View source for MiniDVD

{{short description|8-centimeter DVD disc}}
{{about|8&nbsp;cm DVDs|other uses|MiniDVD (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:DVDs-12cm-8cm.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Conventional 12 cm disc (left) compared to 8 cm disc (right)]]
[[File:DCR-DVD201E-2.jpg|thumb|A Sony camcorder using MiniDVD media]]
{{optical disc authoring}}
'''MiniDVD''' or '''8 cm DVD''' (also "'''3 [[inch]] DVD'''") is a [[DVD]] disc with a reduced diameter of {{convert|8|cm|in|2}}. It has been most commonly used in [[camcorders]] due to its compact size.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2005-02-06 |title=Kid Vid and the Mini-DVD |url=https://www.soundandvision.com/news/020405minidvd |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Sound & Vision |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214153321/https://www.soundandvision.com/news/020405minidvd |url-status=live }}</ref> The most common MiniDVDs are single layered and hold 1.4 [[Gigabyte|GB]] of data, but there are variants that can offer up to 5.2&nbsp;GB of storage space, through a combination of dual layers and dual sides.

8&nbsp;cm DVDs were originally used for [[music video]]s and as such became known as [[DVD single]], similarly to how 8&nbsp;cm optical discs were previously used for music [[single (music)|singles]] on [[compact disc]]s (i.e. [[CD single]] and [[miniCD]]). However the MiniDVD format has been mostly used as recordable discs in DVD-based camcorders during the 2000s; a single layer disc can record up to 30 minutes of standard definition video.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Biersdorfer |first=J. d |date=2005-02-24 |title=On Only 3 Inches of Disc, 30 Minutes of High-Quality Video |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/technology/circuits/on-only-3-inches-of-disc-30-minutes-of-highquality.html |access-date=2023-12-14 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2023-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214153412/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/technology/circuits/on-only-3-inches-of-disc-30-minutes-of-highquality.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A number of movies and TV shows have also been released on the format in the mid-2000s, usually targeting children using low-cost small players.<ref name=":0" />

[[Nintendo]] used a [[Nintendo GameCube Game Disc|very similar disc-based format]] for the [[GameCube]].

==MiniDVD capacities==
The most common MiniDVDs are single layered, which can hold 1.46 GB of data, however, there also exists dual layered 2.6 GB versions,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mini DVD+R DL 2.6GB 2.4X Branded 3pk Jewel Case |url=https://www.duplication.ca/Mini-DVD-R-DL-2.6GB-2.4X-Branded-3pk-Jewel-Case.html |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Duplication.ca|date=4 January 2008 }}</ref> dual sided single layer 2.8 GB versions,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maxell Mini DVD-RAM VIDEO 60 Minute 2.8 GB |url=https://www.duplication.ca/maxell-mini-dvd-ram.html |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Duplication.ca|date=28 February 2019 }}</ref> and dual sided dual layer 5.2 GB versions. A double sided MiniDVD can hold 2.8 GB of data (1.4 GB x 2), however, a dual-layer MiniDVD can only hold 2.6 GB of data due to the limitations when manufacturing dual layered discs. A double sided dual layered disc can hold 5.2 GB of data (2.6 GB x 2), with the MiniDVD-RAM version of the double sided, dual layer disc being able to hold 5.6 GB of data (2.8GB x 2).

Mini DVDs are also available in +R, +R DS, +R DL, +R DL DS, +RW, +RW DS, -R, -R DS, -R DL, -R DL DS, -RW, and -RW DS variants, just like their full sized counterparts. (DL=Double Layer, DS=Double Sided). 

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 67%"
|+Comparison of 8 cm (MiniDVD) capacities with 12 cm (standard DVD)
! Physical size
! Single layer capacity 
! Dual/Double layer capacity 
|-
| 8&nbsp;cm, single sided<ref name="ECMA 268">{{cite tech report|institution=[[Ecma International|ECMA]]|type=Standard|number=268|title=80 mm DVD - Read-Only Disk|date=April 2001|edition=3rd|page=4|url=https://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/ECMA-ST/Ecma-268.pdf#page=14|language=en}}</ref> || 1.46 GB || 2.66 GB
|-
| 8&nbsp;cm, double sided<ref name="ECMA 268" /> || 2.92 GB || 5.32 GB
|-
| 12&nbsp;cm, single sided<ref name="ECMA 267">{{cite tech report|institution=[[Ecma International|ECMA]]|type=Standard|number=267|title=120 mm DVD - Read-Only Disk|date=April 2001|edition=3rd|page=4|url=https://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/ECMA-ST/Ecma-267.pdf#page=14|language=en}}</ref> || 4.7 GB || 8.5 GB
|-
| 12&nbsp;cm, double sided<ref name="ECMA 267" /> || 9.4 GB || 17.0 GB
|}

==See also==
*[[Blu-ray Disc]]
**[[Blu-ray#Mini_Blu-ray_Disc|Mini Blu-ray]]
*[[CD Video]]
*[[DVD]]
*[[DVD card]]
*[[HD DVD]]
*[[LaserDisc]]
*[[Nintendo optical discs]]
*[[GD-ROM]]
*[[Universal Media Disc]] (UMD)
*[[Video CD]] (VCD)
*[[VideoNow]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons cat|Mini DVD}}
*[http://www.afterdawn.com/glossary/terms/minidvd.cfm ''miniDVD'' definition on AfterDawn.com]

{{DVD}}
{{Homevid}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minidvd}}
[[Category:80 mm discs]]
[[Category:Video storage]]
[[Category:DVD]]
[[Category:Optical computer storage media]]