Betacam
AKA
Beta, Betacam SP
Era
1982–2006
Analog/digital
analog
Format
Cassette
Developed by
Sony
(Max) Capacity
Short: 63 minutes
Long: 194 minutes
Size
Short: 15.6 × 9.6 × 2.5 cm
Long: 25.4 × 14.5 × 2.5 cm
Fun facts
- This format is a higher- quality successor of Betamax intended for professional broadcast use instead of home consumer use; unlike Betamax, it became the dominant broadcast format of its era & market
- A blank Betamax tape can work on a Betacam deck and a Betacam tape can be used to record in a Betamax deck (although this practice is not recommended)
- Betacam came in several different formats; they all use the same cassette sizes but had different shell colors
- "Short" Betacam SP tapes can be recorded in extended play in an ED-Beta camcorder, quadrupling the length of content, but reducing its quality significantly.
- Only the "short" cassette could fit in a camcorder. The "long" cassette was recorded onto only in the studio.
