I use Sony DVD-Rs with my camcorder. What are the projected lives of these discs? Colin Jones
The 8cm (3 inch) mini DVD discs used in most camcorders are made in the same way as their larger siblings, so good ones should also last for 25-50 years or so. However, DVDs can be pressure sensitive so they may require more careful handling. The DigitalFAQ media guide rates the Sony DVD-R discs as excellent, whether made in Japan or Taiwan, but it's always wise to make back-up copies. The stated manufacturer may not actually have made the discs, but DVD Identifier and similar programs can usually identify the source.
As always, avoid using DVD-RW (or CD-RW) for anything you want to keep. These "optical phase change media" were not designed to last.
