Over the past few months, I’ve been converted to a Class A CFExpress user after some great experiences with the Exascend CFExpress card, and this week I wanted to try out another affordable card from Pergear to see how it compares. any. Join me in this article as I test this card.
When I first started taking photos with Sony a7 IV after launch, the CFExpress card was so expensive and I didn’t imagine myself buying one for a long time. Luckily, things have changed over the past few months and there are now more affordable options available to us.
As more competition enters this market, this can only be a good thing for photographers or videographers of all budgets. In this review, I’m testing Pergear’s 260GB CFExpress Type A card.
Presentations
The first thing that caught my attention when I received this card in the mail was the product’s packaging. The CFExpress type A card Packaged in a small wooden box with printed label and card information inside. The presentation is great and never seen before, especially for a budget-friendly option. Currently, the 260 GB version is available on Amazon for $199.
Inside the box is a cute foam cushion that holds the CFExpress card in a small hard plastic box.
The card reader is also packaged in a wooden box of the same size, so Pergear is very consistent with their branding approach.
You can buy CFExpress A card and reader together for $219.
statistics
I have a 260 GB card; however, there are four capacities available: 80 GB, 260 GB, 520 GB, and 1 TB. This is a suitable scope for all types of shooters, whether you focus on photography, videography, or both. With prices on Amazon starting at around $119 for the 80GB version, this is definitely a wallet-friendly option.
The 260 GB card has a minimum continuous write speed of 400 MB/s and a maximum write speed of 900 MB/s. Maximum read speed is 880 MB/s. Write speeds vary depending on the size of card you have, for example, an 80 GB card has a maximum write speed of 600 MB/s and a 1 TB card has a maximum write speed of 700 MB/s.
CFExpress Type A cards are mostly compatible with Sony’s newer lines of camera bodies such as the Sony a7 IV that I use, the Sony a1, Sony a7S III and Sony a7R V. They are also compatible with the Sony FX line for photographers. making movies like FX3 and FX6.
Efficiency
As mentioned in the stats, I expected a minimum sustained write speed of 400 MB/s and used the Blackmagic drive speed test on my M1 Mac using two different card readers ( private label Pergear and Exascend), I actually achieved those. Speed up every test.
I ran each test using both card readers several times, and as for write speeds, I averaged between 400-500 MB/s.
Reading speed is where I often see mixed results. When using the Pergear card reader, I typically achieve speeds of 700 MB/s; However, when using the Exascend card reader, the speed will be slightly lower, averaging around 500-600 MB/s.
Regardless, I’m not concerned about the performance of the Pergear CFExpress card on paper. Speeds are close enough as advertised and of course, different testing environments will produce different results. For my intended use, the card’s performance as demonstrated in these tests was absolutely fine and as I expected.
In the fields
I find that this time of year is pretty quiet for some of my usual photography work, but there are definitely still some gems to be found! I recently learned of a pair of Barn Owls near where I live, so one evening I decided to scout and make sure the owls were hunting.
I got out of the car and found a seat between the fence and watched two owls flying around, constantly swooping down in the hope of catching their prey. As soon as they catch something, they fly into the forest and then have to wait about 30 minutes before returning to get more.
Watching these ghosts in the sky is a mesmerizing experience, even if they fly over your head, you won’t hear any sound. Barn Owls are the ultimate silent predators!
I grabbed my camera gear along with the Pergear CFExpress Type A card and dialed in my settings. Using the bird tracking feature on my Sony a7 IV and shooting at a shutter speed of around 1/1,600, I was pleased with some of the images I captured and didn’t feel any slowdown when using it. use card.
Holding the shutter down, I took as many photos as possible every time there was some action or if the owl was approaching me and everything worked perfectly.
Returning home from a fun scouting trip, I had no problem importing images into my MacBook Air M1; The speed was amazing and performed as expected.
Summary
From the short time I’ve had with this CFExpress type A cardfrom Pergear, it performed very well in tests as well as in the field. When using a CFExpress card, there is no buffering when shooting, so you can freely record as much action as you want, something a standard SD card cannot do.
For a budget-friendly option, I can say that this card performs admirably and is worth buying if you want to shoot heavier. The speed is what impressed me most with these cards and makes capturing and importing images afterward a more enjoyable experience.
Would I recommend this card? Totally worth it, considering the price and performance it’s worth a try, especially if you’re new to photography and if your camera uses this card.
