HDCAM (also known as D-11) was a professional high-definition digital video cassette format, introduced by Sony in 1997. No other tape-based HD broadcast format was around at the time, and it quickly became clear that one was needed for high-definition television to succeed.
Like other Betacam-related formats, HDCAM cassettes were available in large and small sizes with the same tape lengths as Digital Betacam (up to 40 minutes for S and 124 minutes for L tapes). Sony HDCAM tapes were black with an orange lid. HDCAM had a bit rate of 144 Mbps, which was a 50% increase over Digital Betacam.
Its main competitor was Panasonic’s DVCPRO HD that uses a similar compression scheme.
HDCAM SR (Superior Resolution) was introduced in 2003 and used higher particle density tape allowing an increased bit rate (a choice or 440 or 880 Mbps).
In 2016, Sony announced that it was ceasing production of its remaining ½-inch video tape recorders and players, including those for the HDCAM and HDCAM SR formats.
Figures
Dimensions (S-size): 15.6 cm × 9.6 cm × 2.5 cm
Dimensions (L-size): 25.4 cm × 14.5 cm × 2.5 cm