Most modern cameras today use SD cards as their storage, however, with the need for larger storage capacity cards and faster-performing memory cards, CFast Cards 2.0 are slowly getting introduced to newer generations of cameras.
CFast cards use Serial ATA connection which is the same as what your computer uses on hard drives. It works almost like an SSD and can transfer data at a rate of 6GB per second max. This makes CFast cards great for 4k/8k video recordings as they can accept more data faster and transfer high resolution recordings to another storage device way faster.
Today, we are going to review some of the best CFast 2.0 cards, along with CFast readers available on the market today.
Let’s get started!
Best CFast Cards 2.0
#1: PixelFlash CFast 2.0 Card
This hyper core model from PixelFlash can reach up to 560 MB per second on both read and write speed. It has a DSI factory certification which guarantees the CFast card to be 100% free from errors and other defects. The PixelFlash CFast card is often used on top camera brands like Canon, Blackmagic Cinema, Leica, and Phase One. Given that this card is only 128 GB in storage capacity, we recommend that you use this for photography and some light video recordings. You can get the PixelFlash Hyper Core CFast card on Amazon for $46.
#2: Silicon Power Cinema PRO CFast Card 2.0
Designed for professional photographers and videographers, the Silicon Power Cinema Pro is specially made for 4k cinematic cameras. It features a 530 MB per second transfer speeds and a decent 330 MB per second write speed. The card is Blackmagic approved and has a ProRes HQ 60 FPS certification. It uses a Toshiba MLC Nand flash for guaranteed quality and has a 3-year manufacturer warranty. You can get the 128 GB variant of the Silicon Power Cinema Pro CFast Card on Amazon for $75.
#3: Lexar Professional 3500x CFast 2.0 Memory Card
Here’s a CFast card from one of the best memory card manufacturers. The Lexar Professional 3500x is a CFast card that offers up to 512 GB of storage capacity. In terms of performance, the card can easily reach up to 525 MB per second transfer speed and a write speed of up to 445 MB per second. This allows you to record 4k videos and other types of content like RAW and ProRes. It is available on Amazon for 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB storage options. The 64 GB variant is priced at $150.
#4: SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast 2.0 Card
Last on our list is from the best memory card manufacturer SanDisk. Their Extreme Pro CFast card is optimized and guaranteed to work on most high-end cameras like ARRI, Canon, and Blackmagic. It packs a 525 MB per second transfer speed which can help a lot in cutting down waiting time when transferring files from your CFast card to your computer. Now in terms of write speed, the SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast card can reach up to 450 MB per second which is great for RAW, ProRes, and 4k video recordings.
#5: FreeTail Evoke Pro Cfast Card
The FreeTail Evoke Cfast card can easily handle short burst shots of 7-8 images at a time. It packs a 560 MB per second transfer speed which is really fast and perfect for transferring large 4k video files to another storage device like your computer. In terms of build quality, unlike other CFast cards at this level the FreeTail Evoke Pro is built from plastic which quite disappointing however, it still feels solid. The FreeTail Evoke Pro is available on Amazon for 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB storage variant.
More compact Flash Cards: 5 Best Compact Flash Cards + Tips (Full Review).
Best CFast Card Readers
Now, since you would use a CFast card, there’s also a high chance that you would need a CFast card reader. Here are some decent CFast card readers that you can get so that you won’t have any problems reading your card to your computer.
Lexar Professional Dual-Slot CF and SD Card Reader
If you are looking for a portable CFast reader then you should consider getting the Lexar Professional Dula-Slot CF card reader. It has a removable USB connector and features a pop-up design to save space when packing the reader on your travel bag. In terms of performance, the card reader features a UHS-II interface and has a USB connector capable of reaching up to 500 MB per second that translates to at least 150 MB per second transfer speed on real-world performance. You can get the Lexar Professional Dual-Slot CFast reader on Amazon for $30.
Delkin USB 3.0 Dual Slot SD UHS-II and CF Memory Card Reader
Here’s a budget CF card reader the Delkin CFast memory card reader. For just $20 you get support for USB 3.0 and compatibility with UHS-II cards. It has a 90 CM USB connector that is non-removable. When it comes to performance, the card may not be on par with the best CF card readers but for the price you are getting the card is still a good option. Transfer of videos can reach a maximum speed of 233 MB per second on CFast memory cards. It has two card slots and can be used at the same time for SD cards and one for CFast cards.
More CFast Card Readers: 7 Best CF (Compact Flash) Card Readers [Review].
What Cameras Use CFast Cards?
CFast cards are often used by cinema cameras like the above ARR Alexa. Here’s a list of a few more cameras that use this memory card:
- Blackmagic Camera
- ARRI Alexa Camera
- High-end Canon Professional Cameras
- Phase One Camera
These types of cameras are capable of producing ultra-resolution videos and photos. They are equipped with high-end camera sensors and lenses. It uses CFast cards due to SD cards not being able to handle their required encoding speeds. CFast cards are created to address this issue being able to transfer huge files very fast and with a high reliability.
This sums up our review on the best CFast cards and CFast readers. I hope that this guide helped you in buying the best CFast card for your needs. If you liked the review, we would highly appreciate to give it a share!
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