Sony FX3 Memory Card Guide

In this guide I aim to cover everything that you need to know about the Sony FX3 and the memory cards that this camera supports.

What Memory Cards are Compatible?

The Sony FX3 supports CFexpress Type-A memory cards in both of its two memory card slots. UHS-I and UHS-II (SDHC/SDXC) SD cards are also supported in both card slots, but not at the same time as the CFexpress cards.

Do You Need a CFexpress Type-A Memory Card?

You will only need a CFexpress Type-A card for the FX3 if you wish to shoot in S&Q Mode with the file format XAVC S-I 4K and slow-motion recording, or XAVC S-I HD when the frame rate is set to [240fps]/[200fps].

For all other video modes you’ll be fine with a V90 SDXC card.

If you really need slow motion you could simply record in one of the none S&Q video formats such as 4k60 XAVC S and then interpret the footage in post. Of course you won’t be able to view the S&Q footage in camera and this is an extra post processing step, but now you won’t require an expensive CFexpress card.

Best CFexpress Type-A Memory Cards

Currently only Sony, ProGrade and more recently Delkin Devices are developing CFexpress Type-A memory cards. With a lack of competition this means the prices are sadly sky high.

Below you will find a list of all of the CFexpress Type-A memory cards that are currently on the market. Performance between these cards is very similar.

For speed and buffer tests please take a look at my Sony A1 Memory Card Guide where I have tested all of these cards in-camera.

1. Sony CEA-G CFexpress Type-A (800/700)

The Sony CEA-G Series CFexpress Type A memory cards can write up to 700MB/s and read up to 800MB/s. The Tough version has been rigidity tested to 150 newtons to protect your card data during drops from up to 7.5 meters, this is 5 times what the CFexpress Type A standard requires. They are also IP57 rated for dust and moisture protection. There are currently 80GB and 160GB cards available.

2. ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A Cobalt (800/700)

The ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A Cobalt Memory Cards support up to 700MB/s write speeds and read speeds up to 800MB/s. The metal enclosure/encasement has been designed to endure high temperatures while providing better thermal conductivity. The only capacity currently available is 160GB.

3. Delkin Devices POWER CFexpress Type A (880/790)

The Delkin Devices POWER CFexpress Type-A memory cards can write up 790MB/s and read up to 880MB/s. If these speeds are correct this makes them a little faster than both the Sony and ProGrade cards.

4. Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type A (880/790)

The Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type-A memory cards can write up 790MB/s and read up to 880MB/s. If these speeds are correct this makes them a little faster than both the Sony and ProGrade cards. Compared with the POWER version of this card the BLACK version is a lot tougher and can apparently withstand 80 lbs. of force.

Best UHS-II Memory Cards

The Sony FX3 thankfully also supports both UHS-I and UHS-II memory cards. Here are my top 10 UHS-II SD card recommendations based on my Sony A1 Speed / Buffer Tests.

1. Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SDXC Memory Card (300/260)

The Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SDXC cards have a claimed read speed of 300MB/s and a write speed of 290MB/s. In my Sony a1 speed tests they write at the same speed (260MBs) as the Sony SF-G Tough cards but they are typically priced around 40% less for a 64GB card.

They receive very positive reviews and appear to be just as reliable as the Sony and SanDisk cards. They are V90 rated and available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.

I own many of these cards myself and so far have not had any trouble with them.

2. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II (300/299)

The Sony SF-G Tough cards have a claimed read speed of 300MB/s and a write speed of 299MB/s. They are V90 rated and available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.

Sony claims that they are 18 times stronger than traditional SD cards, bend proof to 180N, drop-proof to 5 meters, waterproof to a depth of 5 meters for up to 72 hours (IPX8 rating) and dust proof with an IP6X rating.

They also feature a one-piece ribless structure and don’t have the common lock switch. They are also X-ray proof, magnet proof, anti-static and temperature proof.

3. ProGrade V90 UHS-II (300/250)

The ProGrade V90 cards have a claimed read speed of 300MB/s and a write speed of 250MB/s. They are V90 rated and available in 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.

4. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II (300/260)

The SanDisk Extreme Pro cards have a claimed read speed of 300MB/s and a write speed of 260MB/s. They are V90 rated and available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.

Very Important Note: Older versions of this card are not V90 rated and therefore will not work in certain video modes.

5. Delkin Devices 64GB POWER UHS-II SDXC (300/250)

The Delkin Devices 64GB POWER UHS-II SDXC memory cards support read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and write speeds of 250 MB/s. They are also V90 rated for video. They are available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.

6. Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 (300/280)

The Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 UHS-II memory cards support read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and write speeds of 280 MB/s. They are also V90 rated so they guarantee a minimum write speed of 90 MB/s. They are available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.

7. Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II (277/150)

Sony’s SF-M Tough Series are similar to the more expensive SF-G version but these are only rated V60 for video and their read time has been cut to 277MB/s and the write time to 150MB/s. They are available in 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.

8. Sony SF-M UHS-II (277/150)

Sony’s SF-M Series are identical to the SF-M Tough Series just without the added toughness so they cost a little less. The Sony SF-M cards have a claimed read speed of 277MB/s and a write speed of 150MB/s. They are V60 rated and available in 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.

9. Lexar Professional 2000X UHS-II (300/260)

The Lexar Professional 2000X cards have a claimed read speed of 300MB/s and a write speed of 260MB/s. They are V90 rated and available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) sizes.

10. Transcend SD 700S UHS-II (285/180)

The Transcend SD 700S cards have a claimed read speed of 285MB/s and a write speed of 180MB/s. They are V90 rated and available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC) sizes.

