CFexpress 2.0 already has a stellar reputation for extremely fast performance, with maximum transfer speeds hitting up to 1 GB/s (1000MB/s) and 2 GB/s (2000MB/s) for Type A and Type B cards, respectively. However, keep in mind that's 'theoretical max speed.' Even the current fastest CFexpress cards on the market don't achieve this maximum speed, although they are coming close. The just-announced CFexpress 4.0 standard aims to double the performance, with a theoretical maximum throughput of 2 GB/s for Type A and 4 GB/s for Type B. CFexpress is the latest standard from the CompactFlash Association. Originally launched in 2017 and using the XQD form-factor, the cards utilized two PCIe 3.0 lanes along with NVMe 1.2 for low latency and overhead. In 2019, the CFexpress 2.0 standard was announced, with an upgraded NVMe 1.3 protocol; two new form factors, “Type A” and “Type C” were announced, with the existing XQD form factor becoming “Type B.” Image via Explora

The large storage makes it a great choice for high-end video work that produces large files. And it goes beyond just storage size to support lofty projects with heavy data needs. Angelbird promises minimum sustained read and write speeds of 1,785 MB/s and 1,300 MB/s, respectively. It also says it’s capable of 17,850 MB/s and 1,550 MB/s of maximum read and write speeds. ProGrade Gold cards claim 400MB/s sustained write speeds, and its Cobalt range offers incredible sustained writes of 1400MB/s or 1500MB/s – it varies between storage levels – and you won’t find better in a Type B card, as of mid-2020.

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We’re highly likely to see this announced at some point, because arch CFexpress-rival the SD Association has already announced PCIe 4.0 integration for a future version of SD Express cards; however, don’t expect to see these cards on sale for a couple of years at least. But just as SD more or less steamrolled Compact Flash for years, it seems that CFexpress has already won this fight – and its use in cameras like the Sony A7S III is proof enough. When more are available, this guide will grow to include CFexpress Type A as well but, for now, the two options from ProGrade Digital and Sony perform basically identically. PetaPixel has not received Delkin’s option to test. A trusted name in memory cards, Lexar makes reliable Professional cards with capacities ranging from 64GB to 512GB.

For the most part, these cards were all pretty consistent in their performance during our benchmarking with the exception of Acer and Atlas Pro, both of which were a lot more frenetic in how much they jumped from high speeds to low speeds during testing, which gives us pause recommending either for video workflows. Photo Performance

The writers and editors have been involved in the photography industry for decades. During that time, we have seen dramatic changes in the memory card field, with multiple new card formats introduced and ever faster and larger storage options available. Throughout our careers, we have used cards by just about every manufacturer.

Where this card does beat out all the competition is in burst performance. It can shoot at the Canon R5’s highest burst setting for just over 30 seconds before the buffer limit slows it down, which is nearly double any other card. So if you are photographing sports or fast-moving wildlife, this will be the card to use because of its burst capabilities.The second is especially relevant for photographers. We tested how many seconds we could fire a Canon R5 at maximum framerate and resolution before we hit the limits of the buffer. This means we asked the camera to record both RAW and the highest quality JPEG and do so firing at the maximum 20 frames per second with the electronic shutter. The Results Disk Speed Tests San Jose, CA September 20, 2021, 8:00 am—ProGrade Digital™, founded with a mission to provide the highest quality professional grade digital memory cards and workflow solutions, announces its new CFexpress™ Type A memory card. ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A cards provide read speeds up to 800MB/s and burst write speeds up to 700MB/s. In addition, ProGrade Digital’s CFexpress Type A card delivers a minimum sustained write speed of 400MB/s (VPG 400) – specifically designed for high-resolution video capture. Many CFexpress cards top out at 512GB of storage, with a few offering 2TB. Angelbird brought something new to the table with its massive 4TB card. It offers more storage space than anything else available at the time of writing. Sony is the only camera maker that is currently utilizing Type A cards. They are smaller than Type B, so they are not cross-compatible. Storage capacity Of the three, photographers and videographers don’t need to concern themselves too much with Type C – these larger cards are designed more for use with computers and Solid State Drives. The types you’ll most typically find compatible with cameras are Type B – this is the type you’ll be able to use with the Canon EOS R5, Nikon Z6, Panasonic S1R and other cameras.

Yes and no, as the manufacturer of the SoC (camera main chip - Canon, Sony or Socionext) can just replace the existing PCIe interface with a faster one (probably just buying in a design). The problem is speeding the chip up to have other things work fast enough, which will probably need a geometry shrink, which can get very expensive and may not be practical at the camera market size - probably less than 1M units for the high end ones that might have this, split over three manufacturers. PetaPixel’s Best Value Choice: Lexar Silver Series Type B memory card. The Best CFexpress Type B Card in 2023

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The CFexpress Type A form factor is gaining broad industry adoption due to its size and performance, and its open industry standard support from major device manufacturers. The Sony Alpha A7S III (above) is the first camera to support CFexpress Type A, and this the most interesting format of the moment. Yes, it may offer the lowest performance of the lot, but these cards can fit into a combi slot that will also take SD cards.