The Portapak system consists of a handheld video camera with a separate reel-to-reel video recorder in a portable pack that could be carried over the shoulder. The style was first released by Sony in 1967 and was an important development in camera technology, enabling a new level of portability with both the camera and recorder battery-powered and self-contained. It enabled videos to be captured and played back more quickly while also cutting down on the cost, which led to the birth of video art, guerrilla television and activism. In the 1970s, the Portapak was popular with video artists and alternative media collectives. In Australia, Open Channel and the Paddington Video Access Centre used Portapaks to create alternative broadcast channels, paving the way for community television.
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16 February 2031
ACMI: Gallery 1
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The Story of the Moving Image → Moving Minds → MM-05. Camera Tech → MM-05-C01