One of the most unusual (and unique) SuperBetahi-fI video recorders ever made. From a styling perspective alone it is a standout. But the real beauty of this unit is under the hood. Sony improved the way the SL-HF2100 records a picture while still making it backward compatible to all Betas before it. Called the Opt-4 system, it employs dual sets of compound video heads of different sizes on the rotating disk. This is done so they will trace one frame at a time and create a clear picture during pause and step. This type dual heads are special and only found in high end Betas. But for the SL-HF2100 Sony changed the gap engineering and made the front part of the head larger and used its gap to record all three speeds. During playback the head are switched. The larger ones play s and and the smaller, secondary ones are optimized for playing and special effects. This creative switching method insures that a large signal is always being recorded on the tape. The result is a clean solid magnetic footprint that reproduces a picture of stunning crispness and purity. Combine with this are the added flying erase heads that demagnetize the tape directly in front of the recording heads. This prepares the tape media (recording area) just prior to the recording event. The result is edits that are clean with glitch-free transitions. Still pause and slow-motion playback pictures are clear and rock steady. And Sony incorporated some of its digital expertise into this model too. A five-stage digital signal processor helps clean, filter and separate the video signal before it goes to those heads for a near perfect, precise picture. It seems that every area was examined, improved and made better. The unique front drop down panel incorporates two touch sensitive glass plates illuminated by soft amber backlighting. These permit control of most of the operations. The touch panels have a graphic layout of the buttons and arrows printed on the special glass that senses the slightest pressure of a finger. There are no buttons or knobs on the front of the SL-HF2100. The front-facing fluorescent clock display creates numbers and letters from graphic dots with an impressively subdued yellow-orange glow. It shows the time as well as spells out instructions, timer functions, recording information, elapsed time and other information, some of it done in marquee style. An interesting status wheel (actually a set of small bars that radiate outwardly in a circle) flash to indicate tape movement and tells you the direction and speed. Because the flip down panel is translucent the clock display and status wheel shine through it when it is placed in the upright position. So do several LED indicators that show if a tape is inside, Betahi-fi is on, etc. The Hi-Band s mode for the SL-HF2100 is a impressive too, 6.0 MHz luminance expansion for sharper images. This pushes the quality envelope, so you want to use your very best quality tape when recording in s for the optimum results and to get the maximum benefit of this Betas recording capability. SuperBeta and look almost as good as BIs but if you have a big screen TV you'll want to knock you eyes out with Super Hi-Band recordings. The remote is very different, using a similar touch screen technology it takes some getting used to. The only way to make the clock and timer settings is with this special remote, but other Sony Beta remotes can control the rest of the units functions. For ease of operation and to improve communication I include the Sony RMT-125 remote with your purchase. For more on the remotes click here. Now for the nuts and bolts. Gold plated S-video inputs, outputs and phono connectors insure that connections to and from this machine are positive and clean with little signal loss. You can program 8 programs to record over a one year period, you also have the added convenience of "Quick Timer" incremental recording, control-S and control-L terminals. Index marking and Synchro-edit for making better copies and playing PCM recordings. Automatic video heads cleaner (the only Beta to ever have one). Unique digital auto-tracking (can be over ridden). Bi-directional infrared communication between the remote and the machine allows commands to be issued to the SL-H2100 and then confirmed back to the remote and vice versa. The SL-HF2100 is unique and outstanding. 1 fine beta! Links to more information is available from the listing of features below.

• Refurbished product that meets or exceeds factory specifications
• SuperBeta and standard Beta speeds and recording and playback
• SuperHi-Band Beta 6.0 MHz s and standard Beta playback
• Betahi-fi stereo and monaural audio recording and playback
• Input and output connectors for the audio/video LINE IN and OUT
• S-video inputs and outputs for improved line quality
• Opt-4 recording system with two dual azimuth heads for greater picture clarity
• Five stage digital processing for a cleaner video
• Flying-erase heads for seamless edits
• Audio dub for inserting your separate sound track
• Status wheel for tape rotation information
• Touch panels for VCR operation with LED soft glow Illumination
• Dot matrix digital fluorescent display
• Linear time readout showing hours, minutes and seconds
• Programmable timer with eight events over one month
• Cable compatible with reception for 1-125, A-8 to W+84 channels
• RF input for VHF, UHF and cable connection
• RF output selectable for VHF channel 3 or 4
• Timer Indictor with programming, function and operation stages
• Time remaining display with search function
• Tape return with automatic playback
• Tape stabilization system for smoother tape travel
• Stereo broadcast multichannel tuning with SAP reception
• Quick Timer recording in 30 minutes segments up to five hours
• Time search for tape location by hours and minutes
• Control-S in and out for centralized IR control
• Control-L 5-pin DIN interface for adding accessories
• Betascan high-speed viewing in forward and reverse during playback
• UltraSkipscan high-speed viewing during rewind and fast forward
• Micro-timing phase (µTP) editing circuitry for clean edit points
• Step-motion with single, 1/5 and 1/10 frames per second
• Remote control (included) with advanced touch screen interface
• Commander mode selector: VTR code 1, 2 or 3 for remote and VCR
• Assemble and insert editing for professional video/audio composing
• Auto-tracking control for locating the tracking center
• Tape stabilization system with impedance wheel
• BNR noise reduction to reduce noise in the monaural sound track
• PCM switch for making better copies and playing PCM recordings
• SuperBeta indicator shows a recording is being made in SuperBeta
• Betahi-fi indicator shows a recording is in Betahi-fi stereo
• Synchro-editing for controlling a second recorder
• Editing indicator verifies that the VCR is operating in the edit mode
• Sharpness control picture adjustment
• Video heads cleaner controlled sequencing
• Index functions: mark, search and erase
• SuperBeta on/off switch for playing and making standard Beta recordings
• Automatic panel opening if close prior to a requested eject function
• Audible beep touch panel function verification (can be turned off)
• DVD friendly performance offers extra control over the playback
• Power failure back up to protect timer settings up to one hour
• Unswitched AC Outlet for connecting another device up to 200 Watts
• Auto functions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20 and 21
• Corrections and upgrades: modules 3, 4, 5 and 9 apply
• Operation and protection features are standard
• Original owner's manual with correction sheet and quick reference guide
• Highlighted wording in this features list
• 711chassis design group not indicated

