7 Best CFexpress Cards in 2024: Updated Ranking & Models

The fastest CFexpress cards for professional cameras.

CFexpress cards are the new dominant memory card format for digital photography and videography. It offers a big advantage over SD cards in both strength and speed.

The best CFexpress cards are up to 2.5x-3x faster than the fastest SD cards, making them a necessity for anyone shooting high-resolution photos or 4K video.

All of these cards are made with industrial-grade NAND flash and are tested for magnetism, x-rays, and UV and anti-static radiation. This means that they are perfect for photographers who need to take photos in harsh environments, such as extreme weather conditions or high-altitude locations.

CFexpress cards from this list have huge capacities that can hold all of your images and video files. This is essential for photographers like me who take a lot of photos and need to store them in a safe and reliable way.

Plus, CFexpress cards have built-in error correction code that detects and repairs errors before they can cause data corruption, ensuring that your data is not lost and preventing your camera from running into problems during recording or playback.

So, if you're a photographer who creates a lot of large files every day, or if you need to take photos in harsh environments, or if you want a reliable and fast memory card for your high-end camera, then a CFexpress card is the way to go.

Just be sure to buy from a reputable brand and make sure your card is compatible with your camera for photography and computer.

Write Speed: 700MB/s | Read Speed: 800MB/s

First of all, let me tell you, this card is a beast! It's super-fast, with read and write speeds of up to 800MB/s and 700MB/s respectively. It's perfect for those of us who need to shoot continuous RAW images or 4K 120p high-bit rate video without any buffering or lag. And trust me, it delivers on those promises.

But that's not all. The CFexpress card also complies with the VPG 400 video performance guarantee profile specification, ensuring stable, professional-grade video recording. It's built to last, with a tough design that's impact, bending, dust, and water-resistant, making it perfect for outdoor shoots and other challenging environments.

But this CFexpress card is much more expensive than traditional Micro SD cards. However, the higher price is justified by its higher data writing capability, increased durability, and superior performance.

Write Speed: 1700MB/s | Read Speed: 1900MB/s

This CFexpress card is one of the fastest on the market, offering blazing-fast transfer speeds that will impress any professional photographer or videographer. It's also designed with rugged durability in mind, making it shock and vibration-proof, and resistant to extreme temperatures.

Plus, it's backed by an excellent warranty, so you can be sure it will last as long as you need it.

Another advantage is the huge capacity of this card. At 256GB, it's more than enough for most photographers and videographers to capture and transfer large amounts of data without worrying about running out of space. The card also has a low error rate, ensuring that your shots and videos will be clear and crisp.

Now, let's talk about some disadvantages. While the Lexar Diamond Series card is fast and reliable, it can encounter errors when used in less-than-optimal conditions. So it's important to only use it on approved DSLR and mirrorless cameras and avoid situations where it may encounter errors.

Write Speed: 790MB/s | Read Speed: 880MB/s

Delkin Devices 160GB Power CFexpress card is built to last. It's shockproof, water-resistant, magnet-proof, X-ray proof, anti-static, and UV-guarded. So, if you're someone like me who's always on the move and working in various environments, this card can definitely handle it.

The Power CFexpress card has a maximum potential recording speed of 1540 MB/s, which is pretty impressive. This makes it a great option for professional photographers and videographers who need fast storage for their high-end cameras and the highest quality image formats like TIFF or RAW.

Now, let's talk about some of the disadvantages. One thing I noticed is that the card is a bit chunkier than the typical CF card. This might be a problem for some people who are used to the slimmer cards.

Also, while the card does have a solid feel to it, it's not the most aesthetically pleasing. It's just a plain black card with the Delkin logo on it. But honestly, I care more about the performance and durability of the card than how it looks.

Write Speed: 1600MB/s | Read Speed: 1785MB/s

Angelbird AV PRO 160GB card is built to withstand extreme conditions. It is protected against moisture, x-rays, shock, and dust. This is a great feature for any photographer who needs to shoot in harsh environments.

Another feature that I really like about this card is its sustained write speed of 1600MB/s. This allows for non-stop continuous high-definition shooting throughout the card's capacity. It's perfect for shooting high-bit rate video, which means you can shoot longer sequences without having to change cards.

One thing that I think could be improved is the size of the card. While 160GB is a decent amount of storage, it might not be enough for some photographers who shoot a lot of high-resolution images or video.

Write Speed: 1700MB/s | Read Speed: 1400MB/s

Being one of the best CFexpress cards, Hoodman 128GB Steel is a fast and reliable option for capturing high-quality photos and videos. It's designed with durability in mind, so it can withstand the rigors of intense shoots.

The ruggedized metal construction makes it a suitable choice for use in harsh environments.

One of the biggest advantages of this card is its high storage capacity. With 128GB of storage, you won't have to worry about running out of space during a shoot. This allows for multiple continuous shooting sessions without needing to swap out cards during recording.

However, the write speed of the card is less impressive, with a maximum of 1300 MB/s. While this is still enough to easily meet or exceed the requirements of most cameras, it's worth noting that other cards on the market have faster write speeds.

Write Speed: 1400MB/s | Read Speed: 1700MB/s

ProGrade Digital 256 GB Gold Series is a real game-changer for photographers and videographers alike. It's designed specifically for emerging mainstream imaging applications, and it's compatible with cameras and devices that have CFexpress 2.0 slots or XQD slots upgraded to support CFexpress.

One of the biggest advantages of this card is its lightning-fast speeds. It features a minimum write speed guaranteed not to drop below 300MB/s, with maximum read speeds of up to 1730MB/s and maximum write rates hitting 1540MB/s.

These are some of the fastest CFexpress cards on the market, and they make a real difference when it comes to capturing high-resolution 6K, 5K, 4K, UHD 4K, and even 8K video.

However, one downside to this card is its size. It's quite large compared to other cards on the market, which can make it difficult to carry around. Also, it's a bit pricier than some of its competitors. But in my opinion, the speed and reliability more than make up for the extra cost.

Write Speed: 1480MB/s | Read Speed: 1700MB/s

The Sony CEA-G80T CFexpress card has incredibly fast read and write speeds, reaching up to 1700MB/s and 1480MB/s respectively. This means that you can shoot high-resolution burst shots or record professional-grade 4K video with ease, without any lag or buffering.

It's also very durable and resistant to environmental factors such as X-rays, electrostatic, and UV lighting, which makes it perfect for outdoor shoots. Plus, its compact design makes it easy to store and transport, which is a huge plus for photographers who are always on the go.

However, there are a few disadvantages to be aware of. Firstly, the Sony CEA-G80T is quite expensive compared to other memory cards, for example, CF cards. This may be a deal-breaker for some photographers who are on a tight budget.

Additionally, the card can get quite hot during extended use, which may cause some concern for those who shoot for long periods of time.

When choosing the best CFexpress card, make sure to consider capacity, write speed, and reliability. With the right card, you'll be able to capture stunning photos and videos without worrying about running out of space or losing your data.

Capacity. It refers to how much data it can hold. This is important because photographers and videographers work with massive amounts of data, so you want a card that can handle that load. Keep in mind that the more capacity a card has, the more expensive it will be. So, it's important to find a balance between capacity and price.

Write speed. The faster a card can write, the more shots it can store before becoming full. Ideally, a CFexpress card should have a sustained write speed of at least 400 MB/s for the entire capacity. This will ensure that you can capture the maximum number of frames possible with your camera.

Reliability. You want a card that is physically durable and will keep your data safe from damage or loss. Make sure to read reviews and check the warranty information before purchasing a card.