CFexpress Explained: Do You Need This Memory Card Format For Your Videos? (2024)

As specs like video resolution and megapixel count increase, it’s become common for even entry-level bodies to have both CFexpress and SD memory card slots. But why would you need a CFexpress card instead of the SD format you’ve used for years? Here's what you should know about both formats, and when it would make sense to use CFexpress over SD.

What Is CFexpress?

CFexpress is a memory card format for digital cameras that uses the NVMe protocol and PCIe 3.0 interface (the same standard used by the SSDs built into your computer). It was first released in 2017 by the CompactFlash Association, which sets industry standards for flash memory cards, and replaced the XQD format, which first emerged in 2011.

What makes CFexpress unique is its speed. Newer cameras have better image resolution and produce larger files; 4K and 8K video recording, coupled with high burst rates like 30 frames per second, are becoming standard. But those hardware upgrades require a camera that can handle mountains of data very quickly. And to do that, they need a fast write speed, which CFe cards are designed to provide.

CFexpress Form Factor Explained

CFexpress Explained: Do You Need This Memory Card Format For Your Videos? (1)

The three types of CFexpress cards (Credit: CompactFlash Association)

In 2019, the CFA introduced two additional form factors, which differ by size, shape, and speed. The speed of these cards is partly dictated by how many PCIe “lanes” they have built in to transfer data. So when you go to buy a CFexpress card, there will be three options:

  • Type A cards have one pipeline and can transfer data at a max speed of 1GB/s. Sony is the only camera maker using this format, and reserves it for bodies capable of high speed photography or high bitrate video encoding. The Sony a7S III, a9 III, and a1 have slightly restricted video feature sets with SDXC cards, but using CFe (Type A) unlocks all recording modes. For high-speed photography, the a1 and a9 III capture more photos in a burst and clear their buffers more quickly with CFe versus SDXC.

  • Type B cards are the original, and most commonly used, version of CFexpress. They have two pipelines and can transfer data at a max speed of 2GB/s. Type B cards are used in cameras from Blackmagic Design, Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Hasselblad, Leica, and Panasonic Lumix. Of these, Nikon puts it in the most cameras: the Z 6, Z 6 II, Z 7, Z 7 II, Z 8, and Z 9 all include at least one CFe slot. These Nikons also support XQD cards in the same slot. CFe (Type B) and XQD use the same housing, but Nikon is the only brand to support both formats in its cameras.

  • Type C cards have four pipelines and can transfer data at a max speed of 4GB/s. This form factor has yet to be implemented, and there's no indication we'll ever see it in consumer cameras. You should have some headway if you’re handling massive uncompressed photo and video files regularly, but it's unlikely anyone needs this much speed.

What Cameras Support CFexpress?

CFexpress Explained: Do You Need This Memory Card Format For Your Videos? (2)

Nikon Z 6 II (Credit: Jim Fisher)

While many cameras are now built to accommodate SD cards and CFexpress cards, it is uncommon in SLRs, with only a handful of Nikons (the D5, D6, D500, and D850) supporting it using the latest firmware. Each type of CFExpress card is also a different size. Type A cards are a little smaller than conventional SD cards, while type B are the same size as Sony's XQD memory cards. Type C cards are even bigger than old-school CompactFlash cards—their extra-big size is one reason we don't think they'll be in consumer cameras anytime soon.

With the exception of the Nikon models that still work with XQD, CFe (Type B) slots are only for CFexpress cards. Cameras that do have CFexpress card slots are usually compatible with SD cards too, which is useful if you can’t afford the pricier format or don’t need the extra power. The Nikon Z 6 II and Canon EOS R5, for instance, each have a UHS-II SDXC slot in addition to CFe. Sony cameras work differently; the a7S III has two card slots and each can take a CFe (Type A) card or an SDXC card. The CFexpress format is small enough to take up the same space.

Certain camera bodies are also compatible with only certain types of CFe cards. Some are even compatible with more than one. Pay attention to which one your camera takes—if your camera uses Type B and you buy a Type A card, you won’t be able to use it even though your camera has a CFexpress card slot. Your camera manufacturer’s website will have guidelines on which memory cards you can use, and we always list supported card formats in our camera reviews.

