- New specification delivers up to four times faster performance
than current CompactFlash® memory cards used in today's
professional-grade cameras
- Ideal for next-generation cameras offering high resolutions and
featuring advanced professional video recording applications
- Currently sampling CFast2.0 memory cards to camera
manufacturers as they design and optimize their next-generation
host devices for CFast2.0
PHOTOKINA, Cologne,
Germany, September 18, 2012-SanDisk
Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash memory storage
solutions, today announced that it is developing flash memory cards
based on the new CFast2.0 specification introduced today by the
CompactFlash Association (CFA). The new specification enables
next-generation photo and video applications by delivering up to
four times faster performance than the CompactFlash memory cards
currently used in DSLR cameras and other imaging devices.
"CFast2.0 memory cards will help
drive the future of professional photography and video-recording
applications," said Shuki Nir, senior vice president and general
manager, Retail, SanDisk. "With the CFast2.0 specification's
unparalleled performance, flash memory can now enter new markets
such as high-definition TV and even cinema production."
Ideal for Next-Generation
Professional Video Applications
Professional video applications are growing more powerful than
ever before, with 2K video enjoying widespread use and full-frame
4K video already gaining adoption in high-end production
environments. These next-generation video applications can produce
videos with incredibly high resolutions and large file sizes. The
CFast2.0 specification supports advanced video applications through
higher interface bandwidth and much higher levels of Video
Performance Guarantee to meet the requirements of 2K/4K digital
intermediate compressed production environments.
"Professional photographers,
videographers and cinematographers demand increasingly powerful
cameras that help them unleash their creativity," said Masaya
Maeda, managing director and chief executive, image communication
products operations, Canon. "With extremely fast performance,
CFast2.0 memory cards will enable us to develop next-generation
cameras with more powerful features than are currently supported by
CompactFlash cards."
Ideal for Next-Generation
Photography Applications
Digital cameras are expected to become more powerful, with the
ability to capture images at greater than 40MP resolution. These
next-generation cameras will produce photos of unprecedented
quality, and the large file sizes can quickly overwhelm a
CompactFlash memory card's data-transfer rates and halt
shooting.
The CFast2.0 specification features
theoretical performance of up to 600MB/sec, four times faster than
the highest-performance CompactFlash memory cards. The new
specification delivers the fast speed needed to capture a series of
high-resolution photos and transfer them quickly to a computer,
particularly important to professional photographers whose
workflows demand the utmost efficiency.
"PhaseOne believes in open
standards where many players have access to the technologies
required to create a healthy ecosystem and drive the future of
imaging," said Henrik Håkonsson, chief executive officer, PhaseOne,
a leading medium format camera manufacturer. "We intend to
integrate CFast2.0 memory cards into our new cameras because they
offer significantly higher recording performance and faster offload
speeds than other memory card formats."
Sampling Now
SanDisk is currently sampling CFast2.0 memory cards to camera
manufacturers as they design and optimize their next-generation
host devices for the new specification.
About
SanDisk
SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) is a global leader in flash
memory storage solutions, from research and development, product
design and manufacturing to branding and distribution for OEM and
retail channels. Since 1988, SanDisk's innovations in flash memory
and storage system technologies have provided customers with new
and transformational digital experiences. SanDisk's diverse product
portfolio includes flash memory cards and embedded solutions used
in smart phones, tablets, digital cameras, camcorders, digital
media players and other consumer electronic devices, as well as USB
flash drives and solid-state drives (SSD) for the computing market.
SanDisk's products are used by consumers and enterprise customers
around the world.
SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based
S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, with more than half its sales
outside the United States. For more information, visit www.sandisk.com.
© 2012 SanDisk Corporation. All
rights reserved. SanDisk and CompactFlash are trademarks of SanDisk
Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries.
Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes
only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s).
This press release contains certain
forward-looking statements, including expectations for new product
introductions, technology measurement standards, applications,
features, markets, specifications and customers that are based on
our current expectations and involve numerous risks and
uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be
inaccurate. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements
to be inaccurate include among others: the market demand for our
products may grow more slowly than our expectations or there may be
a slower adoption rate for these products in the capacities that we
anticipate, our products may not perform as expected and the other
risks detailed from time-to-time in our Securities and Exchange
Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our
most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q. We do not intend to update the information contained in
this press release.