Still store system and method with simple image access

A digital still store system (10) receives composite digital 4:2:2 D1 video signal inputs in parallel at (12) or serially at (14). The signals are supplied in component form selectively to one of framestores (18) and (20). The component signals are supplied from the framestores (18) and (20) to hard disks (22) through a buffer store (24) and disk input/output (I/O) circuits (26). Each of the hard disks (22) stores still video images as either 525 or 625 line digital frames for either NTSC or PAL composite signal inputs and outputs. Y and C fields of component video signal information are supplied from the hard disks (22) through the buffer store (24) and one of the frame stores 18 and 20 to a compositor (28) for output as digital 4 :2 :2 video signals. The buffer store (24) obtains the video signal fields for either full size images or 114 size images, when an array for browsing and selection is desired. When the 1/4 size images are desired, the field video signals are obtained by addressing every fourth pixel of the field for readout