In this guide I aim to cover everything that you need to know about the Sony FX3 and the memory cards that this camera supports.
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Quick In-Camera Write Speed Comparison
I’ve not yet had the opportunity to test the Sony FX3. Therefore the following results are based on my Sony A1 and A7IV in-camera tests.
Best CFexpress Type A Memory Cards for Sony FX3
Below you’ll find the results from my Sony A1 Memory Card Guide where I have tested CFexpress Type-A cards in camera to get a more accurate idea of their write speeds.
| CFexpress Type A Memory Card | CFexpress Standard | * Max Burst | Buffer Clearing Time * | Price Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angelbird AV PRO SE | 2.0 | 91 | 10.25s | Amazon | B&H | Memory Wolf UK |
| Delkin Devices BLACK 4.0 | 4.0 | 88 | 10.75s | Amazon | B&H | Memory Wolf UK |
| Angelbird AV PRO 4.0 | 4.0 | 88 | 10.85s | Amazon | B&H | Memory Wolf UK |
| Lexar Professional Gold Series | 2.0 | 88 | 10.85s | Amazon | B&H |
| OWC Atlas Pro 4.0 | 4.0 | 88 | 10.85s | Amazon | B&H |
| Lexar Professional Silver Series | 2.0 | 88 | 10.85s | Amazon |
| ProGrade Digital 4.0 Iridium | 4.0 | 88 | 10.85s | Amazon | B&H |
| Delkin Devices BLACK 2.0 | 2.0 | 89 | 11.05s | Memory Wolf UK |
| Delkin Devices POWER | 2.0 | 89 | 11.05s | Amazon | B&H | Memory Wolf UK |
| Sony CEA-G Tough | 2.0 | 87 | 11.45s | Amazon | B&H |
| ProGrade Digital Cobalt | 2.0 | 87 | 11.46s | Obsolete |
| Nextorage NX-A1PRO | 2.0 | 87 | 11.46s | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| Pergear Standard | 2.0 | 85 | 12.11s | Amazon |
| Sony CEA-M Tough | 2.0 | 83 | 13.68s | Amazon | B&H |
| ProGrade Digital 2.0 Gold | 2.0 | 89 | 16.18s | Amazon | B&H |
| Exascend Essential | 2.0 | 89 | 16.35s | Amazon |
| Pergear Prime | 2.0 | 87 | 16.95s | Amazon |
| Pergear Master 4.0 | 4.0 | 86 | 16.64s | Amazon |
| Nextorage NX-A1SE | 2.0 | 76 | 19.45s | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| Nextorage NX-A2SE | 4.0 | 73 | 22.45s | Amazon |
| Lexar Professional GOLD 4.0 | 4.0 | TBT | TBT | Amazon | B&H |
| Novachips Extreme 4.0 | 4.0 | TBT | TBT | Amazon |
| Novachips Express 4.0 | 4.0 | TBT | TBT | Amazon |
| Wise Advanced 4.0 | 4.0 | TBT | TBT | B&H |
Best UHS-II SD Memory Cards for Sony FX3
These tests were done using my Sony A7 IV. Unlike the CFexpress cards you will hit the buffer when using UHS-II cards.