CFexpress vs. SD: When Should You Use Them?

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SanDisk CFexpress (left) and SDXC (right) (Credit: SanDisk)

There are two reasons to use CFexpress over a fast UHS-II SDXC card: High-frame rate photography and professional video. If you have a camera like the Sony a9 III, which supports 120fps 24MP Raw bursts, or a Nikon Z 8 that does 45MP Raw at 20fps, CFe will let you get more photos at a time, and cut down the duration it takes to clear a full burst to memory.

The other reason is for professional video applications. Sony cameras gray out their highest quality slow-motion modes if you're using an SD card, but open up the full toolkit with CFe (Type A). And while Sony hasn't jumped on the Apple ProRes bandwagon, other brands support 4K 10-bit ProRes 422 HQ and even ProRes Raw internally, but only if you're using CFe (Type B) media. Popular models with ProRes support include the Lumix GH6, Fuji X-H2S, and Nikon Z 8.

A fast SD card, like an SDXC card, will still let you use a pretty high burst rate, but will take longer to write photos to memory. In our independent tests, the Sony a9 III takes 25 seconds to write a full burst to UHS-II SDXC, but only 15 seconds with CFe (Type A), which is a typical example of the speed disparity. Sports and wildlife photographers are the most likely to use high-speed continuous drive, so they should spend extra on CFexpress if their camera supports it.

For video, there are a couple reasons to choose CFexpress over SDXC. Unlocking recording features in your camera is the big one—if recording options are grayed out in menus when you have a fast V90-rated SDXC card installed, switching to CFe is usually the only way to get the extra speed to support them. Capture resolution doesn't play as much a role as you'd expect—as long as you stick to H.265/HEVC encoding you'll be find with a fast SDXC card, but ProRes and other formats that demand a higher bit rate typically require CFexpress as a rule.

The other reason to pick a CFe card is to speed up your editing workflow. When coupled with a fast card reader, like the Thunderbolt-equipped SanDisk Pro-Dock 4, you'll be able to ingest media more quickly so you can start toning photos in Lightroom Classic or editing video in Final Cut Pro without as much delay.

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What to Look for When Buying CFexpress Cards

CFexpress Explained: Do You Need This Memory Card Format For Your Videos? (7)

Exascend Nitro CFexpress Type B card (Credit: Exascend / René Ramos)

A CFexpress card is an investment that should last you a while.It's worth it to buy a reputable brand, as some unscrupulous vendors fib about speeds and VPG certification. Brands like SanDisk, ProGrade Digital, and Sony are safe bets. For video features especially you'll want one that is properly VPG-certified, thankfully the CompactFlash Association maintains a list of the card brands and models it has tested and certified.

You can find sales that take card prices down into the SD range during peak shopping seasons, like Black Friday or Prime Day. Brands like SanDisk also have discounts pretty routinely, so shop around. This will allow you to test-drive the CFexpress format to see if you need it; you can always upgrade to a more premium option down the line.

If you have the money and shoot a lot of video, cards with a Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) 400 rating are currently the fastest on the market. They're guaranteed to keep up a write speed of at least 400MB/s the entire time you’re recording without lag. Not many cards are VPG 400 rated right now, but Exascend’s Nitro line is one example, and is on the CFA's list of tested cards.

Whichever card you buy, make sure you know the sustained write speed. The number printed on the box is typically the maximum speed possible, usually only available in quick bursts during periods of high demand. The sustained write speed, on the other hand, is what the card can keep up over long periods of recording, like shooting video.

Always read the reviews and search for testing data before committing to a purchase. What the manufacturer says is often the best possible result and may differ from what you’ll actually get. *(The above video by photographer Andrejs Zavadskis breaks down how multiple cards perform at the highest video recording specs possible with his camera.)

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About John Bogna

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John is a writer/photographer currently based in Houston, Texas. He's written on everything from politics to crypto wallets and worked as a photojournalist covering notable events like the Astros Victory Parade and the Day for Night Music Festival. Current hobbies include learning to shoot 35mm film, building Spotify playlists, and working his way through that menacing TBR stack on the nightstand.

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CFexpress Explained: Do You Need This Memory Card Format For Your Videos? (2024)

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