The best CFexpress cards give photographers and videographers more flexibility in their work by providing faster memory in a durable compact form. CFexpress cards evolved from XQD memory, with which the Type B cards share the same body design. In fact, most camera manufacturers have released firmware updates for their cameras that use XQD cards to support the use of CFexpress memory as well.
In essence, CFexpress cards are the evolution of the XQD and CompactFlast (CF) memory card formats. They are designed to write and read content at ultra-fast speeds, whether you’re shooting stills or video. The best CFexpress cards can achieve data transfer speeds of up to 2,000MB/s, meaning you can transfer data-rich content such as 14-bit uncompressed raw files or 8K video. This is based on Type B cards, which are the most widely used.
- Best XQD cards you can buy today
What are Type A, B and C CFexpress cards?
There are three ‘types’ of CFexpress cards you can buy. Type A cards are a little smaller than an SD card, but thicker. Type B is the most widely supported and is the same shape and size as XQD cards. Type C is the newest development in CFexpress memory and isn’t currently supported in any consumer products as of the time of writing. Below is a breakdown of the three types of CFexpress cards and their size and data capabilities:
- CFexpress Type A – up to 1GB/s, 20mm x 28mm x 2.8mm
- CFexpress Type B – up to 2GB/s, 38.5mm x 29.8mm x 3.8mm
- CFexpress Type C – up to 4GB/s, 54mm x 74mm x 4.8mm
For more information on the different types of CFexpress cards, see our guide to Which cameras use CFexpress cards.
Is CFexpress better than SD?
Yes, CFexpress cards are considered to be superior to SD memory cards. CFexpress cards are much faster when reading and writing data. They are also more rugged and durable. SD cards can break when dropped or stepped on, or if exposed to water. CFexpress cards are hardier.
The CFexpress Type B memory format employs the same PCI express Gen3 interface and NVMe 1.3 tech that you find in the ultra-fast SSDs on the market. So you’re effectively getting the power and speed of the best portable SSDs inside your camera.
On the other hand, the best CFexpress cards are not cheap. Certainly, look to spend at least £100 / $100 for the smallest capacity cards. CFexpress is a premium memory card format, aimed at professionals and content creators.
The best CFexpress cards you can buy today
All of our recommendations for the best CFexpress cards below are based on our tests using these cards. We tested each card’s read and write speeds using Blackmagic Design’s Disk Speed Test, and then their in-camera performance by putting them through their paces to test continuous shooting rate and burst depth.
