Sony

Sony PFD23A 23GB Single Layer XDCAM Optical Disc

Name: Sony PFD23A 23GB Single Layer XDCAM Optical Disc
Brand: Sony
SKU: PFD23A

★★★★★3.9 (5 reviews)

A 23 GB single-layer rewritable XDCAM optical disc delivering up to 85 minutes of reliable professional broadcast recording.

$9.55*

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 04, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Sony PFD23A is a 23 GB single-layer Professional Disc designed for Sony's XDCAM ecosystem. It provides up to 85 minutes of recording time per disc, making it well-suited to capturing standard broadcast segments, news packages, and field productions in a format that has proven itself across thousands of professional environments. Because the disc is rewritable, production teams can reuse media across shoots, keeping consumable costs manageable over time.

Transfer performance is a practical strength of the format. On a single-head XDCAM deck the PFD23A delivers 72 Mbps throughput, while dual-head decks double that to 144 Mbps, speeding up ingest into editing systems. As an optical medium, the disc is inherently resistant to magnetic interference and less susceptible to accidental data loss from drops compared to hard drives, giving it a niche advantage for archival storage and field use where environmental resilience matters. For facilities maintaining XDCAM libraries or operating legacy XDCAM camcorders, the PFD23A provides a reliable, purpose-built recording medium backed by Sony's professional media quality standards.

Key Features

Capacity,GB: 23

Record Time, Mins: 85

Flexible Platform

Large-Capacity Optical Disc

High Transfer Rate: 72 Mbps on a single head unit, 144 Mbps on a dual head deck

Specifications

Brand

Sony

Model

PFD23A

Disc Type

Single Layer Rewritable XDCAM Optical Disc

Capacity

23 GB

Record Time

Up to 85 minutes

Transfer Rate (Single Head)

72 Mbps

Transfer Rate (Dual Head)

144 Mbps

Platform

Sony XDCAM

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

Rewritable media allows repeated recording and erasing, reducing long-term media costs
85-minute record time on a single disc suits standard-length broadcast segments
High 72/144 Mbps transfer rates enable fast file ingest from single- and dual-head decks
Optical disc format resists magnetic interference and offers a longer archival shelf life than tape

👎 Cons

23 GB single-layer capacity is limited compared to dual-layer 50 GB XDCAM discs
Only compatible with Sony XDCAM hardware, so it cannot be used in other disc-based workflows
Optical disc media is largely legacy; many facilities have migrated to solid-state or file-based recording
Per-disc cost is higher than equivalent capacity on reusable SxS cards or hard drives

Frequently Asked Questions

How much recording time does the Sony PFD23A provide?

The disc records up to 85 minutes of footage, depending on the bit rate and codec used within the XDCAM system.

Is this disc rewritable or write-once?

It is a rewritable disc, so you can record, erase, and re-record content multiple times throughout its lifespan.

What transfer speeds does the PFD23A support?

It achieves 72 Mbps on a single-head XDCAM deck and up to 144 Mbps on a dual-head deck for faster ingest and playback.

Is this disc compatible with all XDCAM decks?

It is designed for Sony's XDCAM platform and is compatible with XDCAM decks and camcorders that accept single-layer Professional Disc media.