CFexpress is now the memory card format of choice for professional cameras, as the best CFexpress cards are significantly faster than even UHS-II SD cards. Evolving from the XQD card format, CFexpress Type B cards share the same outer design as XQD cards, but pack faster memory inside, making them some of the fastest memory cards available today.
Almost all cameras that originally supported XQD cards have now been firmware-updated to also work with CFexpress Type B cards, so cameras like the Nikon Z6 and Z7 are no longer restricted to XQD cards alone.
Sony has muddied the CFexpress waters by bring to market CFexpress Type A cards (yup, A comes before B, and yet we got Type B cards first - confusing, isn't it!). The Type A CFexpress card variant is physically smaller than the Type B standard, and therefore you can't use a Type A card in a camera designed for XQD/CFexpress Type B cards. You wouldn't really want to though, as the drawback of CFexpress Type A's compactness is a reduction in read/write speed, compared to Type B cards. At present, very few cameras use CFexpress Type A cards: most notably the Sony A7 IV, A1 and A7S III.
Both Type A and Type B CFexpress formats are based around the same super-fast PCI express Gen3 interface and NVMe 1.3 technology, much like the best portable SSDs. However, they differ in the amount of PCIe data transfer lanes available, with Type A cards using one PCIe lane for a theoretical maximum 1000MB/s data bandwidth, whereas Type B cards have 2 lanes allowing for 2000MB/s max speeds.
Here we're listing the best CFexpress Type B and Type A cards available right now. Don't expect to find any cheap bargain buys like you can with SD cards - CFexpress is still a premium card format, and therefore commands premium prices. But you can rest easy knowing all the cards on this list offer top-notch performance and will do justice to your camera.
Ben Andrews
Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or checking the performance of a memory card, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.
Sony was first to bring Type A cards to market, and this offering is still a smart buy, with respectable transfer speeds and solid build. Read more below...
The best CFexpress cards in 2024
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✅ You want a great all-rounder: Super fast, yet fairly priced: this Type B card is everything you really need.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want lots of capacities to choose from: With only two middling capacities, there's no entry-level or super-high-capacity option.
ProGrade Digital was one of the first companies to champion the CFexpress format, even before cameras supported it. Its top-of-the-range Cobalt range of CFexpress Type B cards set new standards for CFexpress performance. Headline performance stats of 1700MB/s read and 1500MB/s write rates are certainly respectable, but rival cards can match or even slightly exceed that.
However, where the Cobalt cards really shine is that ProGrade doesn't just advertise their peak read/write speeds, it actually guarantees the minimum sustained write speed (host device permitting). In this case, that's 1400MB/s - just 100MB/s shy of the 1500MB/s max write rate, which is hugely impressive. Two capacities are offered - 325GB and 650GB - and both are 'reassuringly' expensive for their size, but when has top performance ever been cheap?
✅ You want the absolute best: Huge speed, huge capacity - if only the best will do, look no further.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want good value: This is far beyond what today's cameras actually need from a Type B card - you're mostly paying for bragging rights.
CFexpress 4.0 cards are the next generation of CFexpress cards, and they're twice as fast as the cards we've come to know and love. Consequently this ProGrade card is capable of incredible read / write speeds of 3400 / 3000MB/s, and an equally impressive 2100MB/s minimum sustained write speed. That's way faster than any real-world use case can require, but if you must have the very best, this is it. There's only one capacity option available - 1.3TB - so even with these awesome transfer speeds, it'll take a while to fill up.
3. Integral UltimaPro X2 CFexpress Memory Card Type B 2.0
A great value CFexpress Type B card
Specifications
Max read speed: 1700MB/s
Max write speed: 1600MB/s
Available capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Reasons to buy
+
Very well priced
+
Hugely fast read/write speeds
+
Multiple memory capacity options
Buy it if
✅ You want great value: This card offers stunning performance for the money, with plenty of capacity options.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You shoot super-high-res video: Integral doesn't quote a minimum write speed, so it might not be the best for high bit rate 4K and 8K video recording.
