CFexpress memory cards are high performance memory cards for videography and photography. If you’re looking to shoot 8K video, or capture high-resolution stills at a fast burst rate, then CFexpress is realistically the format you’re going to want to use. Though of course, using the format does require a camera with a CFexpress-compatible slot – which only some cameras have. It tends to be the preserve of professional and high-end enthusiast models.
CFexpress Memory Cards
CFexpress Memory Cards
So what is the advantage of CFexpress? Simply put, it’s speed – unlike standard SD cards, CFexpress uses the PCIe 3.0 interface, which is also used in computer solid-state drives (SSDs). This allows for significantly faster read/write speeds than any other format of memory card. Not only does this speed up file transfer, but it also allows the camera to shoot at its fastest burst speeds without stuttering, and capture high-resolution video without dropping frames.
CFexpress cards come in three varieties – Type A, Type B and Type C. Type A cards have one PCIe 3.0 pipeline and can achieve speeds of up to 1 GB/sec, while Type B cards have two pipelines, meaning they can manage 2 GB/sec (Type C cards are not currently used in cameras). The different types of CFexpress cards are different physical shapes, meaning any given camera slot will be either Type A or Type B. Type A does have one crucial advantage – it is the same dimensions as a standard SD, meaning a slot can be very easily configured to take both.
