Betamax
Betamax (also called Beta) is a videotape format created by Sony. It was first released on May 10, 1975 in Japan and November of 1975 in the United States.[1] Because it lost the videotape format war to VHS, Betamax is now obsolete.[2] Despite this, production of new Betamax recorders went until 2002; and Betamax cassettes were available up until March 2016.[3]
Betamax Media
Three Sony Betamax VCRs built for the American market. Top to bottom: SL-2000 portable with TT-2000 tuner/timer "Base Station" (1982); SL-HF 300 Betamax HiFi unit (1984); SL-HF 360 SuperBeta HiFi unit (1988).
Betamax blank top (modified) (tape only)
Rear of a blank Sony L-750 Betamax videocassette, sitting on top of another unopened in its wrapping.
The early-form Betacam tapes (left) are interchangeable with Betamax (right), though the recordings are not.
- Sony SL-MV1 and RMT-117 20051001.jpg
A rare Japanese-market Betamax portable TV/VCR combo, the Model SL-MV1
Sony Betamovie BMC-100P, the first of the Betamovie line and the first consumer-grade camcorder
Betamax tapes on display at a museum
Size comparison between a Betamax cassette (top) and a VHS cassette (bottom)
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References
- ↑ McDonald, Paul (2007-08-06). Video and DVD Industries. British Film Institute. p. 33. ISBN 9781844571673. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ↑ "Betamax". Pcmag.com. 1994-12-01. Archived from the original on 2009-06-08. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
- ↑ "Beta Video Cassette and Micro MV Cassette Tape End of Shipment Announcement". Sony Japan. Sony. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
In March 2016, Sony will end shipment of the Beta video cassette and micro cassette MV.
