What You Need in a CFexpress Type A Card for Sony
If you own a Sony a1, a7 IV, a7R V, a7S III, a9 III, FX3, FX6, or FX30, you need a CFexpress Type A card to unlock the camera's full burst and video capabilities. These cards are smaller than Type B and slot into the same physical space as SD cards, but they deliver much higher sustained write speeds for 8K, 6K, and 4K video and continuous raw bursts. The choice comes down to speed, capacity, durability, and budget.
The three cards here—Delkin Devices BLACK, Sony TOUGH, and ProMaster Advanced—all meet the VPG-200 specification, meaning they guarantee a minimum sustained write speed of 200 MB/s. But their real-world performance, build, and price vary significantly.
Speed and Capacity at a Glance
- Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type A Memory Card: Maximum read speeds up to 1830 MB/s and write speeds up to 1710 MB/s; minimum sustained write speed of 500 MB/s. Available in 80GB and 160GB capacities. The Delkin BLACK is the fastest card here by a wide margin. The 500 MB/s minimum sustained write speed ensures uninterrupted recording even at the highest bitrates, and the 1830 MB/s read speed speeds up offloads. However, the largest capacity is 160GB, which may be limiting for all-day 8K shoots.
Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type A Memory Card - Sony CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Card: Read speeds up to 800 MB/s and write speeds up to 700 MB/s. Available in 160GB and 320GB capacities. Sony's TOUGH card is slower on paper than the Delkin BLACK, but still fast enough for most Sony cameras' maximum burst rates and 8K/4K recording. The 320GB option gives you more storage per card, which is useful for long shoots or when you don't want to swap cards often.
Sony CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Card - ProMaster CFexpress 4.0 Type A Advanced Memory Card: Read speeds up to 1800 MB/s and write speeds up to 1700 MB/s; minimum sustained write speed of 500 MB/s. Available in 480GB and 960GB capacities. The ProMaster CFexpress 4.0 card nearly matches the Delkin BLACK's speed and offers much larger capacities (480GB and 960GB) at a competitive price. The 500 MB/s minimum sustained write speed is identical to Delkin's, making it a strong alternative for high-volume shooters.
Durability and Build Quality
All three cards are built to withstand tough conditions, but they take different approaches. The Delkin BLACK is waterproof, shockproof, and temperature-resistant, with a robust design for arctic or desert shoots. The Sony TOUGH card is reinforced to withstand falls and has been rigidity tested to 70 N of force; it's also resistant to extreme temperatures, X-rays, electrostatic, and UV lighting. The ProMaster card is heat and cold resistant, ensuring reliable performance in extreme environments.
Sony's TOUGH card also comes with File Rescue recovery software and Media Scan Utility, which can help recover accidentally deleted files and check the card's flash memory condition. Delkin offers a 48-hour replacement guarantee at authorized resellers if a card fails, plus a limited lifetime warranty. ProMaster also includes a limited lifetime warranty.
Which Card Should You Choose?
The choice depends on your camera, your shooting style, and your budget.
- Maximum speed and reliability: The Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type A is the fastest card here and is approved for use with Sony a1, a7 IV, a7R V, a7S III, a9 III, FX3, FX6, and FX30. If you need the fastest possible offloads and the highest sustained write speed, and 160GB is enough, this is your card.
- Large capacity and proven compatibility: The Sony TOUGH card offers up to 320GB in a single card, with robust physical protection and useful recovery software. It's a safe choice for Sony shooters who want a card from the same brand and don't need the absolute top speed.
- Best value for high-volume work: The ProMaster CFexpress 4.0 Type A card delivers speeds nearly as high as the Delkin BLACK, with much larger capacities (480GB or 960GB) and a lower price per gigabyte. If you shoot long 8K clips or need to store thousands of raw files without swapping cards, this is the most practical option.
Honest Trade-Offs to Consider
No single card is perfect for everyone. The Delkin BLACK is the fastest but tops out at 160GB, so you may need multiple cards for a full day's shoot. The Sony TOUGH is slower but more rugged and comes with useful software, yet its 800 MB/s read speed is less than half of the Delkin's. The ProMaster offers the best capacity-to-price ratio, but its compatibility is not confirmed for all Sony models—check your camera's manual or test before relying on it for critical work.
Also note that CFexpress Type A cards are physically smaller than Type B and fit into the same slot as SD cards. If your Sony camera has dual slots, you can use a CFexpress Type A in slot 1 and an SD card in slot 2 for overflow or backup. But CFexpress Type A cards are significantly more expensive per gigabyte than SD cards, so consider your workflow before investing.
