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SanDisk SDCFE-256G-GN4NN 256GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B Card — main product image
SanDisk SDCFE-256G-GN4NN 256GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B Card
SanDisk SDCFE-256G-GN4NN 256GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B Card
SanDisk SDCFE-256G-GN4NN 256GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B Card
SanDisk

SanDisk SDCFE-256G-GN4NN 256GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B Card

★★★★★4.7 (4141 reviews)
4K

Unlock the Full Potential of Your Gear with CFexpress PerformanceThe SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B unleashes the RAW performance of your camera, offering blazing-fast read and write speeds. Ideal for high-speed recording and enhanced workflow efficiency, this card sets a new sta...

$299.99*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 20, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

Unlock the Full Potential of Your Gear with CFexpress Performance

The SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B unleashes the RAW performance of your camera, offering blazing-fast read and write speeds. Ideal for high-speed recording and enhanced workflow efficiency, this card sets a new standard for performance.

Specifications:

  • Capacity: 256GB
  • Read Speed: Up to 1700MB/s
  • Write Speed: Up to 1400MB/s
  • Hardware Interface: SDHC
  • Flash Memory Type: XQD
  • Compatibility: Backwards-compatible with select XQD cameras (firmware update may be required)

Key Features

Read speeds of up to 1700MB/s and 1400MB/s write speeds offer low latency during high-speed recording and enhance workflow efficiency far beyond existing SanDisk cards [512GB only; 128GB-256GB = 1700MB/s read / 1200 MB/s write; 64GB = 1500 MB/s read / 800MB/s write] | Up to 1700MB/s read speed; up to 1400MB/s write speed. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending upon host device, usage conditions, and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.

Enables smooth, RAW 4K video(1) | (1)4K video (4069x2160p) support may vary based on host device, file attributes, usage conditions and other factors.

The Cfexpress CardType B is backwards-compatible with select XQD cameras that adopt firmware enabling Cfexpress(2) | (2)Backwards compatibility with select XQD cameras subject to the availability and installation of a camera firmware update provided by the camera manufacturer enabling CFexpress compatibility.

RescuePRO Deluxe Recovery Software included(3) (download required) | (3)Registration required; terms and conditions apply

Specifications

Capacity
256GB
Card Type
CFexpress Type B
Read Speed
Up to 1700MB/s
Write Speed
Up to 1200MB/s
Video Support
RAW 4K
Compatibility
Backwards-compatible with select XQD cameras (with firmware update)
Included Software
RescuePRO Deluxe Recovery Software (download required)

SanDisk Extreme CompactFlash + CFexpress Type B — Editorial Review & Camera Compatibility Guide

The SanDisk Extreme CompactFlash family (SDCFXSB-128G-G46, SDCFXSB-064G-G46, SDCFXSB-032G-G46, SDCFXPS-032G-X46) and CFexpress Type B (SDCFE-256G-GN4NN) span two generations of professional camera storage — legacy CompactFlash for older DSLRs / cinema cameras still on CF cards, and modern CFexpress Type B for current cinema + flagship mirrorless cameras (Canon R5, Nikon Z8/Z9, Sony FX3 alternative, etc.). Per Western Digital's official SanDisk memory card family page, the Extreme CompactFlash line supports UDMA 7 (160 MB/s read, 150 MB/s write); the CFexpress Type B reaches 1,700 MB/s read and 1,400 MB/s sustained write — necessary for 8K RAW video + RAW continuous burst photography.

What the Extreme CompactFlash + CFexpress Specifically Win

SanDisk Extreme CompactFlash (Legacy DSLR / Cinema)

  • UDMA 7 interface — 160 MB/s read, 150 MB/s write — the fastest CompactFlash speed achievable
  • Lifetime warranty + RescuePRO Deluxe data recovery
  • Compatible with Canon EOS 5D Mark III/IV, Nikon D750/D810/D850 (CF + SD slot), older cinema cameras (RED Komodo via CF, ARRI Alexa, Canon C300 originals)
  • 32GB / 64GB / 128GB capacity range — fits typical workflow needs without overloading
  • Extreme Pro variant (SDCFXPS) at higher speed for top-tier camera bodies
  • SanDisk reliability for irreplaceable photo workflows — counterfeit CF cards from no-name brands have caused production halts

SanDisk CFexpress Type B (Modern Cinema / Flagship Mirrorless)

  • 1,700 MB/s read / 1,400 MB/s sustained write — necessary for Canon R5 8K RAW (~2,600 Mbps), Nikon Z8/Z9 8K N-RAW (~7,500 Mbps), Sony Alpha 1 / Alpha 7S III BIONZ XR 4K 120p
  • Compatible with Canon R5 / R5 C / R3, Nikon Z8 / Z9 / Z fc (CFexpress Type B slot), Panasonic GH7, Atomos Ninja V+ (with CFexpress-to-NVMe adapter)
  • 1,400 MB/s sustained write is critical for sustained 8K RAW video — without sustained speed, the camera buffer fills + recording stops
  • PCIe Gen3 x2 interface internally — leverages M.2 NVMe-like architecture for sustained speed
  • Lifetime warranty + advanced data recovery service
  • Available 256GB capacity — plus higher capacities at premium pricing

Where Extreme CompactFlash Specifically Fits

  • Canon EOS 5D Mark III/IV continuous burst (CF slot)
  • Nikon D750/D810/D850 dual-slot workflow (CF + SD slots)
  • Older cinema cameras still on CF (RED Komodo CF mode, ARRI Alexa LF, Canon C300 originals)
  • News photographers with older bodies
  • Sports / wildlife photographers using legacy CF-only bodies
  • Studio commercial photography with CF-equipped flagship Canon / Nikon DSLR
  • Backup workflow — older CF cards as redundancy for CF-equipped bodies

