CF Express has arrived for D5, D850 & D500
- Thread starter Pacific1976
- Start date
If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).
Pacific1976
Member
I know of no reason to get a CF Express card unless one is doing video.
ruley74
Well-known member
It's good they've released it, for me though I have no need to use CF express on those cameras unless my XQD cards fail.
Thern
Well-known member
Looking at the performance with the more modern Zeds or even the D6 I agree completely.
Incamera there will be no benefit, the benefit is faster uploading to the computer IF and ONLY if one has the correct connectivity. (USB3.1 Gen 2 or TB3 and NVME SSD for storage)
Nevertheless I agree with you, when a XQD card breaks it’s a good idea to replace it with a CFe card. (Computers are upgraded and it’s clear now Nikon will stay with CFe)
Pistnbroke
Active member
If you do the upgrade can you still use the XQD ?
Thern
Well-known member
Yes you can, it’s ADDED support for CFe cards
Warren D
Well-known member
If you are in the USA, don't use the NR link above, go to Nikon USA: https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/index.html
I tried the link and it dumped.
I tried the link and it dumped.
Graham Clark
gc-graphs
Thern
Well-known member
And to ad, at first glance there’s no increase in performance in any regard. (Feels even a bit slower, but that must be me)
Graham Clark
gc-graphs
Faster download speed?
Warren D
Well-known member
As long as there isn't a decrease, I'm good. The first firmware update for the D850 slowed the AF ever so slightly.
Thern
Well-known member
Faster transfer, sure!
Like I said in my first post, depending on connectivity and the kind of storage in your computer.
If your computer has only USB3.0 (let alone USB2.0) or uses SATA3 HDs there won’t be much extra juice. LOL
Last edited:
Graham Clark
gc-graphs
USB3.2 Gen 2 on the main PC, be interesting to see how they perform. If nothing else at least I'm ready if Nikon improve speed on future (or current) models
ebflyer
New member
Glad they have finally released the update. I am hoping that the increase in manufacturers may result will create more competition lowering costs.....maybe wishful thinking
I’m so excited for this! I bought a card and have been waiting to try it. Hoping for faster downloads.
nikonrumors.com
Nikon D5/D850/D500 DSLR cameras now support CFexpress memory cards (firmware updates release) - Nikon Rumors
Back in October I reported that the promised CFExpress memory card firmware updates for the Nikon D5, D850, and D500 DSLR cameras will be released by the end of 2020. Well, here there are – enjoy: Nikon D5 firmware update version 1.40: Added support for Type B CFexpress memory cards. For more...
nikonrumors.com
Thern
Well-known member
USB3.2 Gen 2 on the main PC, be interesting to see how they perform. If nothing else at least I'm ready if Nikon improve speed on future (or current) models
Yup
USB3.1
USB3.1 Gen2
USB3.2 Gen2
USB Superspeed 10Gb/s
All the same.... All good for a theoretical transferspeed of 10Gb/s (about 1250 MB/s)
Irl it will be less so still not able to use the CFe card at full potential speed.
One should have
USB3.2 Gen 2x2 or ,the same,
USB Superspeed 20Gb/s or better yet Thunderbolt3 to take full advantage of the theoretical speeds of CFe type B cards (2000MB/s)
(I’d fire those responsible for changing the naming of the USB standards LOL)
Yup I’ve got thunderbolt 3 and a Atech Flash Technology Blackjet that’s been dying for faster cards. It’s a beast!
There may not be a performance increase - BUT - it looks like CFExpress is the future. So, any new cards will be CFExpress for me so they work in future cameras too.
(Note, most of the time you can still use XQD, but why buy older tech?)
(Note, most of the time you can still use XQD, but why buy older tech?)
Thern
Well-known member
There may not be a performance increase - BUT - it looks like CFExpress is the future. So, any new cards will be CFExpress for me so they work in future cameras too.
(Note, most of the time you can still use XQD, but why buy older tech?)
I guess everybody here does agree with you on CFe being the future but I wouldn’t be certain wether CFe in its current two lane PCIe B-formfactor will be the eventual memory card.
There’s also a less space demanding and (currently!) less performing specced A-formfactor memorycard or the 8 lanes PCIe C-formfactor superfast memorycard...
So it MIGHT be true buying CFe will ‘future proof’ your camera storage needs, but things as always may change.
So NO I won’t substitute XQD untill it breaks and YES I’ll buy CFe the minute I need a new card for the D5/D6.
I agree - there's always something around the bend. As you say though, new cards are gonna be CFe.
Now, if I can figure out how to stop misplacing them....
If this upgrade is not installed, that will mean that next time for the next upgrade you will need to upgrade twice most likely as the software seems to like going "in order" and that is a bit of a pain. I just dutifully uploaded it and I have no clue if I will need it or not but it's there, just in case.
Warren D
Well-known member
To be honest, I don't think the D5, D500 or D850 will get any more firmware updates unless some major previously undocumented glitch appears.
I Steve, I have a question: is my XQD/SD Sony card reader Sony MRW-E90/BC2 XQD USB 3.0 ReaderThere may not be a performance increase - BUT - it looks like CFExpress is the future. So, any new cards will be CFExpress for me so they work in future cameras too.
(Note, most of the time you can still use XQD, but why buy older tech?)
able to read CFExpress memory cards?
Warren D
Well-known member
No, you will need a card reader for CFe. The CFe reader is backwards compatible to XQD
Thern
Well-known member
)
Firmware versions tend to be replacements rather than incremental upgrades. That is, they don't just patch the existing firmware, they replace it altogether, so the latest firmware version will include all of the previous upgrades.
There are exceptions but if so it’s in the installation manual for that particular update.
in this particular update Nikon states
This update includes all changes made in previous updates.
So you can skip it.
Firmware versions tend to be replacements rather than incremental upgrades. That is, they don't just patch the existing firmware, they replace it altogether, so the latest firmware version will include all of the previous upgrades.
There are exceptions but if so it’s in the installation manual for that particular update.
in this particular update Nikon states
This update includes all changes made in previous updates.
So you can skip it.