Integral's UltimaPro X2 CFexpress card stands out by offering stunning performance at a price that's appreciably less than most rivals. Despite it costing less than the competition, you get 1700MB/s max read and 1600MB/s max write rates, which are some of the fastest on the market.
Is this all too good to be true? Well, unlike some more premium CFexpress cards, minimum write rates aren't specified, but these are minor quibbles with what's otherwise the best value CFexpress card you can buy right now – and comes in a huge range of capacity options from 64GB right up to 2TB.
Best high capacity
4. Angelbird AV Pro MK2 CFexpress 2.0 Type B
Fast, and available in very high capacities
Specifications
Max read speed: 1785MB/s
Max write speed: 1550MB/s
Available capacities: 2TB, 4TB
Reasons to buy
+
Large capacities
+
Fast read/write speeds
+
1300MB/s sustained write speed
Reasons to avoid
-
Predictably expensive
Buy it if
✅ You shoot lots of 4K video: Huge storage space and a fast minimum write rate makes this ideal if you shoot long periods of storage-sapping video.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're on a tight budget: With the 4TB version costing well over $1000, this is a hefty investment.
Angelbird produces several distinct ranges of Type B cards, but we reckon the AV PRO Mk2 range offers the best combination of speed and high capacity. Available only in 2TB and 4TB capacities, you'll need to regularly be shooting high resolution footage to justify these high-capacity cards, but then you won't have to worry often about running out of storage space.
Both capacities boast very respectable 1785/1550MB/s maximum read/write speeds, putting them on par with some of the fastest Type B cards on the market. But most impressive - and likely most important - is the 1300MB/s sustained write speed, which makes these cards fast enough for 12K raw video recording.
✅ You shoot 4K or 8k video: This card is built for sustained speed, making it ideal for long video shoots
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a very high capacity: Capacities top out at 640GB, which can fill up when shooting 8K video
Though headline maximum read and write speeds may not be class leading, the Pro-Cinema card is all about reliably high performance, not occasional one-off bursts. Consequently this is a card that promises a minimum sustained write rate of 1400MB/s, making it ideal for recording 8K, high bit-rate video for long periods. Pro-Cinema cards are also built to last, with drop and crush resistance.
We were impressed to find our Pro-Cinema review sample card performed almost exactly as advertised when we tested it, turning in excellent read and write speeds in software benchmarks, and shrugging off anything we could throw at it in real-world testing.
This is far from the cheapest Type B card out there, but if you need a card you can depend on, it's a great buy.
Superb minimum write speed - great for high res video recording
Specifications
Max read speed: 1780MB/s
Max write speed: 1700MB/s
Available capacities: 128GB-2TB
Reasons to buy
+
Loads of capacity options
+
Superb warranty
+
Very quick
Reasons to avoid
-
Higher capacities are predictably expensive
-
Smaller capacities are slower
Buy it if
✅ Video recording is a priority: A minimum 1490MB/s write speed is great for ensuring flawless recording of high-bit-rate video.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want one of the smaller capacity cards: The lower capacity cards in the range are significantly slower than the 650GB+ cards.
Boasting max read/write speeds of 1780/1700MB/s respectively, this Type B card is seriously rapid. Most importantly for videographers, the 650GB+ cards are capable of a 1490MB/s minimum write speed, ensuring smooth recording at even the highest resolutions (avoid the 512GB and smaller versions though, as these are much slower).
What's more, with capacities ranging from 128GB right up to a humongous 2TB, there's sure to be a Delkin Power CFexpress card to suit your storage needs and budget.
Delkin's CFexpress cards are backed by a lifetime warranty and a stunning 48-hour card replacement service in the US and Europe – impressive stuff, and valuable peace of mind for working pro shooters. It's also worth noting that Nikon specifically told us that this card produces the best speeds and results when shooting with the Nikon Z9.
