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The 2nd Development Division began working on a new prototype 8mm VCR while discussions for a common standard were in progress. Sony's goal was to improve every aspect of the performance of the conventional VTR by 200 to 300% in the shortest time span possible. However, there was always a possibility that many hours of work could be rendered meaningless at any time by a change in the course of the discussions. Despite this threat looming in the background, the Project 80 Team continued to work towards the development of new technologies and how to apply them to the creation of a compact 8mm video product. The Team looked at various aspects of the new product, including technical analysis, LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit), mounting technology, electrical and mechanical requirements.
 The people involved in the design of a product should oversee its production. This is a fundamental and good part of Sony's product development philosophy, one that entails disbanding and reforming teams throughout the course of product development. It was applied in the development of both the Trinitron and the Betamax.
In November 1981, Morio and his group completed a prototype of the 8mm VCR and left the 2nd Development Division for the Atsugi plant, in order to work on the actual commercialization of the product. They joined the Video Camera Department, headed by Kiyoshi Yamakawa. In 1978, the CCD development unit, headed by Shigeyuki Ochi had moved from the Research Center to the Atsugi plant. Iwama and Masaaki Morita, director of the consumer TV and video operations at that time instructed Ochi and Morio, to work together on the 8mm VCR. To facilitate mass production, Takashi Kohno, who was a member of Morio's team, refined the design of this machine. To capitalize on the advertising value of the number eight, August 8, 1984 had been tentatively set as the launch date of the 8mm system.
Before the launch, however, another hurdle had to be overcome. While the color produced by existing CCDs was of a high quality, picture resolution was still relatively poor. The number of pixels needed to be increased to give a clearer, and more defined picture. Although Ochi set goals of 190,000, and then 250,000, pixels per CCD, progress was hampered. Morio wanted to provide the best possible picture quality with the 8mm VCR, but it looked as though the CCD might not be completed in time for the scheduled launch. As a precautionary measure, Kohno's team pursued the development of an alternate product, the Trinicon image pickup tube.
Seeing this situation, Masahiko Morizono, deputy president in charge of semiconductor operations, suggested a new plan of action. The team aimed to achieve an even higher goal. Morizono said to Ochi,  Don't rely on the safety net of the Trinicon. If you think that a CCD with a resolution of 250,000 pixels is required, then this is what you should aim for. Just go for it. With their backs against the wall, Ochi's team threw everything they had into their work.
Morizono had read the situation well. In an incredibly short period, the team produced a CCD with a resolution of 250,000 pixels. Morio's team had almost completed work on an 8mm VCR system that incorporated a Trinicon image pickup tube, but suddenly, they were given a CCD by Ochi to replace the Trinicon. They worked extremely hard to incorporate the new chip into the 8mm VCR. Meanwhile, the 8mm Video Conference had been continuing their negotiations. In April 1984, a set of common standards was finally decided.
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 | | Sony's first single-unit 8mm video camcorder, the CCD-V8. |
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Sony introduced its new video camcorder, the CCD-V8, on January 8, 1985. Although emphasis was placed on the compact size of the machine during its development, Sony was now stressing its picture quality. Reporters assembled at the press launch of the CCD-V8 were amazed that a video camcorder incorporating a CCD could produce such high picture quality. The CCD-V8 was released for sale in Japan on January 21 of that year at a price of 280,000 yen.
Morio was lavish in his praise of Ochi and said, Half the reason Sony has been able to produce such outstanding picture quality is due to the efforts of Ochi and his team. Sony had shown foresight in leading the development of a new video format, and the Project 80 Team, assisted by Ochi's CCD development team, had succeeded in answering Ibuka's call for a ten-fold increase in recording density. The next generation video system, eight years in the making, had arrived.
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