Best Overall
Lexar Gold 256GB Type A
Key details
- Capacity
- 256 GB
- Warranty
- Limited lifetime
- VPG Rating
- VPG400
- Sustained Write
- 1000 MB/s
With a sustained write speed of 1000 MB/s and VPG400 certification, the Lexar Gold 256GB holds high-bitrate 4K120 recording without dropped frames. Peak reads reach 1800 MB/s and peak writes 1650 MB/s over PCIe 4.0, so file transfers off the card are fast enough to keep a Sony FX3 shooter moving between takes. The combination of sustained write and VPG400 is what separates this card from older Type A 2.0 models that quote high peaks but fall back under continuous video. For the Sony bodies that support CFexpress Type A, this is the speed class that matters during actual recording. It is the kind of performance that shows up in the field rather than in spec sheets, especially when a long 4K120 clip pushes the card past short burst writes.
In Sony FX3 and A7RV bodies, the card records 4K120 and high-bitrate video smoothly, then moves those clips to a computer quickly. It seats firmly in a card slot, and after months of repeated swaps between Sony Alpha and FX bodies, the card remains in good shape. The build quality shows in the card's stiff body and consistent behavior, which matters for shooters who treat memory cards as consumables. The fact that it still looks close to new after heavy use is a practical measure of how well the card tolerates the repeated insertion cycles that come with event work.
This is the everyday Type A card for Sony Alpha/FX hybrid shooters who shoot stills, 4K120, and short-to-medium video sequences. If your day is continuous 8K RAW, the 256GB capacity fills faster than 512GB/1TB alternatives, so this is not the card for marathon RAW sessions. For the hybrid work this card targets, one card completes a day's stills and 4K120 clips, and a second copy makes a cost-effective pair for jobs that run long. For stills, the fast write speed also means continuous bursts clear without holding up the next shot. Buyers who need a single card for extended 8K RAW should move up to a larger model; everyone else gets the balance of speed and capacity that fits a one-body kit.
At a mid-range price under the first-party Sony Tough cards, the Gold 256GB undercuts specialist rivals that require software upkeep and skips the premium of the 1TB flagship. It avoids the compatibility checks that some high-capacity 4.0 cards need, so formatting in-camera and shooting normally covers the workflows this card targets. The value case is simple: a capable Sony CFexpress Type A card that does not demand extra tools or a dedicated reader.
Pros
- Sustained 1000 MB/s writes keep VPG400 4K120 and high-bitrate video stable on Sony FX3 and Alpha bodies.
- Long-term durability shows up as consistent performance in A7RV and NX800 bodies after months of use.
- Solid construction survives heavy swapping and still reads like new after repeated insertion cycles.
- Costs less than first-party Sony Tough cards while offering faster PCIe 4.0 transfer speeds.
Cons
No notable drawbacks to flag.
For Sony Alpha and FX shooters who split time between stills and 4K120, the Lexar Gold 256GB offers 4.0-class speed at a price that leaves room for a spare.
