{"id":6931,"title":"SONY Betamovie BMC-200","kind":"biblio","url":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/sony-betamovie-bmc-200","version":"b2cab74a4d4551b36686d302ee9b89bbaa2bb142e664aa8a39845770acd1c748","modified":"2026-09-13T21:51:46.8319616+00:00","credits":[],"authorKeys":[],"subjects":["Tools"],"metadata":[{"label":"Tool","value":"SONY Betamovie BMC-200","url":null}],"citations":{"page":"\u0022SONY Betamovie BMC-200.\u0022 Video History Project, Experimental Television Center, 2026. https://www.videohistoryproject.org/sony-betamovie-bmc-200.","publication":"SONY Betamovie BMC-200. .","risUrl":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/citation/6931.ris"},"links":[],"sections":[{"name":"body","source":"VHP record body","generated":false,"characters":3486},{"name":"summary","source":"existing VHP generated summary","generated":true,"characters":635}],"content":{"section":"body","source":"VHP record body","generated":false,"text":"SONY Betamovie BMC-200 Introduced in 1983, the Sony Betamovie was the world\u0027s first camcorder - a video cassette recorder and video camera combined. Before this unit was introduced, people carried separate camera and recorder units. Numerous technical advances made the Betamovie possible. The Betamovie has only a single video head - all other VHS and Beta VCRs have at least two. The single head is mounted on a cylinder half the normal diameter (making the unit smaller) and spins twice as fast. This head can only record; similar to the earliest portapacks but unlike modern camcorders, you couldn\u0027t play back your recording in the camera itself. To see what you\u0027ve taped, you needed to put the tape in your home Betamax player. The viewfinder is a simple \u0027through-the-lens\u0027 type, not electronic. There is no \u0027Video Out\u0027 jack, so you can\u0027t output the video signal directly to another monitoring device. Because the picture is transferred from the pickup tube to the tape without being converted into composite video, less electronic circuitry is used. Chroma and Luminance video information aren\u0027t combined as a composite video. Color and luminance information are treated separately and this resulted in superior picture quality. Without the extra video processing circuitry, the camera became smaller and lighter and the picture quality of the recording was better. The Omega tape wrap system takes up a lot less space than a conventional Betamax deck. Omega wrap reduces the size of the video head drum by employing a second set of video heads which are used to record alternate frames of picture information. This was later to be adopted in camcorders of other formats. The original PAL Betamovie (model BMC-100) was black and silver with a rainbow-coloured carrying strap. The BMC200 was an improved version of the BMC100. It featured digital auto focusing. The unit weighed under 2.5 kg and was able to record onto all Betamax tapes giving it a maximum recording time of 3 hours and 35 minutes with an L-830 cassette. The final model in the Betamovie range was the BMC-500 which used a CCD sensor instead of a picture tube. It also included a Liquid Crystal Display tape counter and battery-backed clock. The time and date could be superimposed on the picture as it was being recorded. Like the previous two models, the BMC-500 has no playback facility. Specifications BMC 200 System Video recording system: Rotary four-head helical scanning Video Signal: CCIR standards, PAL colour Audio frequency response: 50Hz to 10,000Hz Audio S/N: Better than 40dB Inputs and outputs Audio input: From built in Microphone or 3.5mm Jack, unbalanced Power: DC power socket Earphone: 3.5mm Jack Remote Pause: 3.5mm Jack Tape transport: Tape speed 18.73 mm/sec. Maximum recording time: 2 hours 10 min. (with Sony L-500 cassette) 3 hours 15 min. (with L-750) Camera Pickup Tube: 1/2\u0022 SMF Trinicon Minimum Illumination: 28 Lux Lens: 6X Power Zoom with macro focusing. General Power requirements: 9.6 V DC from NP-11 battery or external DC supply Dimensions: Approx. 125 x 220 x 357 mm (w/h/d) including projecting parts and controls Weight: Approx. 2.5 kg (without battery) Superior Picture Quality Battery The unit is powered by a compact NP-11 battery (weighing 12 oz) located in the carrying handle. Other features The BMC100 has a F1.2 Lens with 6X powered zoom, a built in condenser microphone, Automatic White Balance and a pivotal optical viewfinder which incorporated 4 LED indicators.","offset":0,"nextOffset":null,"totalCharacters":3486,"complete":true},"rightsUrl":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/terms-service"}