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Sonnet SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader

BH #SOSF32CFEX • MFR #SF3-2CFEX
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Sonnet SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader
Key Features
  • Dual CFexpress/XQD Card Slots
  • Dual Thunderbolt 3 Ports
  • Data Transfer Rate: up to 2750 MB/s
  • Daisy-Chain Five Additional Devices
Take advantage of the speed and power of Thunderbolt 3 to transfer content from your CFexpress Type B and XQD media to systems running Windows 10 (64-bit) or macOS 10.12.6 and later using the SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader from Sonnet. In addition to Thunderbolt 3 compatibility, Mac users may use this card reader with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt connectivity by way of a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter and a Thunderbolt cable.
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Sonnet SF3 Series CFexpress Overview

Take advantage of the speed and power of Thunderbolt 3 to transfer content from your CFexpress Type B and XQD media to systems running Windows 10 (64-bit) or macOS 10.12.6 and later using the SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader from Sonnet. In addition to Thunderbolt 3 compatibility, Mac users may use this card reader with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt connectivity by way of a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter and a Thunderbolt cable.

Using the 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 bus, Sonnet's CFexpress/XQD card reader can operate at speeds up to 2750 MB/s when downloading one CFexpress card. When simultaneously working with two CFexpress cards, speeds max out around 2600 MB/s, and dual XQD cards deliver speeds of up to 800 MB/s. Sonnet built this reader with dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, one of which connects to your host system and provides up to 100W of power, while the second can be used to daisy-chain up to five additional devices, including additional card readers, two 4K displays at 60 Hz, or one 5K display at 60 Hz. The second Thunderbolt 3 port also provides up to 15W of power for bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 peripherals and supports 10 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 devices.

Please note that Sony has not yet updated XQD driver credentials to enable easy installation in macOS Catalina (10.15). To install the XQD driver in Catalina, you must first disable System Integrity Protection (SIP), install the driver, and then re-enable SIP. See Sonnet's XQD driver page for complete details.

General Features
Dual Card Slots, Less Waiting
The SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader is fast and able to ingest files from CFexpress and XQD cards at their maximum speeds. Better still, it can ingest files simultaneously from two CFexpress cards to cut your ingest times in half. When working with one CFexpress card, speeds reach 2750 MB/s. Dual CFexpress cards reach speeds up to 2600 MB/s, and dual XQD cards max out around 800 MB/s.
Ready for Racking
Sonnet's SF3 Series pro card readers include threaded mount points that enable you to securely attach two readers side-by-side on a rack tray in just 1U of rack space.
For Digital Imaging Technicians (DITs)
Measuring 5.75 x 1 x 3.5", the SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader is suitable for use in almost any workspace and workflow; for DITs working multi-camera shoots or in a small space, the Sonnet reader's design advantages stand out.

Built with rugged aluminum enclosures, SF3 Series card readers are designed to be stacked and daisy chained, enabling multiple CFexpress/XQD, REDMINI-MAG, SxS, and CFast 2.0 readers to occupy the same footprint, while connecting to your computer through a single cable. Now you can take advantage of Thunderbolt 3's 2750 MB/s bandwidth to ingest four, six, or more cards simultaneously.
Thunderbolt 3/USB Type-C External Interface
Featuring a dual-port 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 interface, this professional reader ingests footage from CFexpress 2.0 Type B or XQD memory cards to your Mac or Windows computer with Thunderbolt 3 ports - on location, in the studio, or in the edit suite - at fast speeds.
Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports
The SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader features two Thunderbolt 3 ports. The first one is used for connecting to your computer, while the second supports daisy chaining of up to five additional Thunderbolt peripheral devices to a single port on your computer.
Supports Two 4K or One 5K Display
The Sonnet reader also provides full support for connecting up to two 4K displays at 60 Hz or one 5K display at 60 Hz.
10 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 Support
The reader includes 10 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 support, meaning you can connect a USB device sto the second port using the proper cable or adapter.
Provides 15W of Power
For connected devices requiring extra power, 15W is provided to bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 peripherals from the second Thunderbolt 3 port, such as the SF3 Series CFast 2.0 ProCard Reader.
Thunderbolt 3 Cable and ThunderLok 3
Sonnet includes a 1.6' 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 cable that, unlike some other cables, transfers data at Thunderbolt 3's full 2750 MB/s bandwidth and supports up to 100W of Power Delivery (PD). In addition, Sonnet provides a ThunderLok 3 Thunderbolt connector retainer clip that helps prevent accidental cable disconnections. Just slide it over one end of the cable, and then plug in the connector and secure it to the chassis by turning a thumbscrew. Because of its unique design, ThunderLok remains on the cable, so it won't get lost when not in use.
Backward Compatible with Older Macs
No Thunderbolt 3? No problem. The SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader is also compatible with Macs with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt ports when used with the bi-directional Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter and a Thunderbolt cable (both sold separately).
UPC: 732311012952

Sonnet SF3 Series CFexpress Specs

Performance
Media Card Reader
2x CFexpress Type B / XQD
System Connection
USB-C Male [Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gb/s)]
I/O Passthrough
1x USB-C Female
Power Source
Thunderbolt Bus Power
General
Enclosure Material
Aluminum
Dimensions (W x H x D)
5.75 x 1 x 3.5" / 14.61 x 2.54 x 8.89 cm
Weight
1.35 lb / 0.61 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
2.1 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
7.8 x 5.1 x 3.1"

Sonnet SF3 Series CFexpress Reviews

See any errors on this page? Let us know

Can this reader ingest from both CFexpress Type A ...

Can this reader ingest from both CFexpress Type A and Type B? XQD are essentially Type A, so I'm assuming yes...?
Asked by: Christopher
CF Express Type A cards are different from both CF Express Type B and XQD Cards. The Sonnet SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader can only take CF Express Type B and XQD Cards.
Answered by: Ejona G
Date published: 2024-05-02

I wonder why this model requires an external ...

I wonder why this model requires an external power source? The Sonnet SF3 Series CFast 2.0 does not.
Asked by: rafael
The Sonnet SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader requires an external power source due to the high power consumption of CFexpress and XQD cards during data transfer. In contrast, the SF3 Series CFast 2.0 reader operates within lower power requirements. The additional power allows the CFexpress/XQD reader to support simultaneous high-speed ingestion from two cards and provide up to 15 watts for connected peripherals, ensuring optimal performance.
Answered by: Nick Y
Date published: 2024-12-18

Is this compatible with new M1 Max MacBook Pro ...

Is this compatible with new M1 Max MacBook Pro laptops?
Asked by: Rick
The Sonnet SF3 Series CFexpress/XQD Pro Card Reader would be compatible for reading CFexpress cards with the M1, but not for reading XQD cards.
Answered by: Boyd H
Date published: 2021-11-24
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