In 2016 CFexpress was announced, a new format of memory cards that should not be confused with the old CF (Compact Flash). Different and designed to offer higher performance as well as other benefits in highly demanding environments. Now more is said about him in the wake of the latest releases from Canon and Sony. So, this is everything you should know about CFexpress , from its features to its current prices.
CFExpress, high-performance storage
Although it may seem like an excuse for manufacturers, to continue taking money from users, launching a new memory card standard responds to a clear need to improve work capabilities in highly demanding environments.
This is something that is now seen more clearly, with the new proposals that brands such as Canon or Sony have recently presented. Although the birth and use is something that we have been seeing for some years as something real.
In 2016 the format was announced , although it was not until a year later when they began to hit the market alongside cameras such as the Canon EOS C500 Mark II, Nikon Z6 and Z7.
The main characteristic of these new memory cards is their high speed when making data transfers. Up to 4 GB / s can reach one of these supports by using 4 lines that connect using the PCI 3.0 interface. And there are three types of CFexpress cards: Type A, Type B and Type C. Each of these have a different size, so it is up to each manufacturer to choose one or the other based on their own criteria.
| CFexpress Type A | CFexpress Type B | CFexpress Type C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 20 x 28 x 2.8mm | 38.5 x 29.6 x 3.8mm | 54 x 74 x 4.8mm |
| Connection interface | PCIe Gen3 (1 line) | PCIe Gen3 (2 line) | PCIe Gen3 (4 line) |
| Protocol | NVMe 1.3 | NVMe 1.3 | NVMe 1.3 |
| Theoretical speed | 1 GB / s (8Gbps) | 2 GB / s (16Gbps) | 4 GB / s (32Gbps) |
However, the most important thing is that these cards should not be confused with CFast. These are cards also designed for high-performance uses and, for example, cameras such as the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K or 6K.
Regarding speeds, these memory cards are designed to be used in demanding environments, both at the photo and video levels. Thanks to its high read and write speeds, workflows improve in every way.
Initially, you have the possibility to capture images and videos with much more information thanks to this high writing capacity. This to work with RAW material is very important. And it is that, for example, 1 minute of 8K video on the Canon EOS R5 occupies around 18 GB , so imagine how fast the support has to write data to not create a bottleneck.
In this table you can see a comparison of the different card standards that currently exist, their versions and the maximum speeds they can reach.
| Standard | Version | Launching | Protocol (BUS) | Speed (full-duplex) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD | 3.0 | 2010 | UHS-I | 104 MB / s |
| SD | 4.0 | 2011 | UHS-II | 312 MB / s |
| SD | 6.0 | 2017 | UHS-III | 624 MB / s |
| SD | 7.0 | 2018 | PCI-e 3.0 X1 | 985 MB / s |
| SD | 8.0 | 2020 | PCI-e 4-0 x4 | 3900 MB / s |
| UFS Card | 1.0 | 2016 | UFS 2.0 | 600 MB / s |
| UFS Card | 2.0 | 2018 | UFS 3.0 | 1.2 GB / s |
| CFast | 1.0 | 2008 | SATA 300 | 300 MB / s |
| CFast | 2.0 | 2012 | SATA 600 | 600 MB / s |
| XQD | 1.0 | 2011 | PCI-e 2.0 x1 | 500 MB / s |
| XQD | 2.0 | 2014 | PCI-e 2.0 x2 | 1 GB / s |
| CFexpress | 1.0 | 2017 | PCI-e 3.0 x2 | 2 GB / s |
| CFexpress | 2.0 | 2019 | PCI-e 3.0 x4 | Up to 4 GB / s |
CFexpress, capacities and prices
Now that we know the format and are clear about its advantages, let’s talk about prices and capabilities. As with any proposal, starting are solutions whose cost is much higher than other more established in the market.
For example, a 128GB CFexpress Type B right now costs around 280 euros. For its part, the CFexpress Type A of 80 GB and 160 GB have a price of about 250 and 500 euros respectively. Therefore, you have to think carefully about whether you are going to get the most out of these supports.
Today, many users continue to be able to use high-performance SD cards when taking pictures or recording video with high-quality cameras. And in the case of needing to record video in RAW format, Atomos type recorders can be much more recommended.