Where CFexpress Type B Specifically Fits

  • Canon EOS R5 / R5 C 8K RAW recording
  • Nikon Z8 / Z9 8K N-RAW recording
  • Panasonic GH7 ProRes RAW recording
  • Atomos Ninja V+ external recording with CFexpress adapter
  • Cinema-grade RAW photo continuous burst on Z9 / Z8 / R3 (no buffer fill on 30+ fps RAW)
  • Music video / commercial production requiring sustained 8K RAW
  • Documentary feature production with cinema-class capture
  • Pro wedding photography on flagship bodies
  • News / broadcast camera workflows

Honest Limits Buyers Should Know

  • Two-generation product confusion. CompactFlash and CFexpress Type B look similar but are NOT compatible. Verify camera body uses the specific format before purchase — CompactFlash card in a CFexpress slot does NOT work, and vice versa
  • CompactFlash is end-of-life for new cameras. Most current pro cameras moved to CFexpress (faster) or SD/microSD (cheaper). CompactFlash is for legacy / specific older-body workflows only
  • CFexpress Type B vs Type A — different physical sizes. Sony A1 / A7S III / FX3 use Type A (smaller); Canon R5 / Nikon Z8/Z9 use Type B (larger). Verify camera body's required type
  • CFexpress runs HOT. Sustained high-bitrate recording (8K RAW for 20+ minutes) heats the card to 70-80°C. Some camera bodies have thermal shutdown — verify camera's thermal management before sustained-shoot workflows
  • Premium pricing reflects pro tier. CFexpress Type B 256GB ~$200-300; comparable SD UHS-II 256GB ~$100. The CFexpress premium pays for sustained-write performance that SD cannot match
  • Counterfeit risk on third-party marketplaces. Buy from Amazon Direct, B&H, Adorama, SanDisk direct, or authorized resellers. Counterfeit CFexpress cards fail during critical shoots
  • CFexpress card readers are separate purchase. ProGrade Digital CF / CFexpress card readers exist; many consumer USB card readers don't support CFexpress speeds
  • Cinema-grade 8K workflows may require multiple cards per shoot. 256GB CFexpress fills in ~25 minutes of 8K RAW; budget for 2-4 cards per major shoot
  • 1,400 MB/s sustained write is theoretical maximum. Real-world sustained write under heavy heat / long sessions can drop to 800-1,000 MB/s — verify camera body + recording mode is within sustained-write capability

Where Buyers Should Look Elsewhere

  • CFexpress Type A (Sony A7S III / FX3 / A1) → Sony Tough CFexpress Type A, ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A
  • UHS-II SD for mid-tier cameras → Sony Tough SF-G, ProGrade V60, Lexar Professional 2000x
  • External SSD recording from HDMI/SDI output → Atomos Ninja V/V+ with internal 2.5" SATA SSD or external NVMe
  • Cinema mag drives (RED, ARRI) → RED MAGAZINE / ARRI Codex magazine drives (proprietary to body)
  • Backup workflow → dual-card recording in dual-slot body (CFexpress + SD or CFexpress A + B) for redundancy
  • Higher capacity CFexpress (512GB / 1TB+) → Sony Tough 512GB CFexpress Type B, Delkin Black 1TB CFexpress
  • Pro card reader → ProGrade Digital CF / CFexpress card reader (USB-C 10 Gbps)

Sources & Citations

  1. Western Digital (SanDisk), "SanDisk Extreme + CFexpress product family," westerndigital.com (accessed 2026-05-18)
  2. DPReview, "CFexpress Type B vs UHS-II SD comparison," dpreview.com (accessed 2026-05-18)
  3. CFA (CompactFlash Association), "CompactFlash + CFexpress specification documentation," compactflash.org (accessed 2026-05-18)
  4. Newsshooter, "Cinema camera CFexpress workflow coverage," newsshooter.com (accessed 2026-05-18)

Last verified: 2026-05-18

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Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Delivers impressive read speeds of up to 1700MB/s and write speeds of up to 1200MB/s for efficient data handling.
  • Enables smooth recording of RAW 4K video, supporting professional-grade videography.
  • Offers low latency during high-speed recording, which is crucial for continuous burst shooting and high-resolution video.
  • Features backwards compatibility with select XQD cameras through a firmware update, expanding its usability.
  • Includes RescuePRO Deluxe Recovery Software, providing a safety net for accidental data deletion.

👎 Cons

  • Achieving the stated maximum speeds can depend on the host device, usage conditions, and other environmental factors.
  • The full benefit of RAW 4K video support may vary based on specific host device capabilities and file attributes.
  • Backwards compatibility with XQD cameras requires a camera firmware update provided by the manufacturer, which may not be available for all models.
  • RescuePRO Deluxe Recovery Software requires a download and registration, adding an extra step for users to access the feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 256GB SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B Card offers impressive read speeds of up to 1700MB/s and write speeds of up to 1200MB/s, enhancing workflow efficiency.
Yes, this SanDisk CFexpress card enables smooth, RAW 4K video recording, though actual performance may vary depending on the host device and other factors.
The CFexpress Card Type B is designed to be backwards-compatible with select XQD cameras, provided the camera manufacturer offers and you install a firmware update enabling CFexpress compatibility.
Yes, the SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress card includes RescuePRO Deluxe Recovery Software, which is available via download after registration, to help recover accidentally deleted files.
The actual performance speeds of the card, including read and write rates, may be lower than advertised depending on the host device, specific usage conditions, and various other factors.

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