What was wrong with the Betamax format?

***Saturlight*** · 26-08-2006

Talking of time loops, or tape loops, who remembers Dennis Hopper in 'Speed', that film in which they put a tape loop in the bus transmission to make Hopper think he was watching live action on the TV.

**PaulR** · 26-08-2006

AFAIK no iteration of the Doctor has ever met an earlier (or later!) version of himself that hasn't been subject to a regeneration. So perhaps regenerating subverts the "don't meet yourself or you'll mutually self-destruct" science fiction ethos.

**PaulR** · 26-08-2006

Has this thread gone off topic or what!

***2cvbloke*** · 26-08-2006

Betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax
betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax
betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax
betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax betamax....

***BarMoo*** · 24-11-2006

Nothing like tuning into a thread three months late - whoever (get it?) - OK ..........

A friend of mine back in London was (probably still is) a total WHO fan. He also worked in Video Post Production and had contacts in the right places *wink*

Basically, one day he went on about how the BBC had thrown away a substantial number of WHO episodes - and, in trying to fill-in the gaps (so to speak) - they resorted to asking US broadcasters for the missing episodes.

so, the next time you see a retro WHO gem and the colours are all odd, you are probably watching a converted and previously missing BBC Master.

Don't watch Dr. WHO myself.

.

**Channel Hopper** · 24-11-2006

I have a substantial amount of Betamax tapes here (probably exceeds my collection of VHS stuff), and it is still as fresh as the day it was made. Presently using a C9 to watch a Benny Hill recording from 1987 - Ah, Louise English.......

***BarMoo*** · 24-11-2006

Let me get this straight. The C9 is that black/slate coloured sleek (in its day) ever so godly C9 - or is it that god awful ugly silver MF.

C5 or C9, silver or black - I can never remember.

We had one of these beauties - which I promptly effed up by being too curious about spinning heads (GBP80.00 to replace - back in 1984??)

[edit] everytime I look at that pic I wish I still had one. The better model had colour PAUSE ,-))

.

***BarMoo*** · 24-11-2006

Update: Sanyo had to call theirs BetaCord - because of those SONY *ankers.

Then, as we all know, SONY had to call theirs VHS - because they were stubborn *ankers and lost the video-store race.

Maria Carey Minidisc anyone? God works in mysterious ways.

[read: nothing but loathing of SONY over the last two years].

.

maxpayne3 · 02-12-2006

I hope nobody minds me throwing my oar in.

Betamax was better quality, still is.(Sony's UMatic). This is why it lost.

VHS (Video Home System) was developed by JVC. This company was 'sponsored' RCA (RCA _ Victor). JVC = Japanese Victor Corporation.

At the time both Sony And JVC were trying to get their machines into the highly profitable rental market. Particularly in Europe.

JVC already had contracts with the big companys such as DER, Rediffusion, Granada etc. What they also had was an assembly plant in UK where they made their TVs. What most people didn't (still don't) know is that they were redesigning the outer housings and putting 'own brand' stickers on them.
You rent own brand from any of the big rental companies you still got JVC.

Now JVC, with financial support from RCA, went to the rental boys and offered them a deal they could not refuse. VHS hit the rental market and it was all over for Beta.

Max

***BarMoo*** · 02-12-2006

I'll take issue with some of the stuff you said max.

Betamax isn't U-Matic. If they were both the same, my cupboard wouldn't be full of U-Matic breeze-block-sized monsters.

Everybody talks about the rental fight between the formats - yet, people rarely comment on the actual differences between the two formats - and why beta was better.

Betamax produced better skin tonality (read: better colours) for one and, er, ....... that's about it really. Albeit, BetaHi-Fi rocked at the time.

Functionality and features wise - early model VHS machines were always coming out with better features before SONY (assholes) had them in their machines.

I remember going down to my local department store to specifically see the new range of SONY VHS machines. Sweet Justice (in hindsight).

.

maxpayne3 · 02-12-2006

Originally Posted by BarMoo

I'll take issue with some of the stuff you said max.

Betamax isn't U-Matic. If they were both the same, my cupboard wouldn't be full of U-Matic breeze-block-sized monsters.

Everybody talks about the rental fight between the formats - yet, people rarely comment on the actual differences between the two formats - and why beta was better.

Betamax produced better skin tonality (read: better colours) for one and, er, ....... that's about it really. Albeit, BetaHi-Fi rocked at the time.

Functionality and features wise - early model VHS machines were always coming out with better features before SONY (assholes) had them in their machines.

I remember going down to my local department store to specifically see the new range of SONY VHS machines. Sweet Justice (in hindsight).

.

Sorry Bar, Bit misleading that. I was trying to say that Sony U-matic was and still is the industry standard (Though I think it's called C-Matic now) and it's from the same shed!

Max

***BarMoo*** · 02-12-2006

I would like to think that most ad agencies/power execs/whoevers would run off a DVD these days.

The same folks that pushed 16.9 SD on us - still use U-Matic? there's an irony,

.

maxpayne3 · 03-12-2006

Originally Posted by BarMoo

I would like to think that most ad agencies/power execs/whoevers would run off a DVD these days.

The same folks that pushed 16.9 SD on us - still use U-Matic? there's an irony,

.

