New High-Speed CF Card Proposed

By John Laposky & Greg Tarr On Dec 6 2010 - 6:01am

MILPITAS, CALIF. — Targeting professional and advanced photographers and videographers, SanDisk, Nikon and Sony recently revealed that they are developing a set of specifications for a new standardized CompactFlash (CF) card format.

The specs would triple the data transfer rates of the current CF6.0 card format, and indicates that Nikon is looking at keeping a CF card format in its pro-level d-SLR cameras. All amateur and semi-pro Nikon models currently use SD cards.

Noticeably absent from the announcement was Canon, which is a member of the Compact Flash Association (CFA), the international standards organization.

The new specs are intended to address the future requirements of professional photography and video markets, the companies said. The proposed specifications were presented to the CFA.

The three companies agreed that pro photography and HD video applications require a new generation of memory cards capable of processing significantly larger files.

The proposed specs achieve data transfer rates of up to 500MBps (theoretical maximum interface speed) using the PCI Express4 interface. The increased speeds will enable imaging and video applications that could not be accomplished using the current CompactFlash specification’s Parallel ATA (PATA) interface. CF6.0, released this month, offers maximum performance of up to 167MBps.

The faster speeds will enable continuous burst shooting of massive RAW images, SanDisk said. The enhanced performance will also allow users to quickly transfer storage-intensive highresolution photos and videos from the card to a computer.

The specs combine high-speed data transfer with low power consumption via a power-scaling system to extend battery life.

According to SanDisk, the proposed new format has the potential to extend theoretical maximum capacities beyond 2TB.

The new card would be similar in size to current CF cards.

A SanDisk spokesman called the proposed specs “a natural progression of the technology behind the current CF6.0 specs.” He also predicted that the cards would be available “sometime in the next year.”

In a statement, Canon’s Shigeto Kanda, who is the chairman of the board of the CF, said: “This ultra high-speed media format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications, and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers. This next-generation format is expected to be widely adapted to various products, including those other than highend d-SLRs.”

“The ultra-high-speed media, which will be realized by this new card format, will expand the capability of digital SLR cameras and other professional digital imaging equipment,” added Kazuyuki Kazami, operating officer, VP and GM of development for Nikon.