Memory Card Comparison - CFExpress and XQD
Eric Bowles
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#1. "RE: Memory Card Comparison - CFExpress and XQD" | In response to Reply # 0
Tue 23-Feb-21 04:39 PMHere is the same data for the Z6. The Z6 seems to be a little more consistent suggestion the performance continues to be "tuned" for more consistency.
Attachment#1 (jpg file)
Attachment#2 (jpg file)
Eric Bowles
Director - Nikonians Academy
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#2. "RE: Memory Card Comparison - CFExpress and XQD" | In response to Reply # 0
Tue 23-Feb-21 05:01 PMNice work, Eric. I would love to see a high quality 128GB SDXC card thrown into the mix, just to see the practical difference between the CFExpress and the SDXC. I'm using a 128GB SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-1 card in my Z 7ii, and I'm having a hard time coming up with a real good reason to use a CFExpress card. First, I can buy a lot of these SDXC cards for the cost of just one of the CFExpress cards. But the bigger reason has to do with the convenience of built-in SD card readers in both my desktop and laptop computers. If I convert to CFExpress cards, that means I'll have to have a USB-cabled CFExpress card reader handy to pull the files off the card. Unless I'm missing something, that's the only way you'll be able to take advantage of the speed of CFExpress cards, at least on the read side (I always transfer files to my computer by removing the card from the camera and putting the card into a reader). That means I have to remember to take the CFExpress reader off my desk and pack it into my camera bag when traveling, or buy two readers and leave one plugged into my desktop and the other permanently kept in my camera bag. Using the built in readers in both computers means that's one less wired device I have to deal with. I haven't seen any multi-format card readers that include CFExpress that can be installed in a drive bay with front-panel access on a desktop computer, and there will never be a built-in solution for the laptop. So, on the read side, it's really just a convenience thing.
On the write side, the difference in performance is indisputable, but for my style of shooting, I'm not convinced there is a practical benefit, other than the overflow capability of using the second slot or the redundancy of using the backup capability, which incidentally nullifies the speed advantage. I don't typically shoot long bursts, so I never see the buffer fill up. One of my objectives with the new Z 7ii is to start doing time lapse photography, so I can see where the faster speed of the CFExpress cards would theoretically shorten the dark time of time lapse intervals, but I'll cross that bridge if I come to it. I also don't shoot much in the way of video, but I suppose that could change, and if it does, I can cross that bridge, as well.
So, I'd be very interested in hearing your thoughts on the practical benefits of using CFExpress cards, and how that figures into your style of shooting. I've read that CFExpress cards are more robustly built, and I will certainly concede that point, although I've never had an SD card fail.
RussI invite you to visit my website: www.wishyouwereherephotos.com
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#3. "RE: Memory Card Comparison - CFExpress and XQD" | In response to Reply # 2
Tue 23-Feb-21 05:26 PM | edited Tue 23-Feb-21 05:27 PM by ericbowlesHi Russ
I ran a quick test with the Lexar 2000x SD 64GB card that I originally bought for my D500 and D850. It was relatively fast - no meaningful difference between this SD card and the higher end Delkin Cobalt CFExpress card in my Z7II. This was for camera shooting rate - not for download speed.
That was a surprise for me. All these cards seem to be around the same speed for the first until the buffer fills, but the buffer fills more slowly with the higher end CFExpress card (1-2 seconds longer to fill). But once the buffer is filled, all the cards slow to around the same rate. Even if there is space in the buffer, the camera does not meaningfully speed up to use that capacity. It's as though the camera is instructed to write at 3-4 fps once the buffer fills until there is a break.Eric Bowles
Director - Nikonians Academy
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#4. "RE: Memory Card Comparison - CFExpress and XQD" | In response to Reply # 3
Tue 23-Feb-21 05:52 PMSo, does that mean that you are not really finding a significant practical advantage to using CFExpress cards instead of a fast SD card?
RussI invite you to visit my website: www.wishyouwereherephotos.com
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#6. "RE: Memory Card Comparison - CFExpress and XQD" | In response to Reply # 4
Tue 23-Feb-21 10:11 PMThe benefit is less than expected, but more important with short bursts rather than long bursts. The benefit of a fast CF express card is in the 4-6 second period of a burst. That is true for SD cards as well as slower CFE cards.
It also means burst speed and frame rate are not very important in a camera.
I suspect that is why Nikon designed the camera that way.Eric Bowles
Director - Nikonians Academy
Nikonians Team Moderator
My Gallery
Workshops and Private Instruction
Nikonians membership — my most important photographic investment, after the camera
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#5. "RE: Memory Card Comparison - CFExpress and XQD" | In response to Reply # 3
Tue 23-Feb-21 06:23 PMThanks for your great work on this, Eric.
I have mostly bought Lexar over the years. I have kinda moved up to the CFExpress now, but bought Sony.
One small criticism, for new people, I recommend you label your axes.
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#7. "RE: Memory Card Comparison - CFExpress and XQD" | In response to Reply # 0
Thanks for sharing the results of your testing.
Given the theoretical speed advantage of CF Express ove XQD, the results are eye opening.
Best Regards,
Marty
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Methodology
I used a Nikon Z7II with three cards - Delkin Power CFExpress 128GB, Prograde Gold CFExpress 128GB, and Lexar XQD 64GB. The test included both 14 bit and 12 bit NEF files with Lossless Compression.
Camera settings were Electronic Shutter, AF-C Single, and other settings to reduce processor impact.
Counts are based on counting the number of images recorded in each whole second as reported in the file EXIF data. That data was entered into an Excel spreadsheet. Yes - I counted nearly 1000 frames just for this report.
The intent was to simulate the way I photograph.
What you can see is an edge to the high performance card - the Delkin Power 128GB over the other two card. The first 4-6 seconds ran at the peak frame rate until the buffer was filled, and then the camera slowed significantly. With the ProGrade Gold - a lower level card - not only did you see the buffer filled faster, but the write speed and shooting rate were more compromised. I don't know whether this is due to differences in thermal management by the card, the camera, or a combination. I was surprised to see the relatively good performance with the XQD card.
The vertical axis shows the number of frames shot in each full second.
The horizontal axis shows each full second time interval in the order shot.