PURPOSE: To enable random access to a plurality of tracks of tape, by controlling the position of a magnetic head making recording/playback through a cam provided with a gray code, in a still video using an endless tape recorder.

CONSTITUTION: A color video camera 1 is controlled by a controller 6 and the picture to be photographed is scanned by starting a trigger device 7. the video signal for one frame's share is converted into a digital signal of about 2M-bit at a signal processing circuit 10 and stored at it. The stored signal of the circuit 10 is transmitted to a magnetic tape recorder 11 immediately and recorded on an endless tape 13 of 2m length. The recorded tape 13 is reproduced as a still picture. The tape 13 like this is recorded and reproduced with a magnetic head 20, and the head 20 is fixed to a given position by a cam 24 providing with a gray code 37. Thus, on the tape 13, tracks of several tens of channels broadwise can be constituted and random access can be made by using a computer in the controller 6.