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Best Compact Flash Card for Storing High-Quality Images and Videos

  1. Lexar Professional Compact Flash Card
  2. SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO CompactFlash Card
  3. SanDisk Extreme 128GB CompactFlash Card
  4. Transcend 8GB 133x CompactFlash Card
  5. Kingston Technology CF/256 256MB Compact Flash Card

Compact Flash cards are frequently used with digital cameras and can store a wide range of different types of data. As you look at different cards, consider the speeds of each one which will give you faster data transfer rates while making it easier to take large HD photos with a camera. It’s also important to consider the maximum size of a card as well as the options available for other storage sizes.

These are CompactFlash cards which provide the best speed and performance thanks to the fastest transfer rates available. You get a minimum of 85MB/s as the fastest rate on these cards, though some of them can get up to as fast as 160MB/s for incredible read/write speeds. The maximum data size on these CompactFlash cards is excellent, with maximum storage sizes of at least 64GB although some of them are as large as 256GB. You also get a wide selection of data amounts to choose from and most of these cards are available in at least four different storage sizes. Lastly, all of these best compactflash cards in 2022 are made to be very durable and come with lifetime warranties from the manufacturers.

The Best Compact Flash Card Models of 2022 in Detail

Lexar Professional Compact Flash Card - Best CompactFlash Card Overall

If you’re looking for a CompactFlash card to store pictures while on a vacation, then this is probably a lot more card than you need. It’s designed for professionals and with that in mind, this is about the best CompactFlash card you’re going to find. This is a 1066x model with maximum speeds up to 160MB/s, which offers terrific read/write transfer rates. The maximum size of this card is 256GB, which gives you a ton of storage while making this the most expensive option on our list.

One of the best features of this card is it gives you more options than almost any other card out there. There are four other sizes available: 128GB, 64GB, 32GB, and 16GB with each size being substantially less expensive the lower you go. If you don’t need 256GB of storage, you can pick up a 16GB or 32GB option for a lot less money, but you’ll fortunately still receive the same speed and performance as the most expensive version.

SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO CompactFlash Card - Runner Up

Much like the Professional 1066x series from Lexar, this is an excellent CompactFlash card intended for professional use. You get great performance with this card, and it matches the Lexar series with maximum speeds of 160MB/s which is ideal for rapidly photography, video, and support for 4K video. The high speed also makes this a great model for transferring data from the card to a computer.

This particular model is the maximum size for this series with 256GB of storage which should be more than enough for professional photographer; four other sizes are available including 128GB, 64GB, 32GB, and 16GB. In terms of speed and storage options, this model is the equal of the Lexar Professional 1066x series. Ultimately, your decision will likely come down to personal preference, but you might also consider the prices of each card, which can vary depending on retailer and current sales.

SanDisk Extreme 128GB CompactFlash Card - Honorable Mention

This is a great option if you don’t need the speed or maximum storage of the SanDisk Extreme Pro series, but still want a great CompactFlash card. The speed on this card can reach up to 120MB/s with write speeds up to 85MB/s for rapid photography. While this isn’t a card designed for professional use, it’s a great option for amateur enthusiast photographers or anyone in need of a CompactFlash card for swapping data between systems.

The maximum size on this card is 128GB which is quite large although it doesn’t match the 256GB maximum size of the Pro series. With that in mind, there are a good number of additional sizes for this card which includes 64GB, 32GB, and 16GB options. This gives you great options and flexibility so you can choose the size you need without paying for more storage than necessary.

Transcend 8GB 133x CompactFlash Card - Consider

Although this card can’t match the maximum speed or storage size of some more expensive models, it’s still a great option for a wide range of uses. This probably isn’t the best choice for a professional photographer, but otherwise it’s well worth considering. The maximum speed on this card is 90MB/s, which can’t match something like the Lexar Professional 1066x series, but it’s still quite fast. This gives you great read/write speeds and works well for quickly snapping lots of pictures, even in HD quality.

The maximum storage size on this card is 64GB which is good but probably smaller than what a professional photographer would prefer. However, this card should be large enough for many situations and there’s a number of other sizes available including 32GB, 16GB, and 8GB versions. The smaller sizes and slower speed makes this a more affordable option for the budget-minded consumer.

Kingston Technology CF/256 256MB Compact Flash Card - Best CompactFlash Card

In terms of speed, this CompactFlash card is certainly not the fastest option on the market, but up to 90MB/s read/write speeds makes this a good option for quickly taking digital photographs and for transferring data from the card to a computer. The maximum size on this card is 64GB, which is pretty good, but certainly smaller than some other options out there. The biggest weakness of this card is there’s only one other size available which is just 32GB. If either size works for you, then this is a pretty good option for a non-professional card. On the other hand, if you need more storage or you want a smaller card, then you’ll need to look elsewhere.

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