VIDEO 101

Video Recording

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Lesson Outline
Introduction
Image Quality
Composite/Component
Digital/Analog
Generation Loss
VHS
8mm
Betamax
DV
3/4 inch
Betacam




Video Recording > Formats > Betacam

Betacam:

Image quality: very good

Generation loss: Yes. But you can go 4-5 generations before it looks too bad.

Recording method: Component

Digital or Analog: Analog

Other incarnations: Betacam SP

Uses: Betacam (Often called simply "Beta") is still the most popular format in professional field production. Most of what you watch on Dateline, 60 Minutes, the evening news etc is shot on Beta. It’s been around since the 1980s, everyone has it; and stations are not in a big hurry to retire these $50,000 camcorders. That’s right, they cost $50,000 and more. Even the cheapest Beta camcorders are $15,000.

Again, Betacam uses a completely different method of recording than it’s low-quality cousin Betamax. Tapes recorded on a Betamax VCR can NOT be played back on and Betacam VCR (and vice versa).

It’s true that DVCam and DVPro camcorders can be equal to (or superior to) Betacam camcorders. At some point these digital formats will cause the retirement of Betacam. And pf you shoot Betacam, you can ship that tape to any production company or TV station in the U.S. and they can play it. Not so with the DV formats because not all stations have VCRs that play the new DV formats.


If somebody says "hand me the beta tape" they mean Betcam NOT Betamax. While Betamax is dead, Betacam is still the #1 format for field production.

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Michael Trinklein