New 3000x Sandisk Compact Flash cards to supercharge raw video on 5D Mark III

[Andrew Reid]

Sandisk have announced some professional-grade Compact Flash cards at IBC 2013 with capacities as high as 256GB. Branded Sandisk CFast 2.0, the real breakthrough is the speed of the cards, rated at 3000x compared to the current best 1000x cards.

[url=http://www.eoshd.com/content/11161/new-3000x-sandisk-compact-flash-cards-could-enable-3-5k-raw-video-on-5d-mark-iii]Read the full article here[/url]

[MattH]

I wasn't sure whether these cards would make a difference when I read about them on DPreview yesterday.

http://***URL removed***/news/2013/09/12/sandisk-offers-new-256gb-compactflash-card?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=news-list&utm_medium=text&ref=title_0_4

 

  In their page it says:

"The card delivers minimum sustained write speeds of 65MB/s2"

 

The higher numbers of 140MB/s and 160MB/s are given as transfer speeds:

 

"The 256GB SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash card has industry-leading transfer speeds of up to 160MB/s4, designed to dramatically improve workflow efficiencies, and delivers fast shot speeds of up to 140MB/s4 for advanced functions such as fast action and continuous burst mode shots."

 

Does this mean that they will only write at these speeds for short bursts or/and only when transferring to computer via a reader?

[Felipe Robles]

The CompactFlash Association Announces CFast 2.0 Draft Specification

CFast2.0 Introduces SATA-3 Format Capable of Up to 600MB/sec

Cupertino, California â€“ September 18, 2012 – The CompactFlash Association (CFA) announces the CFast 2.0 draft specification and celebrates seventeen years of performance leadership in flash memory card markets. The CFast 2.0 draft specification was approved by the CFA Board of Directors for a 90 day final approval vote by all voting members. General availability of the CFast 2.0 specification for non-members is expected in Q4 of 2012. The CompactFlash Association was formed in 1995 as the initial digital film format and continues to serve professional imaging markets where high performance and high quality recording media are important. CFA has consistently created specifications to meet the current and future requirements for professional imaging and video markets. CFast2.0’s performance capability of up to 600MB/sec enable CFA to serve new professional video markets such as high definition TV production and cinema video production environments.

CFast 2.0 leverages the SATA-3 interface for higher performance based on a computing industry storage interface and protocol. Host manufacturers will be able to leverage their experience and investment in the ATA storage protocol and media manufacturers will be able to leverage high volume solid state disk (SSD) controller technology to serve the high performance requirements of this market. The new format will have VPG (Video Performance Guarantee) capability with profiles capable of supporting compressed digital intermediate video formats.

Professional video features are growing more powerful, with 2K video enjoying widespread use and 4K video already gaining adoption in high-end production environments. High Definition TV production environments require digital intermediate compression formats where 2K @ 120 frames per second requires reliable performance of 200MB/sec to 250MB/sec. 4K production environments require 4X the data rates of 2K. For example, 4K at 30 frames per second also requires 200MB/sec to 250MB/sec. These next-generation video applications produce videos with incredibly high resolution that exceed CompactFlash cards’ data recording maximum capability of 167MB/sec for CF6.0.

The new CFast2.0 specification is available to members and will be available for purchase by non- members after the IP review period closes in the fourth quarter of 2012. Key features of CFast2.0 include:
 

Key Feature Benefit   SATA-3 Interface* Provides an interface speed of 600MB/s. This speed enhancement enables a new generation of higher performance cards to meet requirements for professional video recording requirements.   DEVSLP* Provides a low power sleep mode that helps preserve battery life when the card is not in use.   Professional Form Factor
42.8mm x 36.4mm x 3.6mm Provides a small enough package to fit into maintain/reduce camera size while providing room for memory to support large capacity cards required for professional video recording formats.

 
Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon and the CFA chairman of the board said; “As the Chairman of the CompactFlash Association I am pleased to introduce CFast2.0 continuing our tradition of performance leadership. The higher performance provided by CFast2.0 will further increase the capabilities and value for photographers, videographers, and cinematographers. I am very pleased and proud to see the CFA creating standards that address new professional market segments for CFA.”

CFA has recently added several new members interested in CFA’s next generation and higher performance standards. CFA invites host and media companies interested in supporting the new CFA specifications to also join CFA as members. Membership in the CompactFlash Association enables participation in CFA work groups and access to draft specifications before they are approved and available for purchase by non- members. More information can be found at http://www.compactflash.org.

The CFA, VPG, and CFast logos are trademarks of the CFA and are licensed royalty free to its members. * SATA-3 and DEVSLP are owned by SATA-I/O and licensed to CFA for use in the CFast specifications.

http://compactflash.org/2012/the-compactflash-association-announces-cfast-2-0-draft-specification/

[stratocaster0811]

These cards aren't backwards compatible with CF cards or cameras that use them.  These are part of a standard that was announced back in 2008 as a successor to CF.  They use the faster SATA architecture as opposed to the PATA architecture of CF and have SATA connectors.

 

The 256 GB ExtremePro card that was just announced is the conventional CF type not CFast so those read/write times are not reflective of the new CFast cards.

 

So unfortunately, while it is good to dream that you will get great raw video framerates with such cards.  The hardware is not compatible with the 5d3.

[Andrew Reid]

Ah. Oh dear.

 

Here's hoping for the 5D Mark IV then.

[stratocaster0811]

I'm sure new higher speed stuff will come down the pipeline from Lexar, Sandisk, etc... that will help with the 5d3 raw video.  Too many people are using CF for the companies to just kill it, but it's limitations are becoming more obvious.  Also with the new design, no more bent pins!!!

[Brellivids]

I would not write this off just yet. It could very well be that the new Sandisk cards will enable write speeds in the range of 120MB/s.. such speeds are nothing to be upset about. Some one needs to be the initial tester tho. How about Andrew.. If you arrange a donation campaing I'm willing to throw 1-2 euros towards you buying one 128GB one and testing it in a 5DMK III ;)

 

A little snippet ppl may have missed .. from Sandisk anouncement:

 

Increased Speeds Across the Product Line
To coincide with the launch of the 256GB SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash card, SanDisk is increasing the speed across each capacity of the SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash line. The other SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards, available in capacities of 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB, will now feature read speeds of up to 160MB/s4 and write speeds of up to 150MB/s4, as well as the same VPG as the 256GB card.

 

Oh and they announced a first ever 450MB/s card btw. (Apparently this is what Adrew was excited about)

 

http://***URL removed***/news/2013/09/13/sandisk-introduces-first-cfast-2-0-memory-card?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=news-list&utm_medium=text&ref=title_0_3