We’re excited to announce the ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A card now available in our store! Before we dive into the nitty gritty of Type A cards’ benefits, let us provide some context.
You are probably familiar with CFexpress Type B memory cards. Back in 2018, like mushrooms after heavy rain, they popped up everywhere, becoming quickly a new normal in DSLR, mirrorless, and cinema-class video cameras. No wonder. The brand-new standard of cards, created by the CFA (Compact Flash Association) using PCIe NVMe, enabled capturing data two to four times faster than the fastest SD and XQD cards available at the time. No longer was the memory card’s read/write speed a limiting factor for recording 4K at 120fps or even 8K RAW internally.
With the release of firmware updates for the Z6, Z7, and D6 cameras, Nikon was the first to adopt the new cards. Canon and Panasonic both soon followed. Canon developed its flagship models, EOS-1D X Mark III, EOS R5, C300 Mark III, and C500 Mark II, all compatible with CFExpress Type B memory cards. Panasonic did the same with its Lumix S1 and S1R cameras.
CFexpress is a memory card platform that the CompactFlash Association (CFA) developed for professional imaging and video markets. That platform actually includes three defined memory card form factors: Type A, Type B, and Type C. Each of these cards enables higher read and write speeds as well as lower latency. Different form factors allow the cards to be adapted to different device formats; Type A can fit into smaller mirrorless cameras, Type B into standard DSLR and larger mirrorless bodies, and Type C, when it comes to market, will likely be found in larger cinema cameras.
Sony has already launched three mirrorless cameras – a7S III, alpha 1, and FX3 – that support dual CFexpress Type A cards. As these tiny memory powerhouses unlock a frontier of new opportunities for everyone owning one of the aforementioned cameras, it is only a matter of time when other manufacturers will follow.
The CFexpress Type A cards are required for the highest resolution video settings. Most notably, slow-motion videos with XAVC S-I 4K codec can only be recorded on CFexpress Type A cards. The same goes for the videos with XAVC S-I HD codecs when you shoot slow and quick motion (S&Q Motion) at [240fps]/[200fps].
Since Sony kept a door open for everyone still preferring to use SD cards and their clever slot design can accommodate both, ProGrade Digital SD V90 cards work perfectly for capturing all other video formats.
You will notice the power of CFexpress Type A cards the most in your workflow. With read speeds of 800MB/s, you will be able to download an entire 160GB card in almost 1/3 of the time of an SD card that reads at a maximum of 300MB/s. Especially when using ProGrade Digital’s dedicated CFexpress Type A card reader.
We’re excited to announce the ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A card – a small yet powerful memory card capable of sustaining a read rate of 800MB/s and write speed of 700MB/s. Designed to speed up your workflow, eliminate obstacles that may limit your creativity, and give you peace of mind. So, whether in a studio shooting portraits, out in the wilderness attempting to capture rhinos, or directing actors on the set, you can always focus on what matters. Like, on your subjects to make sure they are in focus or that no rhinos are sneaking up on you while you try to sneak up on them.
Get your ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A card on progradedigital.com as well as at bhphoto.com, adorama.com and most Amazon markets around the world!
