The Sony DCR-SR42 is Sony’s entry level Hard Disk Drive (HDD) camcorder released last March of 2007. A 1/6 inch Advanced HAD CCD imaging sensor capable of recording videos in MPEG2 format powers this standard definition camcorder. Like many Sony camcorders, the DCR-SR42 has three video quality settings with its high quality setting (recording at 9Mbps), medium quality (recording at 6Mbps) and low quality (recording at 3Mbps).

Sony released their DCR-SR45 in 2008, together with three other standard definition camcorders (DCR-SR65, DCR-SR85 and the DCR-SR220). Their small sizes and the capability of recording to its internal hard disk drive or an option to record to a Memory Stick Duo PRO inserted in its built-in memory slot characterized them all. The DCR-SR45 measures about 3in x 4.4in x 3in (WxDxH) and weighs only 12.3 oz.