CFast Data Recovery

Get Your Data Back In No Time.

Video, film, and photography professionals trust CFast cards for their speed and reliability. But even the most advanced storage can fail—and when it does, every second counts. At Five Star Data Recovery, we provide quick and safe CFast data recovery. We help production companies, content creators, and industry professionals get their files back quickly.
If your CFast card cannot be read, is accidentally formatted, or shows errors, our engineers can help. They are skilled at recovering lost data and fixing damaged video files. We work with all kinds of CFast cards, including major brands and media used in ARRI, RED, Canon, and Blackmagic cameras.

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Common Issues with CFast Cards

While CFast cards are built for high performance, they’re not immune to failure. Here are some of the most common issues we see:

Accidental file deletion
Formatted or reformatted CFast cards
Corrupted file systems
Card not recognized by camera or computer
CFast card showing 0 bytes or RAW file system
Physical damage or bent pins
Video files that won’t open or are partially missing

If you have any problems with your CFast card, stop using it right away. Please contact us for help. The earlier we get involved, the better your chances for achieving a full recovery.

Types of CFast Cards We Recover From

We offer professional CFast card data recovery for nearly all formats and brands used in the industry, including:

CFast 2.0 cards (most commonly used in modern cinema cameras)
Lexar CFast cards
SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast cards
Angelbird AV Pro CFast cards
ProGrade Digital CFast 2.0
Sony, Delkin, Wise Advanced, and other professional-grade cards

No matter if you use a Canon C300, ARRI Alexa, Blackmagic URSA, or RED Komodo, we know your workflow. We have also recovered data from the cards you depend on.

What Not To Do If You Accidentally Format or Delete Files

Mistakes happen, but what you do next makes all the difference. If you accidentally format your CFast card or delete important footage:

Do not record new data onto the card.
Do not run multiple types of recovery software.
Do not attempt to repair the file system using system utilities.

If you have already tried recovery software and the files came back corrupted or won’t open, please stop. We specialize in repairing damaged video files—especially high-bitrate files like ProRes, RAW, MXF, and BRAW. Trying more DIY tools may make things worse or overwrite remaining recoverable content.

Expedited Services for Rush Projects

We understand the urgency of production deadlines. That’s why we offer two levels of expedited CFast data recovery:
Expedited Service – For $200 per card, we will prioritize your recovery case. We will process it during business hours.
Expedited Plus Service – For $500 per card, our team works on your case around the clock. We remain available 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays, until we complete the job. Both expedited services are prepaid and non-refundable, regardless of the recovery outcome. They’re ideal for post-production houses, DITs, and creatives who need fast turnaround on critical footage.

Trusted by the Creative Industry

We’ve recovered data for video editors, producers, directors, and digital imaging technicians across Hollywood and beyond. Our clients include production studios, ad agencies, wedding videographers, and independent filmmakers.

When CFast card data is critical and irreplaceable, professionals trust Five Star Data Recovery. With our advanced tools and cleanroom, we have the experience to handle sensitive video formats. We are the best choice for serious recovery.

Get Help with Your CFast Card Now

Whether you’re dealing with a corrupted CFast card, accidental deletion, or damaged media files, we’re here to help.

We offer free diagnostics, transparent pricing, and fast results.

Don’t risk your files with generic software tools. Trust the experts in CFast card data recovery.

Contact Five Star Data Recovery today and let us bring your media back to life.

Real-World Success Story

Repaired Video Files After Software Recovery Failure

One of our clients—a documentary filmmaker—accidentally formatted a CFast card containing critical footage shot over a two-day production. In a panic, they used off-the-shelf data recovery software and felt relieved when it seemed to recover all the files.

However, after they attempted to open the recovered files, they realized that all the video content was damaged. Most files were unreadable or showed visual glitches and corrupted frames. Thankfully, they contacted us and provided the original CFast card, untouched since formatting.

Because the original card had not been altered, we were able to conduct a clean forensic recovery and isolate the raw video data. Our engineers used proprietary repair tools to reconstruct the headers, timecodes, and broken segments. We fixed all the damaged clips and
returned a fully usable project to the client. This saved thousands of dollars on reshoots and kept the project on schedule.

This case highlights why you should never write new data to a formatted CFast card and always consult experts if the files appear corrupted.

Why DIY Data Recovery Tools Often Fail with CFast Cards

It may be tempting to use free or cheap data recovery software. However, these tools are usually made for general storage devices. This includes USB flash drives and basic SD cards.
They lack the technical sophistication needed to handle professional-grade CFast card data—especially when it involves large video files or non-standard file systems used in high-end cameras.

Many software programs do not handle fragmented file structures well.
They also often misread special video formats. These formats include CinemaDNG, REDCODE RAW, and Canon XF-AVC. As a result, even if the software “recovers” the files, the output is often incomplete, glitchy, or completely unreadable.
We’ve seen cases where clients used DIY tools that rewrote portions of the card’s file table—making a proper recovery far more difficult. Others created cloned images incorrectly, omitting key metadata needed to rebuild the footage. Sadly, in some cases, this good-intentioned testing has permanently erased important parts of the CFast card data.