Now, here's a thing I didn't think of. My kids are in the Sea Cadets and do a lot of parades. Big events like Trafalgar Day, Amistice Day etc. Last time Yorkshire TV sent a film unit and the film cameraman was carrying a Sony. I know it said something on the side like C-Matic, but till you mentioned DVD I hadn't realised it would, of course, be digital.

There are times, BarMoo, there are times

MAX

***BarMoo*** · 03-12-2006

News crews typically use DigiBetaSX these days. Some horrid mischung between MPEG2 and MPEG16 (joke). Whatever, its compressed - and its a SONY idea based on you know what, LOL ;-))

Panasonic tried out M2 video - VHS for profis - er, which bombed.

Sony got their dosh from the Beta format much more than the VHS camp ;-))

Now SONY are sucking up runny-shit with all the other formats/chips/cards et al that they have come up with since, LOL.

I really wish there was a 'greenray' format from JVC (do they still exist?)

.

maxpayne3 · 03-12-2006

I think after RCA handed 'power' to the Japanese exec', JVC lost their sense of direction. Also, as we became more affluent in Europe and bought more (rented less) JVC lost billions. All this just as Technics/Panasonic started to get a toe-hole in the market for consumer electronics. I do think that at the top end JVC is at least as good as Sony or Pioneer or Kenwood, but when you've spent 20 years playing catch-up, it tells.

Max

***2cvbloke*** · 03-04-2007

Just thought I'd drag this up cos I'm bored...

I still want to get myself an SL-F1UB and TT-F1UB (the tuner), they look beautiful, and the VCR half is portable, if you can get a new battery for it that is!!! I'd love to hook up a Betamax recorder to a modern DVB-S box and record modern TV onto the old format, and I thought that maybey even have a VHS VCR hooked up at the same time to compare the two afterwards (modernish VCR vs. Betamax, who'll win?

), and if the kit came with the camera too I could have alsorts of fun*....

*not in the way you're thinking you dirty perve!!!

***2cvbloke*** · 05-04-2007

Sony SL-F1UB, TT-F1UB, AC-F1UB, BCP-220, HVC-2000 or 4000, HVR-320, Batteries (condition unsure), and a Ferguson VHS version, colour monitor/TV and a couple of chargers (for the VHS I guess), all mine for £65...

I'll just translate the model numbers...

SL-F1UB - The Betamax VCR with Sony K-Type camera input.
TT-F1UB - The Tuner & Timer unit for the main VCR, also powers the SL unit via a loop-through.
AC-F1UB - The battery charger & PSU in one unit, for both the TT and SL units (aswell as the PCM-F1UB if I can ever find one)
BCP-220 - A 4-battery compartment for powering the TT & SL units aswell as the camera.
HVC-2000/4000 - Sony's Trinicon colour camera, unsure of the difference between the models.
HVR-320 - A Pan/Tilt mount for the camera (may fit other cameras, but I don't know as yet).

The other bits, I don't know as I've never seen them before, especially the Ferguson SL-F1UB-styled portable VHS recorder & tuner units, all I can see in the photos of the Fergy is "Videostar", but I've had about 3 different types of top-loader Fergy Videostar VCRs, so that's a bit generic, but once I have the kit I'll be showing them all off...

***Leee*** · 06-04-2007

I've given you a thanks for that. Frankly you're sad but I do understand

***2cvbloke*** · 06-04-2007

Originally Posted by Leee

I've given you a thanks for that. Frankly you're sad but I do understand

Well, Betamaxers tend to be called names, but it's only cos they're a bit "backwards" in the head....

***2cvbloke*** · 08-04-2007

Seeing how the listing finally got cancelled (new users are so easy to buy from with offers!!!) here's the number:

Ebay

320099636517

But once the 90 days are up, it'll be gone so I'll nab the pics now...

Here's the Betamax lot (Max. 7 pics allowed per post....

):

***2cvbloke*** · 08-04-2007

And, not as vitally important but I'll include them as it's all one big lot, the other stuff:

**Channel Hopper** · 09-04-2007

Originally Posted by 2cvbloke

Seeing how the listing finally got cancelled (new users are so easy to buy from with offers!!!) here's the number:

Ebay 320099636517

But once the 90 days are up, it'll be gone so I'll nab the pics now...

Here's the Betamax lot (Max. 7 pics allowed per post.... ):

Hmmm. sold all those a while ago, except the camera and tripod.
Still in the garage somewhere along with a lot of cine projection stuff and a Magnon SD-817M (Magsound - with sound), but I think it was in a suitcase that ended up under the car.

Likvid · 09-04-2007

And now i own a Sony Blu-ray player i imported from USA.

Very fine piece of machine.

**Channel Hopper** · 10-04-2007

Originally Posted by Likvid

And now i own a Sony Blu-ray player i imported from USA.

Very fine piece of machine.

I didn't know they played magnetic tape ?

***2cvbloke*** · 10-04-2007

Originally Posted by Likvid

And now i own a Sony Blu-ray player i imported from USA.

Very fine piece of machine.

If it's not Betamax, it ain't coming in...

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What was wrong with the Betamax format? Retro technology support for Valve Radios, Betamax, Philips 2020, Crystal sets, ZX Spectum, vinyl versus CD, in fact anything not current.

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