8cm CD-R & CD-RW Mini Disc

What are 8cm CD-R discs?

The 8cm (3-inch) CD-R is a miniature version of the standard 12cm CD-R. Sony chose this format for the CD Mavica line (2000–2003) because the smaller disc allowed a more compact camera body than a full-size CD drive would require.

Do not confuse with MiniDisc (MD) — Sony's MiniDisc format is a completely different magneto-optical system in a cartridge shell. The 8cm CD-R used in Mavicas is a standard optical disc, just smaller.

Specifications

Some 8cm discs were sold as "210 MB / 24 min" — these used the same physical size but a tighter data spiral. Not all CD Mavica models reliably support the higher-capacity discs.

Which Mavica models use 8cm CDs?

The CD200 and CD250 can only write to CD-R (write-once) discs. The later CD300+ models support both CD-R and CD-RW (rewritable).

Images per disc

With 156 MB of storage, a single 8cm CD-R holds significantly more images than a 1.44 MB floppy:

This was a massive improvement over the 5–10 images per floppy disk that earlier Mavica users were accustomed to.

Sourcing 8cm CD-R in 2025+

New-old-stock (NOS)

Sealed packs of 8cm CD-R discs are still available through:

• eBay and other auction sites
• Amazon third-party sellers
• Japanese surplus electronics sites (Yahoo Auctions JP, Mercari JP)

Expect to pay $15–30 USD for a 10-pack spindle. Prices have risen steadily as supply dwindles.

Brands to look for

• Sony — the recommended brand, specifically tested with CD Mavica drives
• Verbatim — reliable and widely available in the 2000s
• TDK — another good option from the era
• Maxell — acceptable quality

Brands to avoid

Generic or unbranded 8cm CD-R discs may have higher error rates and inconsistent dye quality. The CD Mavica's laser is calibrated for name-brand media.

CD-RW reusable strategy

If you have a CD300 or later model, invest in a few 8cm CD-RW discs. You can erase and reformat them in-camera:

1. Menu → Format → Format Disc → OK
2. Wait approximately 1 minute for the format to complete
3. The disc is ready for new images

CD-RW discs cost more per unit ($3–5 each) but pay for themselves after a few uses.

Reading 8cm CDs on a computer

Tray-loading drives

Most desktop CD/DVD drives with a tray have an 8cm recess in the tray. Place the mini disc in the inner groove and push the tray in.

Slot-loading drives

Do NOT insert 8cm discs into slot-loading drives (common in MacBooks and car stereos). The disc can get stuck inside and damage the drive mechanism. Use a USB tray-loading external drive instead.

USB external drives

A basic USB CD/DVD drive ($15–25) with a tray is the easiest way to read 8cm discs on any modern computer. The disc shows up as a standard CD-ROM with JPEG files in a DCIM folder.

Practical tips

• Finalize CD-R discs: After your shooting session, use the camera's menu to "Finalize" the disc. This writes the Table of Contents and makes the disc readable in standard CD drives. Un-finalized discs can only be read by the Mavica that wrote them.
• Store discs upright: Like all optical media, store 8cm CDs in cases, upright, away from heat and direct sunlight.
• Label carefully: Don't use adhesive labels on 8cm discs — they can unbalance the disc in the high-speed camera drive. Use a CD marker pen instead.
• Keep the lens clean: The CD Mavica's internal laser lens can collect dust. If you get write errors, the lens may need a gentle cleaning with a blower.