CFexpress Type A vs Type B: Which Does Your Camera Use?
CFexpress is the fastest consumer memory card standard available today, but there are two physically incompatible versions: Type A and Type B. Buying the wrong one means the card simply will not fit.
What Is CFexpress?
CFexpress replaced the older XQD standard for professional cameras that need very high write speeds — typically for 4K 120fps, 8K, or RAW video recording. The standard comes in two variants, and cameras are designed for one or the other. There is no universal slot.
CFexpress Type A
Form factor: Smaller than a CFexpress Type B card. About the size of two stacked SD cards.
Cameras that use Type A: Sony Alpha 1, Sony A7R V, Sony A9 III, Sony A7C II, Sony FX3, Sony FX30, Sony A6700, Sony ZV-E10 II. Sony is currently the only major manufacturer using Type A.
Speed range: Up to approximately 800–1000 MB/s read, 700–800 MB/s write on current cards from Sony, Prograde Digital, and Lexar.
When you need it: Any 4K 60fps or 4K 120fps mode on a Sony mirrorless camera with a Type A slot. The card must exceed the camera's minimum write speed for the recording mode you are using.
CFexpress Type B
Form factor: Larger card, roughly the size of a thick SD card.
Cameras that use Type B: Canon EOS R3, Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Canon EOS R6 Mark II, Nikon Z9, Nikon Z8, Nikon Z6 III, Nikon Z fc (some models), DJI cinema cameras. Canon and Nikon both use Type B.
Speed range: Up to approximately 1700–2000 MB/s read, 1400–1750 MB/s write on current high-end cards from Sony, Delkin, ProGrade, and Lexar.
When you need it: High-bitrate recording modes — Canon Cinema RAW Light, Nikon N-RAW, ProRes RAW, or any 4K 120fps/8K mode on supported bodies. Some Type B cameras also have a second SD slot for overflow or lower-bitrate recording.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Type A | Type B | |---|---|---| | Physical size | Smaller | Larger | | Primary manufacturer | Sony | Canon, Nikon | | Max read speed (current cards) | ~1000 MB/s | ~2000 MB/s | | Backward compatible with XQD? | No | Yes (Nikon bodies only) |
Can I Use Type A in a Type B Slot?
No. The cards are physically different sizes. Type A will not seat in a Type B slot, and there is no adapter that makes them interoperable.
Nikon Z9 and Z8 bodies accept both CFexpress Type B and XQD cards in the same slot. No other current body mixes the two formats.
Dual-Slot Bodies
Several cameras have two slots of different formats:
- Sony FX3, FX30: One CFexpress Type A slot + one SD slot. The SD slot has a lower write-speed ceiling (V60 minimum for high-bitrate modes) than the Type A slot.
- Canon EOS R3, R5 Mark II: One CFexpress Type B slot + one SD UHS-II slot.
- Nikon Z8, Z9: Two CFexpress Type B / XQD slots (no SD slot).
On dual-slot bodies, the per-slot minimum write speed differs. Always check the camera's own specification page for the per-slot requirement, not just the headline codec spec.
Checking Your Camera
The fastest way to confirm which slot your camera has: look up the camera's specification page on the manufacturer's website and search for "memory card" or "recording media." It will state the card type explicitly.
If you are uncertain whether a specific card clears your camera's write-speed minimum, check the pair on CompatKit — every verdict is sourced from the camera's own specification page.