There is a new type of memory card in town, one that puts a large emphasis on transferring data as fast as possible, faster than all the existing CompactFlash cards. As one can easily guess, the CompactFlash association is responsible for the appearance of the new card.
Then again, it would be more appropriate to say that the organization came up with a new card standard, not a card per se.
The standard is called XQD and utilizes a PCI Express interface.
The bandwidth of the technology is 2.5 Gbps for now and should, eventually, go as high as 5 Gbps.
Right now, the maximum write speeds that XQD cards can reach is 125 MB/s, quite a bit, all things considered.
That the speed will go even higher in future iterations is definitely something to look forward to as well.
As an extra, XQD cards are supposed to be very sturdy, not just speedy.
"The XQD format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications, and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers," said Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon, chairman of the board, CFA.
An XQD card measures 38.5 x 29.8 x 3.8 mm (1.5 x 1.17 x 0.14 inches), which makes it smaller than a CompactFlash Card but larger than an SD card.
For those who want all the specifics, a CF card is 43 x 36 x 5 mm (1.69 x 1.41 x 0.19 inches) and an SD card is 32 x 24 x 2.1 mm (1.25 x 0.94 x 0.08 inches).
The CP+ 2012 event in Yokohama, Japan (February 9-12) is where XQD cards will be showcased and licensing of the format might begin even sooner.
No clue when products based on the new specification start selling though, so professional photographers needn't rejoice just yet.
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