Lexar Media, Inc., a leader in advanced digital media and accessories, today announced that it has increased the performance of its popular Professional 8GB CompactFlash memory card to 133X. This performance improves the digital imaging workflow for both professional and advanced amateur photographers working with and managing large files. Lexar’s new card is capable of a minimum sustained data write speed of 20MB per second and is currently available in CompactFlash Type I flash memory card format, the most popular format for today’s digital SLR cameras.

“Lexar has encouraged photographers to ‘keep shooting’ while consistently introducing products that improve digital imaging workflow once images are stored on their flash memory cards,” said John Omvik, director of professional product marketing, Lexar. “Those who shoot in RAW format require a vast amount of storage capacity, but also need reliable high-speed performance at all steps in the digital imaging process. Our new 133X 8GB cards directly address and satisfy both needs and, as a result, are ideal for photographers shooting in all situations,” he added.

Well-known professional photographer Howard Schatz has incorporated Lexar’s high-capacity CompactFlash cards into his digital imaging workflow, which often begins when he shoots with his Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II in an underwater housing. Howard chose Lexar cards because of their reliability and vast storage capacity, which can hold a large number of images on each card. As a result, the cards are ideal for this and other shooting situations where the photographer has less time to change cards or where changing cards is inconvenient.

“Shooting below the water’s surface requires the most reliable, high-capacity flash card that can store an enormous number of images,” said professional photographer Howard Schatz. “I’m underwater and it’s inconvenient to have to stop shooting to open the housing and change memory cards. The high-capacity card means that I have to stop less frequently. The reliability of Lexar’s cards is key in my work and the high-speed performance allows me to work relatively uninterrupted,” he added.

Like all Lexar Professional flash memory cards, the new 8GB CompactFlash includes the full version of Lexar Image Rescue 2.0, the company’s award-winning image recovery software, and Paint Shop Pro 9, the image editing and management software program from Corel.

Lexar’s new 133X 8GB CompactFlash will be available in August for the suggested price of $424.99