standard definition, consumer grade camcorder that can record different sorts of video to the internal hard disc drive or memory stick flash memory. just for reference, a link to the manual:
https://docs.sony.com/release/DCRSR42_Handbook_GB.pdf
It sounds like there may be a few things going on, so we'll try one at a time to see what helps.
Page 54 of the manual has the different quality settings possible. Higher quality = larger file size = shorter total record time on the storage media. This may impact the window size you get on the Quicktime window. Speaking of which - XP has not been around for a while - I know lots of folks use it, but these sorts of compatibility issues will be common as more time passes. Try VLC Player. In either case, you *should* be able to make the video view larger by increasing the size of the Quicktime (or VLC Player) window.
Next, page 110 shows us that the camcorder captures MPG file types... not MP4. Where did MP4 files come from? If transcoded to be converted for use in some sort of media player, then that might expelling the size issue, but not the widescreen vs 4:3 - assuming the transcoding was done correctly. If no transcoding was done, it is a mystery how those MPG files turned into MP4 files...
So... give VLC player a shot - from www.videolan.org
Hope this helps.
I have MP4 files directly from a Sony DCR-SR300 (not mine). They play in QuickTime Player on my Win XP computer as 320 x 240 pixels. That is a 4:3 format (OK) but...
- Why so small?
- The image is noticeably "squeezed" horizontally, looking approximately correct after expanding horizontally in Photoshop to 427 x 240 pixels (16:9). Why doesn't it display that way in Quick Time Player?
- Is there a better player for these files than Quick Time Player?

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