Method and apparatus for producing still video images using electronic motion video apparatus

An electronic video camera temporarily records and saves motion video in a relatively high-resolution form in a frame aging buffer. While video frames are saved in high-resolution form, it is possible to extract a relatively high-resolution still image from the buffer. The camera holds the video data in high-resolution form a limited time, eventually "aging" it as more frames are captured. The motion video is stored in persistent storage in a lower resolution form. At the user's option, relatively higher resolution frames from the buffer can also be saved.