| Memory Card | Price Check | Max Burst | Buffer Clearing Time * | Video Speed Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delkin Devices BLACK V90 | B&H | Memory Wolf UK | 23 | 4.30s | V90 |
| Sony SF-G Tough | Amazon | B&H | 23 | 4.30s | V90 |
| Delkin Devices POWER | Amazon | B&H | Memory Wolf UK | 23 | 4.30s | V90 |
| SanDisk Extreme Pro | Amazon | B&H | 23 | 4.30s | V90 |
| OWC Atlas Ultra | Amazon | B&H | 23 | 4.31s | V90 |
| Nextorage NX-F2PRO V90 | Amazon | B&H | 23 | 4.31s | V90 |
| Lexar Professional 2000X | Amazon | B&H | 23 | 4.32s | V90 |
| Kingston Canvas React Plus | Amazon | B&H | Memory Wolf UK | 23 | 4.40s | V90 |
| ProGrade V90 | Amazon | B&H | 23 | 4.45s | V90 |
| Integral UltimaPro X2 | Amazon | 23 | 4.48s | V90 |
| PNY X-PRO 90 | Amazon | B&H | 23 | 4.49s | V90 |
| Exascend Catalyst | Amazon | B&H | 23 | 4.60s | V90 |
| Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 | Amazon | B&H | Memory Wolf UK | 23 | 4.65s | V90 |
| Transcend SD 700S | Amazon | B&H | 23 | 4.65s | V90 |
| Nextorage NX-F2SE V60 | Amazon | B&H | 20 | 5.45s | V60 |
| Sony SF-M Tough | Amazon | B&H | 17 | 6.81s | V60 |
| Sony SF-M | Amazon | B&H | 17 | 6.81s | V60 |
| ProGrade V60 | Amazon | B&H | 17 | 7.13s | V60 |
| Angelbird AV Pro MK2 V60 | Amazon | B&H | Memory Wolf UK | 15 | 10.15s | V60 |
| Sony SF-E | Amazon | B&H | 15 | 13.03s | V30 |
| Lexar Professional 1667X | Amazon | B&H | 15 | 14.01s | V30 |
What Memory Cards are Compatible?
The Sony FX3 supports CFexpress Type-A memory cards in both of its two memory card slots. UHS-I and UHS-II (SDHC/SDXC) SD cards are also supported in both card slots, but not at the same time as the CFexpress cards.
Do You Need a CFexpress Type-A Memory Card?
You will only need a CFexpress Type-A card for the FX3 if you wish to shoot in S&Q Mode with the file format XAVC S-I 4K and slow-motion recording, or XAVC S-I HD when the frame rate is set to [240fps]/[200fps].
For all other video modes you’ll be fine with a V90 SDXC card.
If you really need slow motion you could simply record in one of the none S&Q video formats such as 4k60 XAVC S and then interpret the footage in post. Of course you won’t be able to view the S&Q footage in camera and this is an extra post processing step, but now you won’t require an expensive CFexpress card.
Memory Card Readers
If you don’t have a UHS-II or CFexpress Type-A card reader built-into your PC or laptop then you will need to purchase an external reader. Here are some of the better options available:
Sony MRW-G2 CFExpress Type-A Card Reader
The Sony MRW-G2 supports both CFexpress Type A cards as well as a SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, along with transfer speeds of up to 10 Gb/s via USB 3.1 Gen 2. Both USB Type-C to Type-C and USB Type-C to Type-A cables are included.
ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A & UHS-II SDXC Dual-Slot USB 3.2 Gen 2 Card Reader
The ProGrade Digital reader has one CFexpress Type A slot and one UHS-II SDXC slot. Like the Sony above it supports up to 10 Gb/s via USB 3.2 Gen 2 to deliver transfer speeds of up to 1.25 GB/s, or 1250 MB/s via its USB Type-C interface. It includes USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables.
Sony MRW-S1 UHS-II USB Memory Card Reader/Writer
If you won’t be using CFexpress Type-A cards then you only really need Sony’s MRW-S1 UHS-II USB SD Card Reader/Writer. It can read/write to UHS-II SD Cards via a USB 3.1 interface and is backward compatible with UHS-I SD cards.
