Camcorders

The camera that recorded onto tape in your hand. The Portapak that put video in the hands of artists and activists, the Betamovie, the Handycam, Video8 and Hi8, Nam June Paik, and the moment amateur footage started ending up on the news.

Part of Cameras

57 moments in this segment.

1. 1967-06-01 - The Portapak (1967) (1967) (1 of 3). The Portapak (1967), the camera itself, 1967. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
2. 1967-06-01 - The Portapak (1967) (1967) (2 of 3). The Portapak (1967), the camera itself, 1967. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
3. 1967-06-01 - The Portapak (1967) (1967) (3 of 3). The Portapak (1967), the camera itself, 1967. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
4. 1973-01-01 - Videofreex, Lanesville NY 1973. Videofreex collective (1973). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
5. 1976 - Electronic News Gathering - ENG in 1976. ENG broadcast news camera (1974). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
6. 1979 - JVC Vidstar Camera 1979 TV commercial. Camcorder 1980s VHS commercial (1984). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
7. 1984-01-01 - 1984 U.S. Army Electronic News Gathering / EFP Systems. ENG/EFP US Army 1984 (1984). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
8. 1984-01-01 - 1984 Panasonic Video Camera System 'By Itself' TV Commercial. Panasonic camcorder 1984 ad (1984). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
9. 1985-01-01 - 1985 Sony Demo: GCS-1 BetaMovie Camera & GCS-50 Editor. Sony Betamovie demo 1985 (1985). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
10. 1985-01-01 - Sony Video8 Handycam Commercial (1985). Sony Video8 Handycam ad (1985). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
11. 1985-01-01 - Sony Handycam Original Commercial 1985. Sony Handycam first ad (1985). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
12. 1985-01-01 - Sony Handicam 8mm Video Commercial - 1985!. Sony Handycam Video8 (1985). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
13. 1985-12-01 - 1985 Sony Handycam 'Bigger Isn't Better' Christmas TV Commercial. Sony Handycam Christmas ad (1985). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
14. 1986-01-01 - Sony Video8 Handycam - 1986 Australian TV Commercial. Sony Video8 Handycam ad AU (1986). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
15. 1987-01-01 - Panasonic VHS Camcorder 'Wedding' Commercial (1987). Panasonic camcorder 1987 ad (1987). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
16. 1989-06-01 - The Handycam (1989) (3 of 4). The Handycam, the camera itself, 1989. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
17. 1990-01-01 - Panasonic Video Camera 1990 Commercial. Panasonic camcorder 1990 ad (1990). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
18. 2000-01-01 - Father of Video Art: Nam June Paik (full interview, c.2000). Nam June Paik interview (2000). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
19. 2000 - Guerilla TV - Episode 1. Guerrilla TV episode (1972). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
20. 2009 - The Portapak (1967). The Portapak, the camera itself, 1967. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1967; this photograph was taken in 2009.
21. 2009-10-06 - Sony 1974 VO-3800 U-matic Portapak Intro. Sony U-matic Portapak 1974 (1974). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
22. 2011 - A VHS camcorder (1985). A VHS camcorder, the camera itself, 1985. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1985; this photograph was taken in 2011.
23. 2012-02-25 - 1967 Sony VCK-2400ACE B&W Camera on Remote. Sony 1967 B&W portable camera (1967). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
24. 2013-05-08 - Nam June Paik: Conservation of Untitled. Nam June Paik video art (1970). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
25. 2013 - A VHS-C camcorder (1985) (4 of 4). A VHS-C camcorder, the camera itself, 1985. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1985; this photograph was taken in 2013.
26. 2013 - The Handycam (1989) (1 of 4). The Handycam, the camera itself, 1989. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1989; this photograph was taken in 2013.
27. 2013 - A VHS-C camcorder (1985) (1 of 4). A VHS-C camcorder, the camera itself, 1985. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1985; this photograph was taken in 2013.
28. 2013 - A VHS-C camcorder (1985) (2 of 4). A VHS-C camcorder, the camera itself, 1985. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1985; this photograph was taken in 2013.
