Pergear's CFexpress Type B 512GB card delivers excellent read speeds that nearly match its theoretical maximum, according to phillipreeve.net. Kieran Hayes Photography praised its performance in high-speed burst mode and RAW video recording, noting it runs cool and offers a 5-year warranty. The card's write performance, while strong, does not reach its advertised peak speed. The review indicates this card is well-suited for demanding professional use cases but may not be the fastest option available in the market.
Full review
Read speed performance
Pergear's CFexpress Type B 512GB card delivers read speeds that approach its advertised peak of 3500 MB/s. Martin from phillipreeve.net clocked a read speed of 3367 MB/s during testing, which closely matches the manufacturer's specification. This performance is particularly notable given that the card's theoretical maximum read speed surpasses that of many competing cards in the same class. The card's ability to maintain such high read speeds makes it ideal for quickly transferring large files from camera to computer, especially when working with high-resolution RAW images or 4K/8K video footage. The card's performance in this area positions it favorably against older CFexpress cards and even some SD cards, though it's worth noting that real-world performance typically falls short of peak theoretical speeds due to system overhead and other factors.
Write speed capabilities
While the card's read performance is impressive, its write speeds show a more modest performance relative to its advertised specifications. According to phillipreeve.net's testing, the Pergear card achieved a write speed of 2350 MB/s, which is significantly below the manufacturer's stated peak write speed of 3400 MB/s. However, this result still exceeds the card's guaranteed sustained write speed of 800 MB/s. The write performance is sufficient for most professional applications, including high-speed burst photography and 4K/8K video recording, though it falls short of the peak performance that would be expected from a card at this price point. The card's sustained write speed of 800 MB/s is adequate for handling long video recordings and large RAW image bursts without significant bottlenecks.
Real-world burst performance
Kieran Hayes Photography conducted extensive testing with the Pergear card in a Nikon Z8 camera, achieving excellent results during high-speed burst shooting. In 20 frames per second uncompressed RAW mode, the card demonstrated consistent performance without buffer overflow issues, allowing for extended shooting sessions. The card's ability to maintain performance under high-speed conditions was further validated during 4K 120fps and 8K 60p video recording, where it handled demanding recording tasks without issues. During these tests, the card remained cool, with temperatures reaching only 44.8°C during 8K 60p recording. This thermal management is a significant advantage, especially during extended recording sessions, and contributes to the card's reliability in demanding environments.
Thermal management and durability
The Pergear card's thermal performance stands out among its competitors, with Kieran Hayes noting that it remained significantly cooler during extended 8K 60p recording sessions compared to other cards. The card's metal shell design contributes to better heat dissipation, which is crucial for maintaining consistent performance during long recording sessions. Additionally, the card features robust physical protection, including shockproof, waterproof, x-ray resistant, and temperature-resistant capabilities. These attributes make the card suitable for use in demanding professional environments where durability is essential. The card's ability to maintain performance under stress, combined with its physical resilience, makes it a strong candidate for professional use in challenging conditions.
Comparison with competing cards
When compared to other CFexpress Type B cards, the Pergear card offers competitive performance at a more affordable price point. phillipreeve.net's testing revealed that the card's read performance was superior to many of its competitors. However, the card's write performance lags behind some of its counterparts, particularly in sustained write scenarios. In comparison to SD cards, the Pergear card shows a significant performance advantage, especially in read operations. The card's value proposition becomes more apparent when considering its price point, which is notably lower than many premium CFexpress cards, while still delivering performance that meets the needs of most professional photographers and videographers.
VPG certification status
One notable limitation of the Pergear card is its lack of VPG (Video Performance Guarantee) certification, despite delivering sustained write speeds that exceed the VPG200 standard. This certification is required by some cameras, particularly Sony models, to unlock certain high-bitrate video modes. While the card performs well in real-world scenarios, cameras that require VPG certification may not recognize its capabilities, potentially limiting access to advanced video features. This certification gap could be a significant drawback for videographers who rely on specific camera features that require VPG compliance. However, for photographers and videographers who don't require these specific features, the card's performance remains highly competitive and reliable.
Price and warranty
The card comes with a 5-year warranty, which is significantly longer than the typical 1-2 year warranties offered by many competitors. This extended warranty period provides peace of mind for professionals who rely heavily on their memory cards for critical work. Additionally, the card's price point offers better value as capacity increases, with the 512GB model providing substantial savings compared to similar high-end cards from other manufacturers. The combination of competitive pricing and extended warranty makes the card an appealing choice for budget-conscious professionals.
Transfer performance with reader
The card's performance is further enhanced by the Pergear CFexpress 4.0 card reader, which supports USB 4.0 technology and delivers fast transfer speeds. Rob Trek's testing confirmed that the card reader can achieve high-speed data transfer, making it easy to quickly offload large files from the card to a computer. The reader's solid construction and USB 4.0 compatibility contribute to its reliability and performance. The combination of the card and reader provides a complete solution for professionals who need fast, reliable data transfer capabilities. The reader's design includes a metal shell for better heat dissipation, which complements the card's thermal management features. The overall system performance demonstrates that Pergear has designed a complete ecosystem that maximizes the card's capabilities.
Strengths
- +Read speed of 3367 MB/s closely approaches the manufacturer's theoretical peak of 3500 MB/s
- +Write speed of 2350 MB/s significantly exceeds the guaranteed minimum sustained write speed of 800 MB/s
- +Supports high-speed burst mode and RAW 12-bit video recording up to 8K 60p
- +Includes a 5-year warranty and is priced competitively at $149
Watch-outs
- −Write speed performance falls short of the advertised peak of 3400 MB/s
- −Sustained write speed of 800 MB/s is lower than some competitors like the 1 TBTE model
How it compares
The Pergear CF Exp B 4.0 512GB card delivers read speeds that closely approach its theoretical peak of 3500 MB/s.
Rating sources
“This card completely blew me away crazily. After using it now for a few weeks, this has now become my default memory card recommendation.”
“Again, uh, very close to what they're claiming and very, very respectable numbers.”
Our 4.8 score is the average of the 2 scored reviews above; 1 more reviewed it without printing a score and is not in the average. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
