.com)

Great Camcorder for the price

 

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...

Quality video camcorder. Ability to capture still photos. Good low light capabilities. Computer friendly

Camera must be removed from the tripod to change tapes which are only 60/80 minutes

Feb, 2006
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Consumer review (epinions.com)

Sony miniDV camcorder - HC40

 

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 ...

Crisp video, great sound, nice options for upgrading

The still digital photos are just OK, Sony refuses universalism

Jan, 2006
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Price comparison for Sony DCR-HC40

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