Replace CFast CompactFlash in the next 18 to 24 Months

CFast memory cards to have 375MB/sec data.

Photographers are always looking for more speed when it comes to digital cameras. They want all the speed they can get in the form of higher speed continuous shooting of images and faster display of images on the LCD cameras.

To facilitate faster speed burst shooting and viewing images stored in the camera will require a new storage format. Many digital single lens reflex cameras use CompactFlash memory for storing photos. CompactFlash uses interfaces that currently top out at 45MB/sec or “300x”.

A new memory card format on the horizon called CFast will use the latest, much faster Serial ATA interface that allows you to hit a maximum speed of 375MB/sec. This faster data will make for increased performance in burst shooting modes faster and reading time when CFast put the card into a card reader to transfer to the computer.

The problem for users of digital SLR cameras today is that the use of cards CFast completely different buses, in the sense there is no mechanism to update the fastest CFast for current cards cameras using CompactFlash cards. The cards use different connectors on how to prevent the accidental mixing of the formats.

The time frame for the new format to reach market is unclear. CNET quoted John Santoro, product marketing manager senior Lexar as saying, “It’s my feeling the camera companies already have this on their road maps and wants to start working on prototype samples as soon as the specification is finalized” . Santoro said he expects the format to hit the market in 18 to 24 months.

Chuck Westfall, technical adviser Canon USA Professional division of marketing products News.com said, “It remains to be seen [in the event of catches CFast]. What drives the market is the cost and problems of performance and availability.”

The new format memory CFast could see out of the uses of digital cameras as well. CNET reported that the current CompactFlash cards are used in all kinds of devices from Apache attack helicopters to Vegas slot machines.