CFast vs. CompactFlash
Comparing 2 standards across 11 specifications. 10 key differences identified.
CFast is a high-speed solid-state memory card standard developed by the CompactFlash Association (CFA) based on the Serial ATA (SATA) bus. Introduced with CFast 1.0 (SATA-II 3 Gbps) and refined in CFast 2.0 (SATA-III 6 Gbps), it delivers data throughput up to 550–600 MB/s in a rugged 24-pin form factor, widely adopted in professional cinema cameras (ARRI, Blackmagic, Canon).
CompactFlash (CF) is the pioneering solid-state removable memory card standard introduced by SanDisk in 1994 and maintained by the CompactFlash Association (CFA). Based on a 50-pin Parallel ATA (PATA / IDE) interface, it dominated professional DSLR photography and industrial computing for two decades, scaling through CF+ specifications up to UDMA 7 (167 MB/s).
Specification Comparison Table
11 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Governing Body
|
CompactFlash Association (CFA) | CompactFlash Association (CFA) |
|
Physical Dimensions
|
36.4 mm × 42.8 mm × 3.6 mm | 36.4 mm × 42.8 mm × 3.3 mm (Type I) / 5.0 mm (Type II) |
|
Physical Connector Form Factor
|
24-pin keyed interface (7-pin SATA signal + 17-pin SATA power & control) | 50-pin female socket receptacle (2 rows of 25 pins on 1.27 mm pitch) |
|
Video Performance Guarantee
|
VPG-130 (130 MB/s minimum sustained write for 4K ProRes/RAW) | VPG-20 (20 MB/s) / VPG-65 (65 MB/s sustained write for Full HD / 4K) |
|
Bus Interface / Protocol
|
Serial ATA (SATA 3.0 / 6 Gbps in CFast 2.0) | — |
|
Peak Data Throughput
|
Up to 550–600 MB/s (SATA-III physical ceiling) | — |
|
Nominal Operating Voltage
|
3.3V nominal | — |
|
Introduction Year
|
— | 1994 (SanDisk) |
|
Interface Protocol
|
— | Parallel ATA (PATA) / True IDE Mode / PCMCIA Memory Mode |
|
Max Bus Speed Tier
|
— | UDMA 7 (167 MB/s @ 133 MHz PATA clock in CF 6.0) |
|
Operating Voltages
|
— | Dual voltage: 3.3V (low power) or 5.0V (legacy standard) |