Sony Suspends Nearly All Memory Card Sales as Global Flash Shortage Hits Filmmakers

Storage Media

by Nino LeitnerMarch 31^st, 2026

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Sony Japan has stopped accepting orders for nearly its entire lineup of CFexpress and SD memory cards, citing the global semiconductor shortage driven by AI datacenter demand. The suspension, effective March 27, 2026, covers CFexpress Type A, Type B, and SDXC/SDHC cards across all capacity tiers, with no timeline given for when sales will resume.

The move marks the first time a major camera media manufacturer has pulled nearly all of its memory card products from the market in response to the ongoing flash storage crisis. For filmmakers and photographers who rely on Sony’s popular TOUGH series for professional production work, the implications are significant and immediate.

What exactly is suspended

Sony’s announcement, published on Sony Japan’s website, covers a sweeping list of products. On the CFexpress Type A side, all four TOUGH cards are affected: the CEA-G240T, CEA-G480T, CEA-G960T, and CEA-G1920T, spanning 240GB to 1,920GB. The CFexpress Type B TOUGH cards in 240GB and 480GB capacities are also included. Nine SDXC/SDHC models round out the list, including the TOUGH-branded SF-G series (64GB, 128GB, 256GB), the mid-range SF-M series (128GB, 256GB, 512GB), and the SF-E series (64GB, 128GB, 256GB).

Only two product lines appear to have been spared: a single 960GB CFexpress Type B card and the entry-level SF-UZ series SD cards, which are slower UHS-I models with limited appeal for professional video work.

Why this suspension matters …

CFexpress Type A cards are the backbone of Sony’s Alpha and Cinema Line camera systems. The Sony FX3, FX6, FX30, a7S III, a1, a1 II, and a9 III all use CFexpress Type A as their high-performance media slot. Recording 4K at high frame rates with intra-frame compression, or utilizing features like the a9 III’s 120fps RAW burst shooting, requires CFexpress Type A media specifically. Without these cards, users are limited to the slower SD slot, which restricts recording options substantially.

CFexpress Type B cards, meanwhile, serve a broader ecosystem of cameras from Canon, Nikon, RED, and Blackmagic Design. While Sony’s Type B TOUGH cards represent just one option in a more competitive field, the suspension signals the severity of the underlying supply issue.

The timing compounds the problem. As we reported late last year, the global memory shortage has been accelerating rapidly. NAND flash, DRAM, and HBM production capacity is being consumed by hyperscale AI datacenter operators willing to pay virtually any price for memory components. Market observers have projected NAND flash price increases of roughly 60 percent for Q1 2026, and SSD prices have already doubled or tripled since late 2025. Sony’s decision to halt sales rather than simply raise prices suggests the company’s component supply has dried up entirely.

The broader semiconductor squeeze

Sony explicitly cited the global shortage of semiconductors and “other factors” in its announcement. Some reports have pointed to a helium shortage connected to geopolitical instability as an additional contributor, since helium is critical to certain chipmaking processes.

The AI-driven demand for flash memory is the dominant factor, however. Enterprise companies building out AI infrastructure are purchasing NAND flash die at scale, leaving consumer and professional imaging products fighting for whatever remains. The same week Sony suspended its memory card orders, the company also announced a $100/€100 price increase on PlayStation 5 consoles, effective April 2, 2026, further illustrating how deeply the memory crisis is affecting even Sony’s largest product divisions.

What are the alternatives?

For Sony camera users who need CFexpress Type A media, third-party options from Angelbird, ProGrade Digital, and Wise Advanced remain available for now, though it is reasonable to expect supply pressure on these manufacturers as well. Angelbird’s latest AV PRO CFexpress Type A cards with VPG 200 and VPG 400 certification have been well-received, and the Austrian company’s cards are engineered specifically for Sony’s camera ecosystem.

At the time of the announcement, Sony cards were reportedly still in stock at major retailers like B&H Photo in the US and various European vendors. However, once existing inventory is depleted, restocking will not occur until Sony resumes manufacturing. If you are planning a production that depends on Sony media, now may be the time to secure what you need before shelves empty.

Will other manufacturers follow?

That is the critical question. Sony is the first major memory card brand to take this step in the photography and filmmaking segment, but the underlying NAND flash shortage affects all manufacturers equally. SanDisk, ProGrade, Lexar, and Angelbird all source their flash components from the same global supply chain. If the shortage deepens through 2026, similar suspensions or significant price increases from other brands are a real possibility.

Sony did not provide a timeline for resuming card production, stating only that it will monitor the supply situation and announce updates on its product pages. For an industry already grappling with rising costs across every aspect of production, the loss of reliable access to camera media adds another layer of operational uncertainty.

Have you already felt the impact of rising memory card prices on your productions? Are you considering switching to alternative media brands, or stockpiling cards while they are still available? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!