LabGuy's World: Extinct Sony Betamax Videocassette Recorders Directions: For a larger view of any image, click on the small image. To return, click your browser's back button. Notes: Betamax had three speeds, BI, BII and BIII. at BI, 500 feet of tape were consumed every hour. Tapes are marked with either the "K" notation, followed with a number signifying minutes, or the more common "L" notation which is followed by a figure representing feet. These are all the commercial or industrial machines signified by the "O" in the model number signifying "office".  SLO-260 (1977):  New! 03.01.31 The First Betamax Industrial. Added professional features to the line such as audio dubbing facilities, and a level meter. Had a "standby" lamp like a 3/4" machine. Linear tracks: one (Audio). Speed(s): BI Photo: Sean Meskill  SLO-340 (1977):  New! 03.01.31 First portable Betamax, weighing in at 20 pounds this was truly a massive deck. However it recorded an hour of high quality color video (later tapes could extend this up to 1.5 hours) and could also be used with older Sony cameras like the AVC-3450. The color camera designed for it is unknown at this time. Linear tracks: one (Audio) Speed(s): BI Photo: Sean Meskill  SLO-323 (1978):  New! 03.01.31 A second generation Industrial Betamax. Introduced Linear stereo like 3/4" decks, also featured variable speed playback, remote capabilities, programmed operation and was actually light enough that one could comfortably use the carrying handle it was equipped with. Had two look alikes, the SLO-320, which has a design fault, and the SLO-325, which can play back any Betamax tape. Linear tracks: Two (One or two audio, or one audio and one data) Speed(s): BI Photo: Sean Meskill  GCS-1 (1985):  New! 03.01.31 The GCS-1 was an industrialized version of the popular "Betamovie" design, it featured a true electronic viewfinder instead of the Beam-splitter-prism type used on the consumer version. In place of auto-focus, it had and a macro mode. It could recorded Betamax's Hi-band format, SuperBeta, and, being a chip camera, had very good quality. Because of a unique, scaled down head drum and transport, it was exceedingly light and easy to use, although it had no playback facilities. Linear tracks: one (Audio) Speed(s) BII (record only) (Hi-band optional) Photo: Sean Meskill  SLO-1400 (1983):  New! 03.01.31 The SLO-1400 was often used as a duplicator and consequently many surviving example are in poor condition. However they are worth reviving since this is quite a good quality deck. It features Hi-Fi audio encoded in the video tracks to allow for Stereo audio with a range on a par with Compact Disc. Had a "power remote" switch, allowing recording to begin upon power up, allowing it to be controlled by a timer such as the DT-30 Linear Tracks: one (audio). HiFi tracks: Two (Audio) Speeds: BI (playback only) BII, BIII (playback only) Photo: Sean Meskill  [HOME]......[SONY CATALOG]......[CATALOG INDEX] Last updated: January 09, 2005  (This page was created for LabGuy's World by Sean Meskill)