ProGrade Digital has released what we reckon is only the second-ever card reader to support CFexpress Type A memory cards. The Type A variant of CFexpress uses a smaller form factor than the more common Type B cards used in cameras like the Nikon Z 7II (opens in new tab) and Canon EOS R5 (opens in new tab), and despite the name, Type A cards only came to market in 2020 - long after Type B cards. In fact, the only cameras that use CFexpress Type A cards are the Sony A7S III (opens in new tab) and FX6 cinema camera (opens in new tab). For more detailed info on the different CFexpress card variants, we've got an in-depth guide here (opens in new tab).
As for ProGrade Digital's new PG09 CFexpress Type A reader; it's a dual-slot design that also features an SDXC/SDHC UHS-II slot in addition the CFexpress slot, making it an ideal match for the Sony A7S III and FX6, both of which can record onto CFexpress Type A or SD cards.
Connection to your PC or Mac is via a fast USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connection, which enables transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps (1.25 gigabytes per second). That's more than enough to max out the 1 gigabyte per second theoretical peak speed of a CFexpress Type A card (UHS-II SD cards can only hit 312 megabytes per second).
The ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A and SDXC/SDHC UHS-II dual-slot card reader is available now from B&H (opens in new tab), priced at $79.99. That's big bucks for a simple card reader, but given the only other CFexpress Type A reader you can currently buy - the Sony MRWG2 - is around $118, the ProGrade Digital option seems like a no-brainer. Especially as we rate ProGrade's Gen 2 Dual-Slot SD Card Reader as one of the best memory card readers (opens in new tab) on the market today.
Read more:
The best memory card for your camera (opens in new tab)
The best memory card readers (opens in new tab)
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microSD card deals (opens in new tab)
SanDisk Extreme Pro CFexpress Type B Card and CFexpress Card Reader review (opens in new tab)
