Canon ION RC-250 (1988)

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The Canon RC-250 was the first still video camera intended for regular consumers. The camera recorded in field-mode only but there was no loss in quality because images were recorded in Hi-Band mode. It featured a built-in flash, direct playback feature, rechargeable battery, recording speed up to three frames per second and autoexposure.

For an additional $200 one could buy an accessoire kit that contained a water-resistant housing, sports finder, macrophotography frame, sportsbag and an action grip where a 1.33x teleconverter lens could be attached. Pretty weird but also pretty amazing. There was also an imaging kit available that included a digitizer board and cables for a macintosh, IBM PC and Apple IIGS(!) computer.

The camera was called Q-PIC in Japan and XAPSHOT in the US. This camera was also the first SVC that was available in two different body colors. Black and white. Not marketed in Europe.