Betamax web sites
Absolute Beta - A source for Beta decks and accessories
Beta Info guide - A great resource for information on all sorts of Betamax decks
LabGuy's World - A great page about all sorts of obsolete video technologies
Welcome to my Betamax page! I have not been collecting Beta stuff too long, but I'm beginning to get a somewhat-good collection of stuff together. I am relatively-new to the Beta world, but am finding so far that it's pretty cool.
This is my first Beta deck, a Sony SLO-323 which I bought at a hamfest for $10. The SLO-323 is an industrial-strength unit dating from 1980. Like most early industrial Betas, the SLO-323 can record and playback tapes made at the ßI speed only, meaning that it's all but useless for viewing commercially-made tapes (as well as the vast majority of home recordings!) made at the ßII and ßIII speeds, but it makes for good self-recordings. An improvement on the earlier SLO-320, the SLO-323 fixed the recording problems of it's predecessor, and added linear stereo sound (it's not hifi, but it should do). It appears to be working quite well, and makes pretty good recordings (though it's choice of inputs is rather limited, since the VHF IN jack acts as nothing more than a pass-through, and it uses BNC jacks for video input). I've done some audio-only recordings from my stereo system, but it requires that video be fed in anyways, making for a rather crude setup (I used a VHS camcorder with the lens cap on; what a downgrade!).
(picture probably coming later)
This is my second Beta deck, a Zenith Video Director model VR-9000W. I got it in exchange for examining some tapes of former owner and late fashion designer Bill Blass' fashion shows from the mid-late '80s. Unlike the Sony SLO-323, this Zenith is a consumer deck, and can both record and play back tapes made at the ßII and ßIII speeds (in fact, there are no provisions for recording or playing back tapes made at the ßI speed, which makes it a good complement to the SLO-323!). Unfortunately, the unit's functional capacity seems to be a bit limited at the moment. Most of it's functions are rather noisy, and it's rewind function doesn't work well. This thing probably needs new parts in the drive mechanism, as well as a thorough lubrication and cleaning. More later!
(picture probably coming later)
This is my third Beta deck, a Sony SL-5400. This deck once belonged to my great-uncle, and is in excellent condition (was barely ever used, and still has it's original L-250 blank tape!). The OEM version of the above Zenith VR-9000W, this unit has similar problems; it too doesn't respond to a tape being inserted into it. I hope to fix it's and the Zenith's problems someday, but I don't have high hopes (the problems likely stem from old brittle plastic parts). I'm hoping to find a newer front-loading unit one of these days, but haven't been having any luck.
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