14 DAY TRIAL // The CompactFlash association has announced a new type of memory card, so SanDisk decided to quickly provide products based on it, even it is hasn't reached the point where it feels confident enough to mass-produce them.
The new memory card specification is called CFast2.0 and features a theoretical maximum transfer speed of 600 MB/s, four times more than today's best CompactFlash cards.
In fact, 600 MB/s is a greater speed than even SATA III solid-state drives have to offer (the best have 550 MB/s read and 500+ write rates).
Needless to say, this can only mean good things for professional photographers, since the speed allows images to be shot at 40-megapixel resolution.
Cameras are just one business outlet though. The capacity and speed of CFast2.0 cards is bound to make CompactFlash cards popular in other areas.
SanDisk is already shipping samples of CFast2.0 memory cards to camera manufacturers, and should soon draw the interest of TV makers and cinematographers.
“CFast2.0 memory cards will help drive the future of professional photography and video-recording applications,” said Shuki Nir, senior vice president and general manager, retail, SanDisk.
“With the CFast2.0 specification’s unparalleled performance, flash memory can now enter new markets such as high-definition TV and even cinema production.”
Canon happens to be one of the main clients, which is not surprising considering what kind of products it unveiled over the past few days, not the least of which is the 20.2-Megapixel Full Frame EOS 6D DSLR.
The PowerShot line, which has just welcomed the G15, S110 and SX50 HS cameras, may eventually use CFast2.0 as well.
“Professional photographers, videographers and cinematographers demand increasingly powerful cameras that help them unleash their creativity,” said Masaya Maeda, managing director and chief executive, image communication products operations, Canon.
“With extremely fast performance, CFast2.0 memory cards will enable us to develop next-generation cameras with more powerful features than are currently supported by CompactFlash cards.”