Transcend’s new CFX650 range of Cfast 2.0 cards just got approved for both 4K ProRes and 4K Raw acquisition on Blackmagic Cameras such as the URSA 4K. The new Cfast 2.0 cards from budget media maker Transcend are yet another competitor in the Cfast 2.0 mix next to Sandisk, Lexar, and Wise, which will eventually drive the prices further down of this yet so expensive media for the common shooter. Developed to meet the demands of the latest digital cinema cameras for 4K acquisition with read speeds up to 510MB/s and write speeds of 370MB/s, the CFX650 cards from Transcend are a welcomed addition to the growing list of Cfast 2.0 media manufacturers.
The new cards also feature built-in error correction for enhanced reliability and also a free download of the company’s own RecoveRx photo recovery software, which is an effective tool that allows the users to recover accidentally deleted or lost files from the Transcend’s brand storage and multimedia products.
Transcend CFX650 Cfast 2.0 Features
- 128GB / 256GB Capacity
- 510 MB/s Read Speed
- 370 MB/s Write Speed
- MLC NAND Flash Chips
- Designed for 4K & Full HD Cinematography
- Built-In Error Correcting Code (ECC)
- RecoveRx Photo Recovery Software
Blackmagic Design released this updated list of approved Cfast 2.0 cards for the URSA cameras.
CFast 2.0 cards approved for 4K ProRes 422 HQ (up to 60 fps)
- Lexar Professional 32GB 3400x
- Lexar Professional 64GB 3400x
- Lexar Professional 128GB 3400x
- Lexar Professional 256GB 3400X
- Transcend 128GB CFX650
- Transcend 256GB CFX650
- Wise CFast 2.0 128GB 3400X
CFast 2.0 approved for 4K RAW (up to 30 fps)
- Lexar Professional 64GB 3400x
- Lexar Professional 128GB 3400x
- Lexar Professional 256GB 3400X
- Transcend 128GB CFX650
- Transcend 256GB CFX650
- Wise CFast 2.0 128GB 3400X
Transcend’s CFast 2.0 CFX650 memory cards are available in 128GB and 256GB capacities and were announced with prices of $499 and $949 respectively. However, B&H currently lists the 128GB card at just $300 on a pre-order price. In comparison the 128GB Lexar 3400x Cfast 2.0 card is $370.
The slower CFX600 cards are available in 128GB ($249), 256GB ($499) and 512GB ($949) capacities. However, keep in mind that only the CFX650 cards are on the recommended Blackmagic Design list for use on the URSA 4K. The new Transcend Cfast 2.0 cards are expected to be available in mid July.
When asked if the cheaper CFX600 Transcend cards will be at least approved for 4K ProRes capture, Captain Hook from BMD added this on bmcuser.com:
The CFX650 is on our recommended list for 4K ProRes HQ.
I’ve seen good results from the 256GB version so far, and have gotten 80fps RAW 3:1 and 105fps 4K ProRes HQ myself.
Can’t comment on the CFX600 version.
More from Transcend:
With the rapid development in cinematography, the audience has also increased their demand for image quality. Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend ), a worldwide leader in storage and multimedia products, is proud to announce the launch of its CFast 2.0 CFX650 and CFX600 Memory Cards. Designed to support high-end 4K cameras and camcorders from the leading manufacturers and to meet the extreme demands of professional cinematography, Transcend’s CFX650 memory cards feature the fastest transfer speeds available on the current market, while CFX600 boast the highest storage capacity. Both cards are best suited for the professional cinematographers shooting high-resolution 4K and Full HD videos.
Unprecedented Transfer Speeds and Capacities
Supporting the next generation CFast 2.0 specification with a SATA III interface, CFX650 memory cards boast the remarkable read and write speeds of up to 510MB and 370MB per second, more than three times faster than today’s CompactFlash cards. Saving 4K Ultra High Definition and Full HD video recordings requires a massive storage space; Transcend’s CFX600 cards fix the problem by offering the vast capacities of up to 512GB, surpassing the capacity limit of any existing card. With such space, the professional cinematographers can record all the high resolution videos at ease, saving the trouble to switch memory devices.
Full HD & 4K Cinema Recording for High-end Cameras
4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) provides 3840 x 2160 and 4096 x 2160 resolutions of standards, offering 4 times the pixel resolution of 1080p Full HD video recording and revealing vivid images with much more nuances and details. Designed to support the top-notch cameras and camcorders, CFX650 and CFX600 memory cards are fast enough to record high resolution videos and meet the demands of high-speed 4K video recording. The exceptional transfer speeds and capacities can increase the workflow efficiency of the professional cinematographers shooting high-resolution Full HD and 4K UHD videos. Besides the stunning performance, each CFX650 and CFX600 card contains the built-in ECC (Error Correction Code) technology which automatically detects and corrects transfer errors, enhancing overall reliability.
Transcend Exclusive RecoveRx Software
For added value, each Transcend memory card includes a free download of Transcend’s exclusive RecoveRxTM photo recovery software-an extraordinarily effective tool that allows the users to recover accidentally deleted or lost files from the Transcend’s brand storage and multimedia products.
Pricing and Warranty
Transcend’s CFast 2.0 CFX650 memory cards are available in 128GB($499) and 256GB($949), while the CFX600 cards are available in 128GB($249), 256GB($499) and 512GB($949) capacities. All Transcend CFast 2.0 cards are comprehensively tested for speed and reliability, and are backed by Transcend’s Three-year Limited Warranty.
Pre-order links via B&H:
Transcend CFX650 128GB CFast 2.0 Flash Memory Card – $300
Lexar Professional 256GB 3400x CFast 2.0 Memory Card – $687
URSA Mini 4K EF – $2,995
URSA Mini 4.6K EF – $4,995
URSA 4K EF – $4,995
URSA 4.6K EF – $6,995
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It would be good to try these cards on 5D Mark III with ML RAW.