I esp like the Mt Rainier at sunset shots. So I'll probably stick with XQD for now since I replace my cameras and cards every 2-3 years anyway.īTW Ernie - your photos are quite beautiful. And prices for the cards are about the same as XQD. But current Z cameras can't take advantage of the increased speed. Will be ordering that separately from Amazon.ĬFExpress may be the future. I was expecting it to have FW 3.0 installed already but I guess that may not be the case. I just ordered a Z6+FTZ+32GB QXD bundle from BH today. It has a 32GB XQD card and with the smallish files that might do me for a while. I bought the Z6 setup from his widow to help her out. Then, sadly, he was killed in an accident. My cousin bought the Z6 bundle deal from B&H just 6 weeks ago. I just got the Z6 today and will see what firmware is in it. Yes - the box needs to be opened - but if you give customers a choice, it's a valuable package and it generates more revenue for the dealer. I'm actually surprised that dealers have not built a bundle that includes installing version 3.0 or later of firmware and selling both CFExpress card and reader. That's a dramatic difference in performance. I expect the next generation Z cameras will be able to take advantage of CFExpress speeds. Most D500 or D850 owners will have an XQD reader. And all you need to do is borrow a reader for that initial installation. Some cameras are being shipped with 2.2 or later. If your camera already has Version 2.2 or later installed, it will be able to use CFExpress cards. The camera/manual also talks about connecting to network, but I did not try.
Like cable (thumbling with the rubber cover), or snapbridge to phone and from there on (slow), or AirNef directly to a PC with WiFi (i.e.
As the camera will accept both for that.Īs pointed out earlier, you can download pictures without a reader.
OK, but the OP needs only one format reader to be able to install new firmware. It will be interesting to see what the 2nd generation of Z's will be set up for - perhaps both just like our Z's after the 3.0 firmware update. Do you have any favorites for the 2 types of individual card readers? It's funny that having an XQD card that comes with the camera, I need a reader for that to download the firmware 3.0 update, that will allow me to use a CFExpress card. The XQD readers are going to be just used for this one card on one camera. But I'd probably just get individual readers rather than a hybrid. You're kind of stuck right now since you have a bundle that includes an XQD card. Hybrid readers are more expensive - usually more than two individual readers. If I were buying now, I'd get CFExpress cards and a CFExpress reader. The cheaper price is only on the 120GB and larger cards - you can find a few 64GB cards and XQD may not be more expensive. The write speed in the camera is about 10% slower than XQD right now, but the download speed is 3-4 times faster. The CFExpress cards are both cheaper and generally faster - and they are the path forward. Right now we are moving to CFExpress from XQD. This Sony card reader will do XQD and CF Express both and looks good. The XQD card that comes with the bundle should be fine I think. I'm a landscape photographer so speed and shooting in bursts is not needed. Should I be looking to get a card reader that will work with CF Express also just to future-proof it?ĬF Express is getting a lot of talk now and didn't the firmware 3.0 give the Z6 and 7 CF Express capability? Is anyone actually using a CF Express card yet? I did a search but not much comes up. I'll be getting a Z6 soon and wonder which card reader to purchase? The Z6 bundle deal comes with an XQD card so maybe a card reader for that is all I would need, but which card reader is the best for the money right now? I think the Sony XQD reader for around $50 has been discontinued for some reason.