CompactFlash Association Releases Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) Profile 5

The CompactFlash Association (CFA), which defines standards for professional removable media such as CFexpress, CompactFlash, CFAST, and XQD, has released its Video Performance Guarantee Profile 5 (VPG-5).

The VPG standard guarantees high sustained write performance for video capture. 

Finalized in November 2024, VPG-5 defines 2 new classes for CFexpress cards that capture streaming video: VPG800 for 800MB/s sustained write speed and VPG1600 for 1,600MB/s sustained write speed. Cards that support these new classes are certified by CFA and labeled with the following certification logos:

This specification extends the VPG standard supporting VPG800 and VPG1600 by utilizing the latest TLC NAND Flash technologies. Tight coupling between the media card and camera guarantees minimum sustained performance for recording high-quality video, ensuring that the camera’s internal buffer memory doesn’t overflow and result in lost frames.     

To support higher sustained write performance while using economical TLC NAND Flash, VPG-5 breaks away from VPG-4 backward compatibility, requiring ‘preconditioning’ of the VPG-5 CFexpress card prior to video recording. CFA concluded that this solution provides users with the best cost performance for years to come. Due to the backward incompatibility, users need to be aware that VPG800 and VPG1600 CFexpress cards will not guarantee VPG200 and VPG400 performance. Cards that support VPG200 or VPG400 in addition to VPG800 or VPG1600 will have their respective certification logos on the card label as well.

“The Video Performance Guarantee Profile 5 standard provides professional videographers and photographers with greater performance supporting even higher resolution, higher-dynamic-range video recording while squeezing performance out of the most economical flash technology today,” says Hiro Ino, president, CFA. “CFA is looking out for solutions in the best interests of users.” 

“I’m pleased to introduce Video Performance Guarantee Profile 5,” adds Hiroshi Noda, Canon, Inc., and co-chairman of the board, CFA. “This new specification will enhance the reliability of capturing video footage with CFexpress hosts and cards.”

“The innovative Video Performance Guarantee Profile 5 standard delivers a consistent and premium user experience for both camera manufacturers and consumers, establishing a new benchmark for next-generation high-quality video recording capabilities.” said Hiroshi Machida, Sony Corporation, and board member, CFA .

Resources:
CFA’s white paper on VPG-5   
VPG-certified media cards
Video