Blast from the past - the portable VCR

In the 1970s there was an amazing invention that appeared on the scene - the VCR. Then, even more amazing, it became portable and battery operated. Then, even more amazing, you could sling the VCR (in its carrying case) plus its battery (total weight - about 15 pounds) over your shoulder and attach a video camera. Now you had a system that could replace your 8 mm movie camera. And it only cost a couple thousand dollars!

Here’s an article from the period:

Portable VCR’s (Nov, 1979)

Here is one prediction that turned out to be true:

Tape versus film: Akai America calls its lightweight camera and portable VCR the ActiVideo system. “We strongly believe that the coming decade will see video emerge as the principal format for home movies,” says Jerry Astor, Akai director of video marketing.

Here’s what the technology has evolved into:

[See previous BFTP]