CFexpress 4.0 is now available, but we need new cameras before we see faster speeds

 

CFexpress 4.0 is now available, but we need new cameras before we see faster speeds

CFexpress 4.0 cards are making their debut in the market this year, offering significantly faster read and write speeds. However, it will be some time before photographers and filmmakers can fully harness their potential.

The Compact Flash Association (CFA) unveiled the CFexpress 4.0 specification on August 28, doubling the performance of memory cards across all formats. This includes the Type A cards primarily used by Sony and the more common and affordable Type B cards.

With the CFexpress 4.0 specification, the theoretical maximum throughput is doubled, making Type A cards as fast as current Type B cards. It also pushes the new Type B cards to unprecedented speeds that were previously unseen in off-the-shelf memory cards. As a result of this increased speed capability, the CFA will introduce a new Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) specification, surpassing the existing VPG 400 certification, which guarantees transfer speeds above 400 MB/s.

Practically speaking, these enhanced speeds will empower cameras equipped to take advantage of them to transfer photos more rapidly and capture longer bursts at higher resolutions. Filmmakers will also benefit from shooting higher resolution video at faster frame rates and with greater bit depth.

However, it's essential to note that while these new cards are becoming available, they will only affect post-production workflows. Current cameras lack the capability to leverage these speeds. Additionally, the new CFexpress 4.0 reader from ProGrade Digital will achieve peak performance when connected to USB 4.0, which might not be available on some older computers.

These new cards will require an updated card reader for computers to read data at a faster rate, just as cameras will need compatible hardware to record data onto these cards. While CFexpress 4.0 is backward compatible, it only supports backward compatibility up to CFexpress 2.0 speeds. To access higher speeds, photographers and filmmakers will need to wait for camera manufacturers to release new camera bodies with upgraded hardware.

There is a silver lining, though. Current CFexpress 2.0 cards placed in a new CFexpress 4.0-equipped camera will perform at their maximum speeds. Moreover, when CFexpress 2.0 cards are used with a CFexpress 4.0 reader connected to USB 4.0, they will experience improved performance, benefiting from the necessary bandwidth to achieve promised speeds when connected to a computer. Presently, CFexpress 2.0 readers utilize older USB specifications that lack the throughput required for full-speed performance, explaining why speed tests often fall short of memory card companies' promises.

In summary, while CFexpress 4.0 cards promise faster speeds, they will initially only impact post-production workflows. Photographers and filmmakers will need to wait for camera manufacturers to catch up in order to fully utilize these capabilities in the field.