The DCR-HC42 is a small MiniDV Handycam from 2005, sold beside the cheaper HC32 and sharing its manual. Sony gave the HC42 a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 12x zoom, a color viewfinder where the HC32 has black and white, and a 2.7-inch widescreen touch panel that runs the menus. It records true 16:9 as well as 4:3, and it weighs only 410 g. The catch is where the jacks went. The camera itself has an A/V jack and LANC, while the DV and USB jacks live on the Handycam Station dock that came in the box. So if you want FireWire capture, the dock matters as much as the camera.
Tape check
Should come with it
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing piece should come off the price.
Sony's manual lists C:21 for condensation (leave it an hour), C:22 for dirty heads, C:31 or C:32 for other faults and E:61 or E:62 for service. A listing without the Handycam Station has no FireWire port.
New to old camcorders? How to check a used camcorder covers the tape transport, heads, screens and power, and getting footage off a camcorder explains FireWire and analog capture.
Buying guide
We'd buy the HC42 titled tested at $125 delivered, just under the $127 median, with the battery in the photo but no charger, so add the AC-L25 adapter. There are at least 13 for sale, most asking $125 to $141 delivered, and for tape transfers the one to ask about is the $130 listing with the docking station, since the HC42's DV and USB jacks are on that Handycam Station rather than the camera. Without the dock you capture in analog through the A/V cable. Ask for a short video of a MiniDV tape playing on the touch screen and whether the touch panel responds everywhere. Skip the Video Transfer title two accounts list at $300 and $523 delivered, more than double the median.
$124.94est. delivered
The lowest-priced HC42 titled as tested, at $125 delivered from a 99.7% seller, with the battery in the photo. It has no charger and no dock, so budget for the AC-L25 adapter, plan on analog capture and ask for a clip of a tape playing back.
Sony Handycam DCR-HC42 MiniDV Camcorder With NightShot Tested No Charger
$36.31est. delivered
Untested, but the photo shows a Sony case and a charger with the camera, for $36 delivered, about $90 under the median. Pay parts money and ask whether it powers on.
Sony Handycam Dcr-hc42 Untested With Sony Case And Battery Charger
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$124.94est. delivered
$114.99 + $9.95 shipping
Buy It Now$114.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Titled tested, no charger. Battery in the photo.
Seller: cdhresale
99.7% positive
For parts$36.31est. delivered
$26.50 + $9.81 shipping
Buy It Now$26.50
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Untested, with a Sony case and a charger in the photo.
Seller: nonnewaugfallstradingco
99.8% positive
Used$126.70est. delivered
$111.00 + $15.70 shipping
Buy It Now$111.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled tested. Camera alone in the photo.
Seller: bboypoop
99.4% positive
Used$130.00est. delivered
$110.00 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$110.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled with the docking station, which carries the DV jack. Manual and a tape in the photo, no test claim.
Seller: mj1564
100% positive
Used$141.14est. delivered
$124.94 + $16.20 shipping
Buy It Now$124.94
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Shown in its box. Titled no remote and no microphone, with no test claim.
Seller: czshop574
99.9% positive
Used$212.49est. delivered
$199.99 + $12.50 shipping
Buy It Now$199.99
Our take
Titled working, with accessories. Ask what's included and whether the dock is.
Seller: tulipcityfinds1
100% positive
Used$299.99delivered
$299.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$299.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled for video transfer. Same title on another account, about 2.4 times the median.
Seller: pcmonde
99.9% positive
Used$522.58est. delivered
$397.64 + $124.94 shipping
Buy It Now$397.64
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Same title as another account, shipping from the UK. About four times the median.
Seller: retrogadgets-uk
98.7% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 15, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchSony
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