Memory Cards for Recording Video
Sony FX3 movie recording formats and compatible memory cards are shown in the table below.
| File Format | Maximum Recordable Bitrate | Supported Memory Cards |
|---|---|---|
| XAVC HS 4K | 280Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher |
| XAVC S 4K | 280Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher |
| XAVC S HD | 100Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card SDHC/SDXC card (U3 or higher) |
| XAVC S-I 4K | 600Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher |
| XAVC S-I HD | 222Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher |
Memory Cards for S&Q Motion Shooting
You will only need a CFexpress Type-A card for the FX3 if you wish to shoot in S&Q Mode with the file format XAVC S-I 4K and slow-motion recording, or XAVC S-I HD when the frame rate is set to [240fps]/[200fps].
| File Format | Maximum Recordable Bitrate | Supported Memory Cards |
|---|---|---|
| XAVC HS 4K | 500Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher*1 |
| XAVC S 4K | 560Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher*1 |
| XAVC S HD | 500Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher*2 |
| XAVC S-I 4K | 1200Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher*3 |
| XAVC S-I HD | 890Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher*4 |
*1 When [Frame Rate] is set to [120fps]/[100fps], you may need an SDXC V90 memory card.
*2 When [Frame Rate] is set to [240fps]/[200fps], you may need an SDXC V90 memory card.
*3 For slow-motion recording, a CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) is required.
*4 When [Frame Rate] is set to [240fps]/[200fps], a CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) is required.
What Size Memory Card Do You Need?
For video you’ll probably want to go with the largest memory card that you can afford. The following table will help you to better understand what size cards you will need.
Movie Record Times
The table below shows the approximate total recording times using a Sony memory card formatted in the Sony FX3. Values may vary depending on the shooting conditions and the type of memory card used.
| File Format | Record Frame Rate | Record Setting | 64GB SD | 128GB SD | 80GB CF | 160GB CF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAVC HS 4K | 60p/50p | 200M | 35 min | 70 min | 40 min | 1 h 25 min |
| XAVC HS 4K | 60p/50p | 150M | 45 min | 1 h 35 min | 55 min | 1 h 50 min |
| XAVC HS 4K | 60p/50p | 100M | 1 h 10 min | 2 h 20 min | 1 h 20 min | 2 h 50 min |
| XAVC HS 4K | 60p/50p | 75M | 1 h 30 min | 3 h | 1 h 40 min | 3 h 40 min |
| XAVC HS 4K | 60p/50p | 45M | 2 h 20 min | 4 h 50 min | 2 h 40 min | 5 h 40 min |
| XAVC S 4K | 60p/50p | 200M | 35 min | 1 h 10 min | 40 min | 1 h 25 min |
| XAVC S 4K | 60p/50p | 150M | 45 min | 1 h 35 min | 55 min | 1 h 50 min |
| XAVC S HD | 60p/50p | 50M | 2 h 10 min | 4 h 30 min | 2 h 30 min | 5 h 10 min |
| XAVC S HD | 60p/50p | 25M | 3 h 50 min | 8 h 10 min | 6 h 30 min | 9 h 10 min |
| XAVC S-I 4K | 60p/50p | 600M/500M | 10 min | 25 min | 10 min | 25 min |
| XAVC S-I HD | 60p/50p | 222M/185M | 30 min | 1 h 5 min | 35 min | 1 h 15 min |
Simultaneous Recording Slot 1 + Slot 2
If you want to shoot simultaneously to both memory card slots then I recommend using either two CFexpress cards or two UHS-II cards, ideally of the same brand. If you use a CFexpress Tye-A card in slot 1 and a UHS-II card in slot 2 then the write speed will always be limited by the slower UHS-II card.
Summary
I think it will be a relief to many hybrid shooters that the FX3 supports both CFexpress Type-A and UHS-II SD cards, because not everyone is going to want to spend the big money on the CFexpress cards.
And thankfully other than a couple of S&Q modes as mentioned there is actually no need for a CFexpress Type-A card. There are of course still speed benefits when copying files over to your computer compared to SD cards, but otherwise there’s really no need for them.
For the majority of hybrid shooters you’ll be fine using a fast UHS-II card like the Kingston Canvas React Plus. I wouldn’t recommend spending the extra money on the Sony Tough cards unless you often drop your cards or have a bad hobbit of putting them through the wash.
FAQs
The Sony FX3 supports CFexpress Type-A memory cards in both of its two memory card slots. UHS-I and UHS-II (SDHC/SDXC) SD cards are also supported in both card slots, but not at the same time as the CFexpress cards.
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