Memory card guide

CompactFlash in old digicams: which cameras use it

CompactFlash was the card format of Canon's earlier PowerShot compacts and a few others. The makers' documents we read give the card type but, for most of these cameras, no maximum size.

Sources checked 2026-10-19. 28 CompactFlash camera rows published.

Which cameras take CompactFlash?

In our table, 19 Canon PowerShot models are marked CF (Type I) in Canon's support table, including the S50, S60, S70, G5 and G6, and the Nikon Coolpix 2500 takes CompactFlash.1 The rows below show the maker's words for each.

How big can a CompactFlash card be?

The CompactFlash Association says its first specification (CF 1.0, 1996) supported up to 137 GB, with an initial maximum capacity of 128 MB.2 That is the format's ceiling, not a camera's: the card size your camera reads is whatever its maker lists, and Canon's table gives no size for the CF column.

What we could not confirm

Where do I buy a CompactFlash card?

CompactFlash card 1GB Type I on eBay CompactFlash card 1GB Type I on Amazon Affiliate links: we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cameras that take CompactFlash

BrandCameraAlso sold asCard types the maker namesLargest card, in the maker's wordsStatusSource
CanonPowerShot A300CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot A310CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot A60CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot A70CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot A75CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot A80CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot A85CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot A95CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot G5CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot G6CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot Pro1CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot S1 ISCompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot S400 DIGITAL ELPHIXY DIGITAL 400, DIGITAL IXUS 400CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot S410 DIGITAL ELPHIXY DIGITAL 450, DIGITAL IXUS 430CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot S50CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot S500 DIGITAL ELPHDIGITAL IXUS 500CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot S60CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot S70CompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
CanonPowerShot SD430 DIGITAL ELPH WIRELESSIXY DIGITAL WIRELESS, DIGITAL IXUS WIRELESSCompactFlashCanon's table: CompactFlash Type I (Canon's table gives no size)Maker-statedCanon support table
KodakKODAK EASYSHARE DX3900CompactFlashCard type named; the maker's capacity wording could not be re-found, so no maximum is shownCard type onlyKodak user guide
NikonCoolpix 2500CompactFlash Type I160 MB (largest card in the approved table: Lexar 10x USB series 128/160 MB)Maker-statedNikon manual, Approved Memory Cards table
OlympusC-8080 Wide ZoomxD-Picture Card, CompactFlashNo maximum found in the parts of the maker's guide we read; it names the card typeCard type onlyOlympus manual
PentaxOptio230CompactFlashNo maximum found in the parts of the maker's guide we read; it names the card typeCard type onlyPentax manual
PentaxOptio330CompactFlashNo maximum found in the parts of the maker's guide we read; it names the card typeCard type onlyPentax manual
PentaxOptio330GsCompactFlashNo maximum found in the parts of the maker's guide we read; it names the card typeCard type onlyPentax manual
PentaxOptio33LCompactFlashNo maximum found in the parts of the maker's guide we read; it names the card typeCard type onlyPentax manual
PentaxOptio430CompactFlashNo maximum found in the parts of the maker's guide we read; it names the card typeCard type onlyPentax manual
PentaxOptio430RsCompactFlashNo maximum found in the parts of the maker's guide we read; it names the card typeCard type onlyPentax manual

The full memory card guide · Lookup table

Sources

  1. Canon Asia: What SDHC/SDXC memory cards are compatible with this camera? (page dated 22 Aug 2013) (read 2026-10-19)
  2. CompactFlash Association home page (read 2026-10-19)