CV-2000

CV-2000 was one of the world's first home video tape recorders, introduced by Sony in August, 1965.cite web |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4255160.html |title=The 10 Video Formats HD DVD Will Meet in Heaven |accessdate=2008-03-25 |last=Derene |first=Glenn |date=2008-03-20 |publisher=Popular Mechanics |language=English ] The 'CV' in the model name stood for 'Consumer Video', and was Sony's domestic video format throughout the 1960s.cite web |url=http://www.labguysworld.com/Sony_CV-2000D.htm |title=Sony CV-2000D First Consumer Videocorder |accessdate=2008-03-27 |date=2005-01-09 |publisher=LabGuy's World ]

The CV-2000 was developed by Sony engineer Nobutoshi Kihara. On its release, each machine cost US$695. It used half-inch wide videotape in an open-reel format, meaning the tape had to be manually threaded around the video head drum. The CV-2000 was one tenth the weight and price of other video recording products of its era.cite web |url=http://www.eetimes.com/special/special_issues/millennium/companies/sony.html |title=Sony: electronics ordered 'to go' |accessdate=2008-03-25 |last=Hara |first=Yoshiko |publisher=EETimes |language=English ] It recorded television programs in black and white using the skip field process, which produced a maximum 200 lines resolution. The tape moved at a speed of 7.5 inches per second (19cm/sec).cite web |url=http://www.retrothing.com/2005/11/the_sony_cv2000.html |title=The Sony CV-2000 Reel-to-Reel Video Recorder |accessdate=2008-03-27 |year=2005 |month=November |publisher=Retro Thing ] Each reel of tape cost US$40, and could hold one hour of video. Although CV-2000 was aimed at the home market, it was mainly used in business and educational institutions.

Ten models were developed in the CV series: CV-2000, TCV-2010, TCV-2020, CV-2100, TCV-2110, TCV-2120, CV-2200, DV-2400, CV-2600 and CV-5100. Sony also sold an optional 'Video Camera Ensemble', known as the VCK-2000. This add-on kit contained a separate video camera, a microphone, and a tripod.

The CV video recorders fell into disuse with the arrival of color videocassette formats in the early 1970s.

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