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Early Sony Betas

SL-6300 (May 1975)

The original standalone Beta, released in spring 1975 in Japan. No built in tuner or timer, but it could be hooked up to one of the TT series of Umatic timers. The VCR did not output a normal RF signal, and Sony actually offered to install an input jack for their older Trinitrons which only had antenna connectors. This and many other early Beta machines had mechanical pause - the pause switch was linked to the pinch roller and would blank the picture when engaged. Unconfirmed variant: SL-6301


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LV-1801 (May 1975)

The introductory Japanese combination unit, comprised of a standalone SL-6300 built into an upright cabinet with a Trinitron TV set. Deck apparently recorded from the TV's tuner.

SL-7300 (July 1975)

First standalone Beta with a built in tuner, the VCR still needed an external timer to properly timeshift. Cost 298,000 yen when it was released in Japan in early 1976 and appeared in the catalog alongside the LV-1801, and was essentially the original SL-6300 with a built in tuner.


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LV-1901 (November 1975)

Original American console Betamax, released in November 1975 at an introductory price of 2,295 dollars. The VCR portion was referred to as the SL-6200, and the TT-100 Umatic tuner and timer was built in. The SL-6200 was not sold separately from the console, but over time a number of decks migrated out of their original enclosures. Newspaper ads called Betamax "the play it again Sony," which is a little funny because Sony was primarily known for other electronics that would play things for you again. By early 1977, prices for the LV-1901 dipped below two thousand dollars. (Oklahoma Retailer)


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SL-7200 (Early 1976)

American version of the Japanese SL-7300 but without video input or audio dubbing, suggest retail price of $1,300. Built in tuner, but still required the use of an external timer. The industrial variant of this machine, the SLO-260, retained the features of the SL-7300. Perhaps as a result of Sony only adding the required jack to the SL-6200 onto their own TVs in Japan, one of the talking points of the ad for the SL-7200 was that it could be hooked up to any television (but, of course, they still want you to use a Sony).


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SL-7200A (1976)

A slight revision of the SL-7200 that included audio, video, and microphone inputs.

SL-7100 (October 1976)

A cost-reduced and easier to use version of the SL-7300 for Japan. Came with numbered stickers outlining simple recording process and additional text on the machine itself.


 
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SL-8100 (Spring 1977)

The first two speed Betamax, introducing the Beta II (then called X2) speed. Sony affixed numbered stickers on some early Japanese Betas outlining how to record a program - in this case turn it on (1), tune it in (2), and hit record (3). Won a Good Design Award.



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SL-8300 (1977)

Very similar to the SL-8100, but with a built in digital timer but no composite video input.


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SL-8200 (Fall 1977)

The American version of the SL-8100, the first American two speed Beta which was occasionally referred to as the "second generation" Betamax. The SL-8200 cost $1,300 at release, sometimes with a (still external) timer included, but eventually dropped to $1,095 after Zenith cut the price of their version of the SL-8200 (which Sony was building for them) from 1,300 to $995. The AG-120 autochanger could swap a second cassette into an SL-8200 for a maximum of four hours of record or playback.




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SL-8500 (October 1977)

Beta II only deck for Japan with a built in tuner and timer and remote pause.



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SL-8600 (Spring 1978)

The first American Beta with a built in tuner and timer. It recorded and played back only in Beta II based on the Japanese SL-8500. Included the wired RM-80 remote pause but the timer was one event only. The L750 tape was introduced in Spring 1978 alongside the SL-8600, offering up to three hours on Beta's X2 speed. The new thinner tape was found to occasionally cause problems in existing Beta decks, and a warning was added to the new cassettes and in some publications. This was supposed to be a "cheaper" Beta, using a single motor to drive the capstan and head drum and without Beta I support at all, but this decision made some early Beta owners feel alienated. Sony would support playback of old Beta I recordings on nearly all of their later models, even into the 90s.


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SL-8000 (1978)

Sony's first PAL-format Beta for Europe. In PAL and SECAM territories Beta only really ever had one speed, which was similar in recording time to NTSC Beta II. Two day, one event timer.


Selezione Radio, October 1978

SL-3100 (Late 1978)

First consumer-focused portable Beta. Hooked up to the TT-3000 tuner/timer module for home usage. Recorded and played Beta II only. The recorder weighed just under 19 pounds and had audio dubbing, pause, and built in RF output so it could output to a TV without the companion timer. The SL-3100 and its international versions were also compatible with the RM-80 remote pause control.

SL-3000 (Early 1979)

American version of the SL-3100, possibly released at the very end of 1978, more likely early 1979. Originally paired with the HVC-1000 camera and TT-3000 tuner/timer.


