1. a portable television camera and recording unit designed for field use, especially in news gathering and documentary production.
Usage: trademark (originally); historical: widely used from the 1960s through 1980s before digital video became standard; also called a portable video package or portable video kit

Examples

• The news crew arrived at the scene with a portapak to record the breaking story.
• Early documentary filmmakers embraced the portapak for its mobility and ease of use.
• Before smartphones, journalists relied on portapaks to capture footage in the field.
• The portapak revolutionized television news by allowing reporters to work outside the studio.
• Museums now display vintage portapaks as examples of broadcast technology history.