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camcorder - technical definition
(video CAMera reCORDER) A combination video camera and videocassette recorder in one unit. Sony introduced the first camcorder in 1983 with its Betamovie. It recorded directly onto Sony half-inch Betamax videotape cassettes, but did not play back. Subsequently, camcorders were made to play back, and today, camcorders record and play back using videotape cassettes or DVDs (DVD-R or DVD-RAM).
The First Camcorder
In 1983, Sony's Betamovie was the first device to combine camera and recorder in one unit. (Image courtesy of DrT, www.drt3d.com)
Cam, But No Corder
This RCA video camera from 1939 used the all-electronic Iconoscope picture tube, but did not even have a viewfinder. That came later. Videotape recording would not come until 1956. (Image courtesy of Early Television Foundation, www.earlytelevision.org)
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