To open a page showing the rear panel of this SL-HF2100 click here.

  To see a vintage magazine advertisement click here.
  To see a national sales distribution map click here.
  To see a popularity graph by model click here.
The SL-HF2100 is the only Betamax to come with a touch screen remote that lights up. This compliments its golden glow lighted drop-down touch-controlled front panel door. This and the remote combination was unique, but just as interesting is that the remote and VCR communicate with each other. And they both announced this collaboration with an audible beeping confirmation signal. This was to indicate that their conversation was successful. It works like this. When setting the clock using the RMT-2100A (A for American) remote, which is the only way I know of doing it, you would enter the year, month, date and time using the remotes touch screen. Once programmed into the remote you would press send and the VCR sets its clock, beeps and then sends back a signal to the remote which also beeps. This confirms that the process was successful. This method is also used for setting timer recording dates and times. There is a minor problem, however. The VCRs clock only accepts the years between 1992 and 2007. Why? I don't know exactly. Maybe Sony thought all of these VCRs would be gone by 2007 (after fifteen years). Well, they ever wrong. So how come the SL-HF1000 and the EDV-9500 can go all the way up to the year 2099? Different programming method. Anyway, to set the date and time for the right day of the week (for the current year) requires tricking the clock. This is done by entering a year where the days match the year you are currently in. I have a chart that explains how to do this. To see it click here. This method works fine as long as you stay within the current year, but it will not work when recording from one year into the next. The clock won't change over either. You will have to redo everything after January one and fool it again. Thanks Sony.
Question: Could this be a 15th anniversary Betamax? On their Website key in: Sony > support > manuals and it is identified as a 15th anniversary Betamax but it didn't make to the states until 1991. Fifteen would be at 1990 (1975 - 1990 = 15). Maybe in Japan it was 1990. Seems it was and once it was discovered there was a write-in campaign to get it in the USA. It was the SL-2100 in Japan and had linear stereo as well as Betahi-fi. Runs on 100 volts, picture is the same NTSC.

The SL-HF2100 has a little secret. Its operating instructions manual had a hard time keeping the specifics in focus. I say this because they reprinted the 130 instruction booklet at least four times that I know of. How do I know this? Because with each reprint the part number changed. For starters in the service manual the original part number is 3-752-309-21. This was accurate at the time the manual was printed. When changes are made that affect a particular model Sony sends out a bulletin(s) to alert service people so they can keep their manuals current. Circuit changes are sometimes made in mid-production so these can be very important. About that part number (which is on the front of each booklet). So the original number was just the first printing of the instruction manual. But this handsome instruction manual had a few printing errors and some bogus information in it. So did the handy 20 page remote reference guide. To counteract the errors in the main manual Sony also included a correction sheet in the materials packet so owners could make changes and upgrade this manual. But the errors were significant. So Sony reprinted the manual over again because the VCR continued to sell well. The new version was included with the next run of VCRs. To keep track of these improvements Sony added a number to the original so it became 3-752-309-21(1). It too, is right there on the front of the booklets. A bulletin was generated used to upgrade the part number for the service manuals. But the new printing had errors in it. What? Yep important enough to do it over and create a new number. So along came versions 22(1) and then later 23(1). By the third edition it was pretty close to accurate. Each update had its own correction sheet but it WAS getting shorter even as they were discovering new errors. The last printing came near the end of the models production. The numbers on the reference guide changed too as it was also being updated along the way. Now for something that will blow your mind. Right out in front where you can't miss it is a "hidden in plain sight" error that appeared in every edition. On page 89 in big blue letters at the top is the line: "To Cancel Timer Settting in the Timer Recording Standby Mode." This is exactly how the line is printed, with three t's in the word Setting and no one caught it, even after three reprints. But hey, it does tells us that this VCR sold well enough to make four editions necessary in order to meet the demand. The model SL-HF2100 was a fine specimen of how forward thinking and unique Betamax could be. And the operation booklet was a beautifully printed piece that was every bit as nice as the VCR. But there was just something about that manual that haunted Sony. To see open a panel that shows this episode click here.

