Sony Corp., Canon Inc., Victor Co. of Japan Ltd. and Sharp Corp. have come up with a basic concept for a common standard for high-definition digital camcorders.
The four electronics companies will finalize the specifications of the common standard by September, and hope to make it a global standard through active industrywide campaigns.
The companies said Friday that camcorders incorporating the new standard will use the same kind of MiniDV digital tapes as current models. Cameras incorporating the new standard will be able to record images at more than four times the current level of resolution.
The move comes in line with the planned start in December of terrestrial digital broadcasting, which is expected to heighten demand for high-definition images in camcorders and other audiovisual products.