Thread: Betamax Devices

I'm sorry, I don't, but I wanted to clarify if you meant the commercial quality Betamax (which I understand was in use until very recently, if not still in use) or the 1980's consumer Beta standard?

Steve

The old '70s-'80s stuff.

The reason I bring up Beta is I have spotted these Betamovie Video cameras and a couple of Video Machines on eBay going cheap...and I'm into old technology like that. I'm thinking about getting a Camera and a player to have a bit of a tinker.

They made DVD's in the 70"s








No sorry I don't even remember them

Originally Posted by dobbo

They made DVD's in the 70"s








No sorry I don't even remember them

your the only one talking about dvd,s
the other guys are talking about video the old style before vhs and dvd

Originally Posted by scrambler

I'm sorry, I don't, but I wanted to clarify if you meant the commercial quality Betamax (which I understand was in use until very recently, if not still in use) or the 1980's consumer Beta standard?

Steve

The commercial quality Beta standard was/is called Betacam and Betacam SP and whilst the cassettes were the same size physically, thats about where it ended.

I had a good laugh years ago when I was talking to a bloke who bought a whole kit of Betamax video camera and gear "because thats what the TV stations use."

Originally Posted by adm333

The commercial quality Beta standard was/is called Betacam and Betacam SP and whilst the cassettes were the same size physically, thats about where it ended.

I had a good laugh years ago when I was talking to a bloke who bought a whole kit of Betamax video camera and gear "because thats what the TV stations use."

Thanks - it's been a while since I had to think about it. Uni used to have videos on all sorts of tapes but that's starting to seem like ancient history - being last century and all. Betacam eh.

I'm just old enough to remember Beta sections in video stores, and the whole arguement over VHS stressing the tape more than the Beta arrangement. A bit like the Toymotor/ Land Rover debate really - the technically better design gets swamped by the sheer market dominance of the inferior product. Also happened with the original Apple Mac/ Windows 3.1 face-off.

Should we all stage a Beta revival? Make bumper stickers proclaiming our love of LPs? After all we clearly prefer quality to convenience.

Steve

Timberwolf, re betamax, yes i do.

What are you after, specifically?

While we're here (because this is my area of expertise) a quick rundown for others:

Betamax (aka betacord) is a domestic recorder, it uses a tape cassette which is not VHS, but smaller.

Betacam, Betacam SP and D, are (or were) broadcast devices. Betacam cameras (about 30lbs) first appeared in the early eighties as a news gathering device with subsequent edit machines back at base. The tape travels thru the machine at eight times the speed of Betamax, which means that a three hour 15 min (PAL) domestic tape will be consumed by a betacam in about 20 mins (PAL). But the tapes as in weight construction between the differing formats.


A betamax new was from $600 - $2000
A betacam new was from $11,000 - $80,000
Betacam still exists as digital for broadcast purposes and is a fine vtr format, as is the workings of these Sony devices.
A head drum assembly for a basic betacam is around $1500 and lasts maybe 2000 head hours, which is not much, gone thru many, last about a year for me.

Nice format(s), engineering and quality, typical of Sony broadcast, beta had its genesis in the earlier U-matic 3/4" format, but thats another story.

Cheers, GQ

Yes Quiggers

Spent many an hour in front of the Sony U-matic edit suite.

I love the shuttle controller which you miss out on with the PC based editing.

Hmmm... must see how much it would cost to set one up.

Dave