Store High-Res Images and Videos With the Best CFexpress Cards
Reviewing the Best CFexpress Cards of 2023 in Detail
SanDisk PRO CFexpress Card – Best Overall
SanDisk is one of the most well-known names when it comes to digital storage, and the performance of their CFexpress cards offers more insight into their popularity. This card has everything a photographer or a videographer could ask for. The 1700 MB/s read and 1200 MB/s write speeds are fast enough to handle most modern high-end cameras with ease, while the durability and reliability of this card mean that you can trust it to keep your precious captures safe for a long time. The 128 GB capacity hits the perfect balance of cost and available capacity, making it the best overall on our list.
Pros
- Blazing fast read and write speeds
- Can store RAW 4K video with ease
- Ease of mind with included recovery software
- Enough capacity for most capture sessions
Cons
- Backward compatibility limited to select XQD cameras
Lexar CFexpress Memory Card – Fastest Read Speed
While many factors determine the performance of a CFexpress card, pure speed is all you need for the most part. This is why the Lexar CFexpress memory card is worthy of your consideration. Its industry-leading 1750 MB/s speed will cut down your copying and processing time, especially on busy days. So you can fill up a card, start its backup while using a second card, and the first will be backed up and ready to use before you manage to fill up the second.
Pros
- Fast processing thanks to high read speed
- Reliable enough for professional use
- Utilizes PCIe 3.0 for fast transfers
- Can store RAW 4K in high quality
Cons
- 64 GB capacity will fill up quickly
SONY CFexpress Tough Card – Reliable Operation
Most photo and video captures happen in the open alongside all the elements of nature. Many cheap memory cards fail even in optimal conditions, let alone when out in nature, but the CFexpress card from SONY can handle it all with ease. Its toughness provides a level of reliability you won’t see anywhere else, and it all works together to keep your data safe. On top of this security, you also get ultra-fast write speeds of up to 1480 MB/s and above-average read speeds of 1700 MB/s. Its capacity is also large enough to be helpful in most professional or semi-professional settings.
Pros
- Compatible with all CF type B slots
- Super fast write speed for smooth captures
- Keeps your data safe from external elements
- Downloadable memory card rescue software
Cons
- Not backward compatible with XQD cameras
Delkin Devices Power CFexpress – Fastest Write Speed
The Power CFexpress card from Delkin is ideal for professionals who like to adjust their photo and video parameters in post-processing. The ultra-fast 1540 MB/s write speed allows it to capture highly detailed content with zero hitches. You can use this card to store up to 8K footage flawlessly, or you can even store a super-high frame rate and bitrate content without worrying about detail loss. Once you’re done capturing the footage, transferring it is also a smooth experience, thanks to the respectable 1730 MB/s read speed.
Pros
- Can store 8K video with ease
- Ability to store high frame rate slo-mo
- Serialized so you can identify your card
- Ready for RAW continuous bursts
Cons
- Slightly low physical durability and toughness
ProGrade Digital CF Memory Card – Highest Capacity
Having to change your memory card halfway through a recording is one of the most annoying things ever and a definite flow killer. ProGrade resolves this issue with their high capacity 325 GB CF express card. It can store almost three times the usual video length of most industry-standard cards while keeping it all high bitrate. Its fast 1500 MB/s write speed lets you capture 6K and higher-res video with vivid quality. One feature of this card you won’t see anywhere else is its ability to use less camera battery than other cards of similar speed and capacity.
Pros
- Blistering fast 1500 MB/s write speed
- PCIe 3.0 protocol for reliable transfers
- Laser-etched serial number for added security
- Comes with a three-year warranty
Cons
- More expensive than other cards
CFexpress Card Buying Guide - What to Look For
Many believe that skill and talent matter more than the equipment. While this is undoubtedly true to some extent, equipment plays a more significant role than you might initially think. At the very least, quality equipment makes talent shine brighter with its speed and reliability, and CFexpress cards are no different. The speed of your storage can be the difference between capturing super high-quality videos smoothly or getting artifacts in the most basic 4K footage. Luckily, plenty of quality CFexpress cards are available on the market, and here’s how to find them.
Write speed
Write speed is one of the most influential aspects of any storage, including CFexpress cards. It will directly affect the bitrate of the card, as well as the highest resolution that can be captured smoothly on it. If you’re only going to record up to 4K video at standard frame rates and bitrate, a 1000 MB/s write speed is more than enough, but you will need better speeds for increased detail. The highest-end consumer CFexpress cards can go as high as 1500 MB/s and can store 8K footage in real-time. Just make sure your camera is fast enough for these high-speed cards, and you’re not just wasting your money on speeds you can’t even use.
Read speed
Read speeds matter once you’re done shooting, and it’s time to transfer the footage over to a backup device for safekeeping or a computer for post-processing. In either case, look for cards with at least 1700 MB/s read speeds to ensure quick and efficient transfers. Also, going for cards with speeds close to 1750 MB/s might sound like a minor change, but the saved time will add up as you use the card more often.
Capacity
Capacity is the number of photos and videos a CFexpress card can hold before it gets full and needs to be emptied. On one side of the spectrum, there are smaller cards with 64GB capacity. These are primarily useful for capturing up to 2K video or images; even standard 4K will fill them up fairly quickly. On the other end, there are super high-capacity cards with 325 GB or even 500 GB capacities. These are great for a lot of high-res media, but they also cost more than most hobbyists would be willing to spend, especially if the read and write speeds are good. Another negative of having a very large CFexpress memory card is that you will lose a lot more data in case of an unfortunate failure.
Reliability
Regarding failure, reliability is just as important as card performance. This includes both physical and digital durability to keep your data safe. Unfortunately, there is no number you can look at on the product page to determine reliability. Your only options are to buy from a reputable brand and hope for the best or read customer reviews before purchasing. If you see too many data loss complaints in the reviews of a card, move on to the next viable option.
People Also Asked
A: Yes, most modern CF express cards are vastly superior in speed and reliability compared to the latest SD cards. They’re much better at resisting physical damage as well. The only place SD cards win is capacity, but that is not that big of an issue for large cameras.
A: For many cameras, yes, you can. CFexpress card slots are usually bigger than every other card, so SD cards can fit in the slot. The resulting read and write speeds would be terrible, though. The smaller SD card might also be very difficult to remove once inserted, so better use CFexpress cards in CFexpress slots.
A: You will need a special CFexpress card reader connected with a USB cable to interact with its contents.
