CFexpress

Technical Details

CFexpress Type B cards measure 38.5 × 29.8 × 3.8 mm and utilize two PCIe lanes for maximum data transfer. Minimum Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) values are VPG-200 (200 MB/s sustained write) for 4K recording and VPG-400 for 8K material. Type A cards (20 × 28 × 2.8 mm) use one PCIe lane and achieve up to 800 MB/s, while Type C cards with four lanes can reach up to 4,000 MB/s. The cards operate at 3.3V and support temperature ranges from -25°C to +85°C.

History & Development

The CompactFlash Association developed CFexpress in 2016 as a direct successor to XQD technology. Sony introduced the first Type A cards for the α7R IV in 2019, while Nikon and Canon implemented Type B support in the Z9 and EOS R5 respectively in 2020. Sandisk, Lexar, and ProGrade Digital established themselves as the main manufacturers. In 2021, the CFexpress 2.0 standard increased maximum speeds by 25% and improved energy efficiency.

Practical Use in Film

CFexpress enables 8K RAW recording in cameras like the Canon EOS R5, which requires a 2,600 Mbps data rate for Cinema RAW Light. For "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022), the camera crews used CFexpress Type B cards for uncompressed 6K recordings from the Sony FX9 in the cockpit sequences. Netflix productions utilize CFexpress for ProRes RAW workflows, as sustained write performance prevents dropped frames. The cards reduce offloading times: 512 GB of footage transfers in under 8 minutes via a USB 3.2 reader.

Comparison & Alternatives

CFexpress Type B surpasses XQD cards by three times the speed with identical dimensions and backward compatibility in many cameras. SD UHS-II reaches a maximum of 300 MB/s, while CFexpress Type A starts at 800 MB/s. SSD recording via external recorders remains more cost-effective for the longest recording times, but CFexpress offers better mobility and camera stabilization. RED Mini-Mags remain proprietary, optimized for RED cameras, while CFexpress is standardized across manufacturers.