Compact Flash Memory Guide

Compact Flash is a storage device format used in portable electronic devices, popular in digital cameras. They operate at either 3.3 or 5 volts. There are four main speeds: the original CF, CF High Speed, a faster CF 3.0, and the fastest CF 4.0. As of 2008, Compact Flash cards are generally available in capacities ranging from 512 MB to 64 GB. The largest cards usually are not the fastest ones. Compact Flash comes in two types, type I and type II. The only difference between the types is the size. Type I is 43mm x 36mm x 3.3mm, while Type II is a little thicker - 43mm x 36mm x 5mm.

In general, a Compact Flash card with higher storage capacity is more expensive. However there is a wide range of prices, dependant on a lot of things besides capacity. For example, cards come in a variety of speeds and a faster card will be more expensive.

Flash cards are popular for their ruggedness and versatility. Memory cards consume about 5% of the power used by a small disk drive, and a high speed card will still get a transfer rate of over 30/MBs. A cards speed is specified using the same time ratings as a CD-ROM (8x, 20x, 133x), but Compact Flash cards are able to cope with extreme changes of temperature. They can be can be used directly in PC Card slot with a plug adapter, and swapped from system to system.

Although the Compact Flash format was first produced by SanDisk in 1994, due to their rising popularity a number of manufacturers now make these cards. Aside from SanDisk, the following manufacturers currently produce Compact Flash cards: Apacer, A-DATA, Canon, FujiFilm, Kingston Technology, Kodak, Lexar, Olympus, Panasonic, Ritek, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Transcend, Verbatim Corporation, and UMAX. Some of the current manufacturers (Kodak, FujiFilm) mailnly produce photographic materials and equipment, and make Compact Flash cards for their digital cameras.