Introduced in Spring 1980, the C7 was hailed as being "so advanced, it has features you've never even heard of". Some of these features are taken for granted nowadays, but were innovative in 1980. Like Picture Search, for instance. At that time, it was unique to Betamax. In the early stages of the video format war, Beta was one step ahead, forcing VHS to catch up. I wonder what features VCRs might have today, if all the resources were put into developing Beta.
Some of the C7's other features included still / slow motion, Index Search (APS) and an alarm (audible beep) that sounded when the tape ran out.
Perhaps one of the most unusual Beta VCR accessories is the "BetaStack" tape autochanger. I have the German version, the Wega CW-M1, pictured above, attached to the C7 VCR. This unit can automatically remove a tape and insert another - and even press the function button on the VCR (play or record - you can decide which) enabling it to carry on where it left off. Over 13 hours of continuous unattended recording is possible, with no loss of quality (unlike slow-speed VHS). The only drawback is a 15-second interruption when the unit changes tapes.
The BetaStack never caught on, although autochangers are still used today in videotape duplicating factories. Another thing was that the 'feature-packed' C7 and its mechanical autochanger were astronomically complex, expensive to make and very unreliable, due to the large number of components. Mine still works (just about) but is no longer reliable enough for everyday use, so it stays in the cupboard.