SanDisk launched its new Extreme Pro CFast 2.0 memory card on Monday, a first-of-its-kind product designed for professional broadcast, cinematography and next-generation professional photography.
The 120 GB card will read speeds of up to 450 MB/s and write speeds of up to 350MB/s, making it the world’s fastest memory card.
In addition to the speed improvements, SanDisk said the new card includes a stronger, pinless design and unique serial numbers that allow owners to register their product with the company.
“With the SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast 2.0 card, we are enabling a next generation card format to meet the needs of high-end professional cinematographers,” said Dinesh Bahal, vice president, product marketing, SanDisk.
“These cards will enable new digital solutions for professional filmmakers looking to embrace technologies such as high-quality 4K video, and are another example of SanDisk’s innovation and leadership in flash memory storage,” Bahal added.
The Extreme Pro CFast card is the first to utilize the CFast 2.0 specification, which was specifically designed to meet the requirements of professional video and photography applications, SanDisk said.
Among the early adopters of the new specification are SanDisk, Canon, Codex and motion picture equipment maker ARRI, which will be the first to implement CFast 2.0 as recording media in a camera. The new documentary-style ARRI AMIRA will record to in-camera CFast 2.0 cards, and ALEXA XT camera users will be able to use a new CFast 2.0 adapter, allowing ALEXA XT cameras, as well as ALEXA Classic cameras upgraded with the XR Module, to do the same.
“SanDisk’s new SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast 2.0 cards deliver tremendous performance, allowing professionals to record ProRes 4444 up to 200Fps with AMIRA, and up to 120Fps with ALEXA XT/XR cameras, on cost-effective recording media,” Stephan Schenk, general manager of ARRI’s camera and DI systems business unit, said in a statement.
Canon also plans to develop cameras based on the CFast 2.0 spec.
“With extremely fast performance, CFast 2.0 memory cards will enable us to develop next-generation cameras with more powerful features, enabling future 4K Ultra HD video recording capability,” said Masaya Maeda, managing director and chief executive of image communication product operations at Canon.
SanDisk said the Extreme Pro CFast 2.0 memory cards will be available in the US and Europe at select photo specialty stores, and at ARRI authorized storefronts in 60GB and 120GB capacities. Pricing has not yet been disclosed.