29. 2016-03-10 - Videofreex: The 'Pioneers' of Citizen Journalism. Rodney King video 1991 camcorder witness (1991). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
30. 2016 - The Handycam (1989) (2 of 4). The Handycam, the camera itself, 1989. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1989; this photograph was taken in 2016.
31. 2016-10-25 - Sony's Bizarre Ruvi Camcorder. Sony Ruvi camcorder (1998). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
32. 2017-06-07 - Video8 - Sony's forgotten ambitions & the crazy Walkman Compo. Hi8 camcorder (1989). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
33. 2018 - The Betamovie camcorder (1983). The Betamovie camcorder, the camera itself, 1983. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1983; this photograph was taken in 2018.
34. 2018 - The Betamovie camcorder (1983) (1983) (3 of 4). The Betamovie camcorder (1983), the camera itself, 1983. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1983; this photograph was taken in 2018.
35. 2018-07-03 - Betamovie: Sony's Terrible (But Ingenious) Camcorder. Sony Betamovie BMC-100 camcorder 1983 (1983). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
36. 2018-08-20 - Nam June Paik: The Father of Video Art. Nam June Paik video art (1965). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
37. 2019-01-03 - Sony Digital8 Handycam DCR-TRV520 (2000). Sony Digital8 DCR-TRV520 2000 (2000). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
38. 2019-03-29 - How Was Video Invented?. Invention of video (1956). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
39. 2019 - The Handycam (1989) (4 of 4). The Handycam, the camera itself, 1989. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1989; this photograph was taken in 2019.
40. 2019-10-07 - Sony Betamovie BMC-110: Test Footage. Sony Betamovie test footage (1983). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
41. 2019-12-20 - 5 Times Artist Nam June Paik Predicted the Future. Nam June Paik video art (1965). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
42. 2020-03-29 - Sony Portapak: A Brief History. Sony Portapak history (1967). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
43. 2020-03-29 - The Era of Portability (Sony Portapak). Sony Portapak portability (1967). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
44. 2020-08-04 - Preserving Guerrilla Television. Guerrilla television (1971). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
45. 2021-05-07 - Nam June Paik: Electronic Superhighway. Nam June Paik video art (1995). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
46. 2021-06-03 - Before Beta: Sony's 1969 Camcorder. Sony 1969 'camcorder' (1969). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
47. 2021-10-03 - The Portable Revolution: The 1970s Guerrilla Television Movement. Guerrilla TV movement (1970). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
48. 2022-01-25 - 1984 Sony Betamovie BMC-220. Sony Betamovie BMC-220 (1984). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
49. 2022 - The Betamovie camcorder (1983) (1983) (4 of 4). The Betamovie camcorder (1983), the camera itself, 1983. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1983; this photograph was taken in 2022.
50. 2022 - The Betamovie camcorder (1983) (1983) (2 of 4). The Betamovie camcorder (1983), the camera itself, 1983. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1983; this photograph was taken in 2022.
51. 2022-09-27 - From Portapak to Handycam: how portable video has empowered artists, activists and journalists. Sony Portapak 1967 (1967). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
52. 2023-03-15 - Sony DCR-PC5: Impossibly Small for 2000. Sony DCR-PC5 MiniDV 2000 (2000). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
53. 2023-07-19 - World's First Consumer Camcorder: The 1983 Sony BMC-110 Betamovie. Sony Betamovie BMC-110 (1983). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
54. 2024-10-22 - Sony 3CCD VX1000 (1995 Handycam, DV). Sony DCR-VX1000 MiniDV (1995). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.
55. 2025 - A VHS-C camcorder (1985) (3 of 4). A VHS-C camcorder, the camera itself, 1985. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1985; this photograph was taken in 2025.
56. 2025 - The Betamovie camcorder (1983) (1983) (1 of 4). The Betamovie camcorder (1983), the camera itself, 1983. Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand. The subject dates from 1983; this photograph was taken in 2025.
57. 2026-03-18 - Testing the First Digital8 Camcorder: Sony DCR-TRV110 (1999). Sony DCR-TRV110 Digital8 1999 (1999). Magnetic tape and the camcorder put a moving-image camera in the home, the newsroom, and the bystander’s hand.