Another
This Beta is one of only five USA models from Sony that featured S-Video inputs and outputs. The reason for this upgrade is they are very high-end units that provide the very best picture performance that Betamax can provide. Why is S-Video so special and reserved for only the finest of Betas? Here is the lowdown. To store information on magnetic media like video tape the electrical impulses must be converted to something that can excite microscopic iron particles (or another suitable alloy) and cause them to hold a negative or positive polarity position. In the process of converting the video signal (also known as the USA NTSC composite standard) to analog energy that the tape can hold on to the raw incoming information (active) has to be changed. Converted into something that can be relayed by the video heads in the form of magnetic pluses or minuses. To playback a recording (passive) the conversion process is reversed. Here are three ways video can be inputted into the VCR for processing. One is using the RF In (or tuner), second is the composite video (RCA connector usually in the back using a yellow shielded cable) and third is S-Video (also usually in the back requiring a cable having a 4-pin DIN plug). Audio is not going to be covered in detail here since we are mainly concerned with the picture quality. The least desirable way feed in the video signal in is through the tuner. This would come in on a VHF or UHF channel or TV cable. To record this the VCR has to internally change the selected TV channel RF into a composite signal. Next it must divide that signal into two electrical elements. These are the luminance designed as the Y element (which is the basic black and white signal responsible for brightness and detail) and the chrominance designated as the C element (which is the color information added to the luminance). Because these are two separate types of signals combined they must be handled differently when recorded. If the video is in black and white only the VCR will make a decision to turn off the C circuit and only record or play the Y. Because the tuner is involved in this method there is the possibility that line noise from a weak input or the electronics can be a little off or some outside source finding its way into the recording. It is very dependent on the reaction quality of the source and is very sensitive. Because of these weaknesses most recorders have composite video inputs and outputs. Using these connectors eliminates the tuner and results is a more direct and therefore cleaner recording. Now it only has to separate the Y and C signals, no messing with the tuner or TV reception. With S-Video the connection is even more direct. An S-Video cable has two separate lines, one each for the Y and C. The VCR doesn't have to divide the two (like with composite video). This involves even less processing and less electronics. The result a more direct connection with an even better and cleaner transfer. This is what makes S-Video desirable over composite video and way better than using the tuner. When it come to outputting the signal the same benefit is gained only it is reversed. Audio is handled separately having its own individual connectors when using composite or S-Video (or the composite RCA cable). Does S-Video offer any improvement when the video is in black and white? Yes, it does. Because the separate Y signal is more direct and therefor also cleaner with less electronics involved. S-Video is a win-win situation when it comes to picture quality and clarity.

On a different note. All SL-HF2100 units have a couple of design flaws that are corrected when I do my refurbishing. One flaw is the drop down panel illumination lights will go dark over time. The panel lighting is provided by an array of LEDs that are powered using several thin wires that are flexed when the door is opened. These fatigue, wear out and separate over time. Once this happens the soft orange glow of the glass touch panels disappears. Then a rather time consuming corrective repair must then be performed to restore their performance. I have devised an improvement that helps prevent this failure from repeating and every unit I offer for purchase is modified accordingly. The other, less common problem, is the electromagnets located in the faceplate (behind the door) stop functioning. They are used to open the drop down door when eject is pressed on the remote, or when a cassette is ejected (and the door is closed). I also have a repair for this little annoyance. For more information on these, and other corrective measures, consult "Corrections and upgrades" in the features list above or click here.

Is this the Betamax you are looking for? To make selection easier I have put together a table that lists them by their pedigree. To see it click here.

To examine the accessories that are available to expand your Betas versatility visit the "Betamax Accessories" section by clicking here.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS: This SL-HF2100 records and plays SuperBetahi-fI in the and speeds. It also records and play tapes in SuperHi-Band 6.0 MHz s. Audio is Betahi-fi stereo and monaural. SuperBeta can be turned off for recording in standard Beta. Tapes recorded in monaural will play but not in stereo. This VCR was manufactured after Sony purchased the Columbia Pictures group in 1989. It therefore is unable to copy factory tapes that were recorded utilizing Copyguard encryption protection. To examine a Beta format compatibility chart click here. The SL-HF2100 MSRP was $1699.00 in 1988, that's around $3550.00 in todays money.







I refurbish all the Beta VCRs offered in my Website. If you would like to examine how this is accomplished I have composed a special section that explains how it's done. To go to the "Beta Refurbishing" section click here. Read an important message about my refurbished VCRs by clicking here. Do you have one of these premium Betas that isn't working? It is eligible for repair along with a lot of others. To see the list of candidates click here. For service click on "Getting It Repaired" in the right button array or click here. This page will be replaced by the repair form.

*These rating numbers are comparisons between the Beta VCRS within this particular design group. Contributing factors are engineering quality, popularity, aesthetics, execution, repair frequency and the number of features and their benefits. Analysis is subjective and should not be considered an endorsement.