Memory Card Readers

If you don’t have a UHS-II or CFexpress Type-A card reader built-into your PC or laptop then you will need to purchase an external reader. Here are some of the better options available:

Sony MRW-G2 CFExpress Type-A Card Reader

The Sony MRW-G2 supports both CFexpress Type A cards as well as a SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, along with transfer speeds of up to 10 Gb/s via USB 3.1 Gen 2. Both USB Type-C to Type-C and USB Type-C to Type-A cables are included.

ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A & UHS-II SDXC Dual-Slot USB 3.2 Gen 2 Card Reader

The ProGrade Digital reader has one CFexpress Type A slot and one UHS-II SDXC slot. Like the Sony above it supports up to 10 Gb/s via USB 3.2 Gen 2 to deliver transfer speeds of up to 1.25 GB/s, or 1250 MB/s via its USB Type-C interface. It includes USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables.

Sony MRW-S1 UHS-II USB Memory Card Reader/Writer

If you won’t be using CFexpress Type-A cards then you only really need Sony’s MRW-S1 UHS-II USB SD Card Reader/Writer. It can read/write to UHS-II SD Cards via a USB 3.1 interface and is backward compatible with UHS-I SD cards.

Memory Cards for Recording Video

Sony FX3 movie recording formats and compatible memory cards are shown in the table below.

File Format	Maximum Recordable Bitrate	Supported Memory Cards
XAVC HS 4K	280Mbps	CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher
XAVC S 4K	280Mbps	CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher
XAVC S HD	100Mbps	CFexpress Type A memory card SDHC/SDXC card (U3 or higher)
XAVC S-I 4K	600Mbps	CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher
XAVC S-I HD	222Mbps	CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher

Memory Cards for S&Q Motion Shooting

You will only need a CFexpress Type-A card for the FX3 if you wish to shoot in S&Q Mode with the file format XAVC S-I 4K and slow-motion recording, or XAVC S-I HD when the frame rate is set to [240fps]/[200fps].

File Format	Maximum Recordable Bitrate	Supported Memory Cards
XAVC HS 4K	500Mbps	CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher*1
XAVC S 4K	560Mbps	CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher*1
XAVC S HD	500Mbps	CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher*2
XAVC S-I 4K	1200Mbps	CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher*3
XAVC S-I HD	890Mbps	CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher*4

^*1 When [Frame Rate] is set to [120fps]/[100fps], you may need an SDXC V90 memory card.

^*2 When [Frame Rate] is set to [240fps]/[200fps], you may need an SDXC V90 memory card.

^*3 For slow-motion recording, a CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) is required.

^*4 When [Frame Rate] is set to [240fps]/[200fps], a CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) is required.

What Size Memory Card Do You Need?

For video you’ll probably want to go with the largest memory card that you can afford. The following table will help you to better understand what size cards you will need.

Movie Record Times

The table below shows the approximate total recording times using a Sony memory card formatted in the Sony FX3. Values may vary depending on the shooting conditions and the type of memory card used.

File Format	Record Frame Rate	Record Setting	64GB SD	128GB SD	80GB CF	160GB CF
XAVC HS 4K	60p/50p	200M	35 min	70 min	40 min	1 h 25 min
XAVC HS 4K	60p/50p	150M	45 min	1 h 35 min	55 min	1 h 50 min
XAVC HS 4K	60p/50p	100M	1 h 10 min	2 h 20 min	1 h 20 min	2 h 50 min
XAVC HS 4K	60p/50p	75M	1 h 30 min	3 h	1 h 40 min	3 h 40 min
XAVC HS 4K	60p/50p	45M	2 h 20 min	4 h 50 min	2 h 40 min	5 h 40 min
XAVC S 4K	60p/50p	200M	35 min	1 h 10 min	40 min	1 h 25 min
XAVC S 4K	60p/50p	150M	45 min	1 h 35 min	55 min	1 h 50 min
XAVC S HD	60p/50p	50M	2 h 10 min	4 h 30 min	2 h 30 min	5 h 10 min
XAVC S HD	60p/50p	25M	3 h 50 min	8 h 10 min	6 h 30 min	9 h 10 min
XAVC S-I 4K	60p/50p	600M/500M	10 min	25 min	10 min	25 min
XAVC S-I HD	60p/50p	222M/185M	30 min	1 h 5 min	35 min	1 h 15 min

Simultaneous Recording Slot 1 + Slot 2

If you want to shoot simultaneously to both memory card slots then I recommend using either two CFexpress cards or two UHS-II cards, ideally of the same brand. If you use a CFexpress Tye-A card in slot 1 and a UHS-II card in slot 2 then the write speed will always be limited by the slower UHS-II card.

Summary

I think it will be a relief to many hybrid shooters that the FX3 supports both CFexpress Type-A and UHS-II SD cards, because not everyone is going to want to spend the big money on the CFexpress cards.

And thankfully other than a couple of S&Q modes as mentioned there is actually no need for a CFexpress Type-A card. There are of course still speed benefits when copying files over to your computer compared to SD cards, but otherwise there’s really no need for them.

With a current maximum capacity of 160GB for CFexpress Type-A cards, many video shoots might find the too small anyway. We might see larger cards in the future, but this will again come with much larger price tags.

For 99 percent of hybrid shooters you’ll be fine using a fast UHS-II card like the Kingston Canvas React Plus. I wouldn’t recommend spending the extra money on the Sony Tough cards unless you often drop your cards or put them through the wash.

FAQs