Integrated video camera/recorder unit

A video tape recorder and video camera and character generator combination comprising:

• a detection means for detecting presence and absence of an erasure prevention tab of a video tape cassette loaded into said video tape recorder;
• a display light emitting element;
• a control means which is operatively associate with said detection means;
• said control means, when a first video tape cassette which is provided with said erasure prevention tab has been loaded into said video tape recorder, automatically setting said video tape recorder to a recording standby state and turning on said display light emitting element;
• and
• means for starting and pausing tape transportation during a recording mode after said video tape recorder has been set to said recording standby state,
• said control means, when a second video tape cassette which is not provided with said erasure prevention tab has been loaded into said video tape recorder, setting said video tape recorder to a stop state and flashing said display light emitting element;
• further comprising:
• a video camera which is integrally combined with said video tape recorder and includes an electronic viewfinder for monitoring an image of an object taken by said video camera;
• and
• a character generator for generating warning characters as a video signal, wherein when said second video tape cassette which is not provided with said erasure prevention tab has been loaded into said video tape recorder, said warning characters generated by said character generator are displayed on a screen of said electronic viewfinder so as to indicate that said second video tape cassette has been loaded into said video tape recorder.