✅ You want a decent all-round performer: Super-fast read speeds and loads of available capacities make this Lexar card a smart buy.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want top-notch write speeds: Max write speeds are a little slower than the competition, but it's far from a deal-beaker.
Lexar Professional CFexpress GOLD Series cards can be had in capacities from 128GB all the way up to 2TB. The 128GB-512GB versions boast speed ratings of up to 1750MB/s read and 1500MB/s write, while the top 1TB and 2TB cards have a slightly higher max read speed of 1900MB/s. These two top-end cards also have a higher minimum sustained write speed of 1300MB/s, whereas the 512GB and lower capacities are only rated for 1000MB/s sustained write.
We've tested an earlier version of Lexar's Type B GOLD card, with slower speed ratings, so our test results are not necessarily representative of how new-generation cards will perform. Even so, here's our full Lexar Professional CFexpress Type-B Card review
✅ You want to bag a bargain: These SanDisk cards are widely available and are often discounted, making them great value.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a lower capacity version: Only the 512GB card is capable of the highest speeds. All the lower capacity cards are slower, and the 64GB version significantly so.
SanDisk's Extreme PRO memory cards are often class-leading, but in the CFexpress sector SanDisk is up against some intense - and faster - competition. Available in 64-512GB capacities, read speeds top out at an impressive 1700MB/s, and write rates a decent 1400MB/s.
However, those speeds only apply to the top 512GB card. Go for the 256GB or 128GB versions and peak write speeds drop to 1200MB/s, though this is still plenty fast enough for most scenarios. However, you'd be wise to avoid the base 64GB card, as it is only rated for 1500/800MB/s read/write speeds, which is significantly slower than most competing cards.
✅ You want peace of mind: Delkin's warranty and card replacement policy is superb - great if you're working on mission-critical content.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a very high capacity: The top 650GB capacity should be enough for most situations, but rival brands offer 1TB+ cards.
Delkin Device’s Black CFexpress Type B cards are a bit more expensive than some of the competition, but the promise of a replacement within 48 hours without the company actually needing have received your faulty card is reassuring.
You need to pick the right capacity to get the performance you want - the entry-level 75GB card is a little slower than large capacity cards in the Black range.
Whilst Delkin's Power cards are designed for 6K and 4K raw video recording, the Black cards that are designed to meet the increased data speed needed for 8K raw video recording. This is backed up by an exceptionally fast 1530MB/s minimum sustained write speed (1240MB/s for the 75GB variant).
Available capacities: 80GB, 160GB, 320GB, 640GB, 960GB, 1920GB
Reasons to buy
+
Rugged build and water/dust resistant
+
VPG400-compliant
+
Compact size
Reasons to avoid
-
Very high price per gigabyte
-
Slower than CFexpress Type B cards
Buy it if
✅ You want a capable all-rounder: Sony's Type A card comes in loads of capacity options and is built to last.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want maximum bang per buck: You pay a premium for this card's toughness, and the Sony brand name
CFexpress Type A cards are a rarity right now, being supported by very few Sony cameras. Though the Type A standard suggests a maximum theoretical transfer rate of 1000MB/s, Sony's cards are capable of 800MB/s read and 700MB/s write. However, that is more than twice as fast as a top-end UHS-II SD card, and should be fast enough for shooting 4K 120p high bit rate video.
Sony's CFexpress Type A cards are also VPG400-compliant (video performance guarantee), ensuring stable video recording at 400MB/s, and are also claimed to have increased bend and impact resistance, as well as IP57-rated water and dust resistance - hence Sony's 'Tough' branding. Various capacities are available, from 80GB, right up to a class-leading 1920GB, though all are relatively expensive for the storage you get.
CFexpress Type A vs Type B
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0
Type A
Type B
Dimensions:
20mm x 28mm x 2.8mm
38.5mm x 29.8mm x 3.8mm
PCIe interface:
Gen3, 1 lane
Gen3, 2 lanes
Maximum theoretical performance:
1000MB/s
2000MB/s
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Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.