A Summary of Compact Flash Cards

A compact flash card, or CF card, is a small memory card commonly used in camera systems. They are known for their speed, portability, and durability, which combine to make them a very popular option for both professional photographers and filmmakers. This blog will cover how to read a CF card, how CF cards work, and how they differ from SD (Secure Digital) cards.

When reading a CF card, the two most important things to consider are its size and speed. Depending on the size and speed of a card, prices can be anywhere from $10 to $900. The card’s size will generally be easily visible on the front of the card, and could be any size ranging from 4GB all the way to 512GB.

When it comes to the speed of a CF card, there are two types to know: read speed and write speed. The read speed is the rate at which a computer or device can receive information from the card. The write speed, which is the more important of the two, is the speed at which information can be written onto the card. The write speed is always slower than the read speed, but the two will generally be similar. Like the size, both of these speeds will also be on the front of the card. The card’s read speed will be displayed either in MB/s or a figure ‘x.’ On modern CF cards, there will also be a picture of a clapboard with a number. This number refers to the minimum guaranteed write speed.

So, how do CF cards work? They work via fifty pin holes that connect to the inside of a camera or other reader to share data. The pins are the biggest drawback of CF cards, because they are small, fragile, and often require maintenance. However, If a pin does bend out of place, for example, a small screwdriver can be used to carefully bend the pin back into position. Once connected, the function of a CF card is very simple - just format the card and begin to record data. Within the electronics industry, there is much debate over whether SD or CF cards offer a better format. Like anything, they both have benefits and drawbacks. SD cards are generally much cheaper, but they are also slower and more fragile than CF cards. SD cards are also smaller, and therefore easier to misplace or damage. Ultimately, there isn’t much difference between the two types of memory cards.

It should be noted that CF cards should not be confused with CFlash cards. CFast cards were designed to be an evolved version of the CF card. As their name suggests, CFast cards are faster than CF cards, but are also far more expensive. The average 60GB CFast card costs approximately $400. At that price point, you can get a CF card with more than 250GB of memory. It is difficult to say if CFast cards will ever completely replace the CF card, but many new devices are accepting CFast cards instead of the traditional CF. Nevertheless, CF cards will be around for a long time.

For CF cards of all types and much more, look no further than NSN Stocks, a trusted supplier of parts for a wide range of industries. We are an online distributor of aircraft parts in addition to parts pertaining to the aerospace, civil aviation, defense, electronics, and IT hardware markets. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, call us at 1-714-705-4780 or email us at sales@nsnstocks.com.