The XQD card is a
memory card format primarily developed for
flash memory
Flash memory is an Integrated circuit, electronic Non-volatile memory, non-volatile computer memory storage medium that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. The two main types of flash memory, NOR flash and NAND flash, are named for t ...
cards. It uses
PCI Express
PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), officially abbreviated as PCIe, is a high-speed standard used to connect hardware components inside computers. It is designed to replace older expansion bus standards such as Peripher ...
as a data transfer interface.
The format is targeted at high-definition
camcorders and high-resolution digital cameras. It offers target read and write speeds from 1 Gbit/s to about 5 Gbit/s
and storage capabilities beyond 2
TiB.
The cards are not backward compatible with
CompactFlash
CompactFlash (CF) is a flash memory mass storage device used mainly in portable electronic devices. The format was specified and the devices were first manufactured by SanDisk in 1994.
CompactFlash became one of the most successful of the e ...
or
CFast
CompactFlash (CF) is a flash memory mass storage device used mainly in portable electronic devices. The format was specified and the devices were first manufactured by SanDisk in 1994.
CompactFlash became one of the most successful of the e ...
cards, and despite the name similarity, has no connection with the
xD-Picture Card. XQD and CFast were both designed as a replacement of the 1994 CompactFlash standard.
The format was first announced in November 2010 by
SanDisk,
Sony
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...
and
Nikon
(, ; ) is a Japanese optics and photographic equipment manufacturer. Nikon's products include cameras, camera lenses, binoculars, microscopes, ophthalmic lenses, measurement instruments, rifle scopes, spotting scopes, and equipment related to S ...
, and was immediately picked up by the
CompactFlash Association for development.
The final specification was announced in December 2011.
XQD version 2.0 was announced in June 2012, featuring support for
PCI Express 3.0 with transfer rates up to 8 Gbit/s (1 GB/s).
On 7 September 2016 the CFA announced the successor of XQD,
CFexpress.
This new standard uses the same form-factor and interface but uses the
NVMe protocol for higher speeds, lower latencies and lower power consumption. Some cameras with XQD slots have received firmware updates to allow use of CFexpress Type B cards in their XQD slots.
Support
In January 2012, the first XQD card was announced by Sony, declaring a 1 Gbit/s read and write speed. In July 2012,
Lexar (owned at the time by Micron) announced plans to support the XQD format.
As of 2012, SanDisk and
Kingston had not announced plans to produce XQD cards.
In addition to Sony, as of August 2018, Nikon and Delkin are also manufacturing XQD cards.
In late 2018, Lexar – by then under new ownership –
announced that it would discontinue support for the XQD format in favour of
CFexpress, citing problems with control, licensing and product availability.
Hosts
Sony has said their broadcast camcorders (
XDCAM and
XDCAM EX) will support the XQD cards. For their broadcast products the XQD card will be classified as a secondary media as XQD is based around consumer technology. Nonetheless, the cards will support acquisition in the
broadcast quality MPEG HD422 50 Mbit/s format. On 4 September 2013, Sony released the PXW-Z100, a
4K prosumer camera that records onto XQD cards. Additionally, Sony’s PXW-FS7 and PXW-FX9 cameras also support XQD cards.
Nikon
(, ; ) is a Japanese optics and photographic equipment manufacturer. Nikon's products include cameras, camera lenses, binoculars, microscopes, ophthalmic lenses, measurement instruments, rifle scopes, spotting scopes, and equipment related to S ...
supports XQD cards in its newer high-end DSLR and
mirrorless cameras:
Nikon D4,
Nikon D4s,
Nikon D5,
Nikon D6,
Nikon D850,
Nikon D500 and
Nikon Z6 &
Nikon Z7.
XF IQ4 camera system (three bodies) supports XQD cards.
See also
*
CFast
CompactFlash (CF) is a flash memory mass storage device used mainly in portable electronic devices. The format was specified and the devices were first manufactured by SanDisk in 1994.
CompactFlash became one of the most successful of the e ...
*
CFexpress
*
Comparison of memory cards
Notes
References
External links
CompactFlash Association
{{Memory Cards
Computer memory
Solid-state computer storage media