We're all familiar with the idea of hi-fi 'separates', but in the early 1980s Sony was trying to promote the idea of component video. The SL-F1 (on the top of the picture) was part of a whole range of items that connected together to make a formidable home video setup.
The second component (just visible in the lower half of the photo) is the tuner / timer unit TT-F1UB. This AC-powered unit allows the SL-F1 to record from TV just like any other home video recorder.
The SL-F1 recorder works independently of the TT-F1. On its own, it can play back tapes or you can attach a video camera and make your own movies. For true portability, the SL-F1 can be powered by rechargeable batteries, 12 volt car battery or 110-240 volt AC mains with a separate AC adaptor. Other accessories included remote controls for both camera and recorder, and even a special pack that enabled filming underwater!
The F1 is small and compact, yet full of features. Swing Search lets you go forward or reverse frame by frame or at normal speed. There's a built-in assemble editor to enable smooth editing of camera shots. Picture quality is excellent. The only thing lacking is the sound, which is mono and not hi-fi. There was another accessory, PCM-F1, that turned the SL-F1 into a portable Digital Stereo Audio recorder. Imagine using a Betamax with CD-quality sound. Wow! (Unfortunately I do not have this accessory.)
The digi-photo on this page was obtained by connecting a video camera to my F1 combo and feeding the output into a video digitizer.