Lexar has just launched a game-changer in the world of digital storage: the Professional Gold Pro SDXC Express Card. As the first SD 8.0 card on the market, it dazzles with read and write speeds reaching an impressive 1,700 MB/s and 1,000 MB/s, respectively. However, there’s a catch—these mind-blowing speeds are currently just theoretical for most users due to a lack of compatible devices.
The SD 8.0 standard leverages various PCIe interfaces such as PCIe Gen4 x2, PCIe Gen4 x1, PCIe Gen3 x1, and PCIe Gen3 x2, with the potential to hit transfer speeds up to a whopping 4 GB/s. Lexar’s new card takes advantage of PCIe 4.0 lanes, similar to their Professional CFexpress 4.0 card, to achieve its phenomenal speed benchmarks.
Yet, the card’s full capabilities remain untapped because there are no devices currently supporting the SD 8.0 standard. This means that when used with today’s cameras and card readers, the card is relegated to UHS-I speeds of just 50 MB/s, a far cry from its maximum potential. Lexar’s decision to bring this card to market as a finished product, rather than a prototype, is puzzling—especially since no other storage manufacturers are currently producing SD 8.0 cards.
For photographers and videographers, high-speed storage is indispensable, particularly with the growing demands of 8K RAW video and high-resolution burst shooting. CF cards have been the go-to choice for professionals due to their superior speeds and reliability. Whether camera manufacturers will consider adopting the new SD 8.0 standard remains to be seen, but its future success hinges on this widespread acceptance.
The Lexar Professional Gold Pro SDXC Express Card is undeniably a glimpse into the future of digital storage. It promises incredible advancements in both photography and videography, provided that the technology ecosystem catches up. Until then, this cutting-edge card remains more a beacon of what’s possible tomorrow than a revolution for today’s users.
