Angelbird AV Pro 1TB CFexpress Type A Card review

[@WernerBirdNature]

Hi Simon, thanks for this update, and yes, Angelbird rocks ! Maybe I overlooked, but I believe the a1ii doesn't write Gen4 speeds while they obviously support those card to allow offloading them faster on the PC. The read-only feature of the card reader can be crucial in some use cases, but I've offloaded nearly 230k cr3's (and some 250 mp4's) using Bulk Rename Utility and have never encountered any file system corruption. Yesterday I noticed Angelbird no longer lists the 1TB CFxB mk2 .. smells like they're prepping the gen4 CFxB card arrival. But I'm today picking up the 1TB SE version which gives me the best value for money for my needs. and oh, I'm getting that card because the matching camera will be at my camera store as well 😀

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

It doesn't. At the time of recording, SAR said it was a possible leaked spec. Angelbird did the same with the CFA 1TB. Not having the CFB 1TB could indicate a refresh there too.

[@WernerBirdNature]

@@OrdinaryFilmmaker Indeed, through the grapevine "supporting gen4" easily gets interpreted as "writing gen4 speeds" And it was clear enough this video was recorded before your live.

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

One never knows. Why son't doesn't move to CFB is beyond me, especially at the pro level...

[@WernerBirdNature]

@@OrdinaryFilmmaker Well, some Simon told me few weeks ago that Angelbird informed him some other company would start using CFxA as well .. When CFxA gen4 are used, they have a smaller form factor than CFxB while reaching CFxB gen3 speeds .. and for Cameras below 35 megapickles those speeds are enough and it allows to share a slot with SD cards which may well appeal to the enthousiasts .. With the a1ii footage, I now also saw both slots are not sharing their largest surface side by side (as is the case in R1 & Z9). And such CFxA positioning makes it a lot easier to dissipate heat generated by the cards.

[@michael_swardh]

Now we need a Type B version 🙂

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

Considering the competition already has some, I suspect that won't be far away.

[@geraldn.d.y.5724]

Thanks for the information.

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

You're welcome Gerald. Thanks for watching.

[@giovannispinosa182]

One thing Andrea of SonyAlphaRumors got wrong in the A1 II was the adoption of the 4.0 CFexpress Card reader. Indeed. this was hinted at since the rest of rumored specs did not suggest that there was a PCI 4.0 bus running the show. This means we will have to wait for some manufacturer to upgrade to a PCI 4.0 bus. Perhaps, the anticipated A7 V? Or maybe, the Panasonic Lumix S1 II? Or the Canon R7 II or R6 II? What's your guess Simon?

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

Yes, he did get it wrong, but did pull back a little in the last few posts saying it was not confirmed. Canon won't got CFA, they would go CFB if anything. I'd also like to see them go GPT - we will see GPT before 4.0 ;)

[@waveland]

The card reader is a clear standout in the Type A marketplace. But how about they add an iPhone compatible magnetic back as an option?

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

It surprised me. At first, I thought, ok, a smaller card reader. Not realizing it is a bit of a game changer. We used to have write protect on our disks back in the day - wonder how that went away ;)

[@NM-bs4ck]

Can the A1 II write to USB-C drives?

[@felipeandjess]

Any updates on the canon r6 mark iii

[@KeithSklower]

In Gerald Undone's review he mentions that Angelbird has a corresponding new Type B reader. I looked on the bhphoto site, and you can preorder there, but it says the reader is 2.0 instead of 4.0. Could Simon provide a link to that also so that he gets credit? I'm thinking of getting one.

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

Yes Keith, that is true. They sent me the product info. I just focused on the type A for this video, else it would have had me going down the road of Gen 4 Angelbird cards ;) I suspect we could see gen 4 cards coming out and I can discuss it then.

[@howardholtzman1331]

Can a camera manufacture upgrade their product to take full advantage of a gen 4 card using firmware?

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

If they engineered the pathways to be capable of it, then yes, it is just a matter of a firmware update. The clear benefit to gen 4 is transfer off the card if your computer supports USB 4. Even though it only supports en 3 now, U suspect it will get some improvement clearing the buffer.

[@AR-vf7vg]

Gen-3 1TB AB..Type-A : Is it thus still the 1TB way to go with the new A1M2 then ? (If the 8-10% benefit of the gen4 is the same on the A1M2. ?) Thank You ( ..if you get the point I'm making. Just now : not the new reader's aspect and general merit of pushing up new Generations inter-compatibilities. )

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

Never got my hands on A1 II.

[@AR-vf7vg]

@OrdinaryFilmmaker That I did not question.

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

That's because the questions as such was awkward without being clear...

[@robverduyn6541]

Just wondering if you can help me with a question. I have ordered the A1II and I am wondering if I buy these 4.0 type A will the card run smoother and at the fastest rate for the gen 2.0 or will they run no faster than a normal gen 2.0 card? Thanks

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

Based on my testing with the A1, the buffer will clear faster, and you could shoot for longer. I was about to see an 8-10 percent improvment.

[@AR-vf7vg]

The question remains since nobody yet published to our knowledge if that observation (8-10% improovement) is identical on the A1M2. Right? And, we also cannot (ever?) know; if an operational gen-4 wiring is actually hidden in the A1M2 body designed/able to be unlocked by a future firmware-update of that body - ..Right ?

[@ChaitanyaShukla2503]

Those readers are stupidly overpriced and no sane person should buy them. You can SD reader for under 25% of that price and for the price of CFe readers you can get USB 4 readers from competition.

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

I stopped reading after your first sentence. You might not understand, but calling others insane won't get anyone to provide you with an explanation.