Popular Mechanics, Oct. 1978                                                                           Popular Science, Nov. 1978

TT-3000

SL-J7 (March 1979)

First linear stereo Beta, also included BNR (Beta Noise Reduction) and BetaScan. Recorded and played back only Beta I and II, possibly because the quality of linear stereo recordings dropped with tape speed. Included a dedicated 3x playback button, a slider for slow motion, audio dub, switches to control stereo recording and playback, a 14 pin "K" camera connector, and wired full function remote control. This chassis, the following J series toploaders, and the international SL-C5, SL-C7, SL-T7, SL-T9, SL-80x0, and SL-5x00 series VCRs all used what Sony called the "C" chassis and used similar mechanisms.

 
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SL-J5 (June 1979)

Cheaper version of the SL-J7 that did not have linear stereo.

SL-8080 (1979)

Updated version of the SL-8000, also for Europe. Included remote pause and cue controls.




Sony 1980 German catalog

SL-5400 (Late 1979)

First American Beta to record and play in Beta III and have BetaScan picture search, something Sony claimed VHS could never do (The Mitsubishi HS-300, the first VHS with picture search, was released later that year), and could record one event up to three days away. Also recorded Beta II and played Beta I and II. By late 1980 the price had dropped to 850 or even just under 800 dollars. (Maine Times, Antioch News)
NASA used one of these decks with an AVC-1400 to visualize propeller flow in the early 80s. (NASA Technical Reports Server)


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SL-3000E (Early 1980)

European version of the SL-3100/SL-3000. Like the other SL-3100 based machines it continued to be made and sold for a few years until the next portable Beta from Sony, the SL-F1, was released.


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SL-5600 (Early 1980)

Improved version of the SL-5400. Retained the basic case design from the SL-5400 with a 14 day, four event programmable timer, Sony's first American programmable Beta (The Toshiba V-5420 previously offered a multi-event programmable Beta deck in Beta II only.) Included the RM-56W wired remote that had buttons for fast play, pause, and Betascan. The capstan motor in this machine and the similar SL-5400 (and other related machines) also drives the tape threading ring, and by the mid 1980s parts of these mechanisms were starting to wear out after heavy use. (Video Magazine)


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SL-C7 (Spring 1980)

International version of the SL-J7 featuring variable slow motion slider, BetaScan, 14 day, four program timer, and wireless remote.
The SL-C9 was sold in (at least) the following regional variants:
SL-C7E (Europe), SL-C7EC (Swiss/Austria), SL-C7EI, SL-C7F (France), SL-C7SA (South Africa), SL-C7UB (United Kingdom), SL-C7ME (Middle East), SL-C7MER


Sony 1980 German catalog

SL-C5 (Spring 1980)

International soft-touch Beta based on the Japanese J series in styling. Available in (at least) these regional variants: SL-C5AS (Australia), SL-C5CH, SL-C5E (Europe), SL-C5EC (Swiss/Austria), SL-C5EI, SL-C5SA (South Africa), SL-C5UB (United Kingdom)

SL-J1 (March 1980)

This stripped down Beta was the last Japanese "piano key" style Betamax and used the design of the American SL-5400, SL-5600, and SL-5800. This was the first deck with BetaScan as well as the new Beta III speed. It also recorded and played back Beta II. The wired remote control included remote pause and also BetaScan buttons for both directions.

SL-J9 (July 1980)

The SL-J9 was the last Japanese toploader home deck from Sony. It included linear stereo like the SL-J7 and variable speed BetaScan via a slider on the remote. The wired remote control also included two stereo headphone outputs with audio output selectors and volume sliders. This was the first three-head VCR for either major format and allowed for excellent freeze frame and other trick-play effects.

SL-5800 (Late 1980)

Sometimes called the "Time Commander," the SL-5800 featured variable speed BetaScan and could be fitted with a AG-300 BetaStack cassette changer (pictured). Based internally on the SL-J9 although without linear stereo, it featured remote control BetaScan with a slider control on the remote to vary the speed of scanning.


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SL-T7 (Late 1980 - Early 1981)

International multi-format version of the SL-J7 that will record and play PAL and SECAM and also play NTSC 4.43 (NTSC crammed into a roughly-PAL compatible form). Full function remote and tuner more similar to the SL-C5 than the SL-J7. Sold in SL-T7ME (Middle East) and SL-T7MER variants.


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SL-T9 (Late 1981)

International multi-format Beta that can record in PAL and SECAM and also play back NTSC 4.43. Similar to the SL-T7 but with a long-play mode similar to NTSC-only VCR's Beta III speed (most PAL format Betamax VCRs recorded in one speed similar to NTSC Beta II only). Sold in SL-T9, SL-T9ME (Middle East), and SL-T9MER variants.

Service manual (SL-T9MER)

SL-5400MD (1982)

Combination NTSC and PAL-M recorder and player sold in Brazil based off the older American SL-5400.

Beginning in 1981, Sony transitioned most of their lineup to front-loading mechanisms, which can be found on the Sony frontloader Betas page.