This is why we always advise against using general-purpose tools if your project involves professional video content. A single wrong step could mean losing hours—or days—of irreplaceable footage.

Our CFast Card Data Recovery Process

We follow a structured and proven process for recovering lost or damaged CFast card data.
This ensures the safest and most effective path to restoring your files:

1 Clone the Original Drive

Before we do anything, we create a sector-by-sector clone of the original CFast card. This protects the original media from further damage or overwrites.

2 Scan for Lost Data

We use advanced data recovery tools to scan the cloned image for deleted files, lost partitions, and corrupted data structures.

3 Extract and Test Files

Recovered files are extracted and checked for integrity. If the files open and perform correctly, the recovery is considered complete.

4 Repair Damaged Files (If Needed)

If the recovered files don’t function properly, especially video files, we proceed with our in-house repair process. This step includes rebuilding file headers, correcting the structure, and stitching fragmented video data.

Testimonials from Satisfied Clients

“My CFast card suddenly became unreadable right in the middle of a film shoot. I brought it in for evaluation and was relieved when they said recovery was possible. Within days, I had all my RAW footage back. Quick, professional, and highly recommended for anyone dealing with CFast card failure.”

David R.

Glendale, CA

“My CFast card was showing errors and wouldn’t mount on any device. The staff was friendly and explained how CFast recovery works, especially with large video files. They successfully recovered all my footage without any loss. I’ll definitely use them again if I ever have another issue.”

Angela T.

Burbank, CA

“I made the mistake of running First Aid on my CFast card after it started acting up, and all my video files completely disappeared. I thought I had made things worse, but Vahan was still able to recover and repair all my missing footage. They explained why using First Aid can actually damage file structures on failing media. “

David N.

New York, NY

We Also Repair Damaged Video Files

If you recover your CFast card files but they won’t play, don’t panic. At Five Star Data Recovery, we specialize in repairing damaged or incomplete video files. We use special tools and manual methods to fix corrupted footage. This includes fixing broken headers and missing metadata.

This service is especially helpful for production environments using large-format codecs like ProRes, RED, BRAW, and Canon XF. For more details, please visit our dedicated video file repair page.

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Nationwide Service with Free Round-Trip Shipping

No matter where you’re located in the U.S., Five Star Data Recovery makes it easy to get your CFast card to us. We provide free round-trip shipping for all recovery cases. This way, you can get expert data recovery without leaving your home or studio.

Once you create a recovery ticket, we’ll email you a prepaid shipping label and instructions. When the recovery is complete, we’ll return your files on a new drive and ship everything back to you at no cost.

See Why Thousands Trust Us With Their Important Data

Data loss is stressful — but working with us doesn’t have to be. Watch how our team handles each recovery with care, professionalism, and precision. From diagnostics to delivery, we offer flat-rate pricing, honest communication, and proven results — all from our secure Glendale lab.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you recover video files from a corrupted CFast card?

“Yes. We specialize in recovering video files from corrupted CFast cards used in professional cameras like Blackmagic, Canon, and ARRI. Whether your CFast card won’t mount, shows errors, or displays as unreadable, our engineers have the tools and expertise to safely recover your footage.”

2. I tried using data recovery software and now my recovered files show 0MB or won’t play. Can you still help?

Yes. This is a common issue after DIY recovery attempts. If your recovered video files show 0MB, won’t open, or appear corrupted, we can often perform professional video file repair. Even if the file structures were damaged by software like First Aid or CHKDSK, we’ll do our best to rebuild and repair the files for playback.

3. My CFast card is showing missing or empty folders—can you recover the data?

Absolutely. If your CFast card shows missing folders, empty directories, or incomplete file lists, it could be due to logical corruption or file system errors. We can perform a full deep scan to locate and recover your missing video files and folders. Depending on the type of video files you have, if the recovered files are damaged or won’t play, we may also need to perform professional video file repair to restore them to a usable state.

4. Can you repair damaged video files from a CFast card?

Yes. We offer professional video file repair services for footage that appears corrupt, incomplete, or won’t play after recovery. This includes working with a wide range of professional and complex video formats commonly used with CFast cards, such as ProRes, CinemaDNG, Blackmagic RAW (BRAW), Canon XF-AVC, REDCODE RAW (R3D), MXF, MOV, and MP4. Our engineers use specialized tools to rebuild damaged headers, repair broken file structures, and restore playability. We strongly recommend avoiding further DIY recovery attempts, as they can make repair more difficult or even impossible.

5. What should I do immediately after noticing an issue with my CFast card?

Stop using the card right away. Remove it from your camera or card reader and avoid running any disk repair tools like First Aid or CHKDSK. Continued use or DIY repair attempts can make professional recovery much more difficult.

6. Can you recover data from physically damaged CFast cards?

Yes. If your CFast card has physical issues like broken connectors, damaged pins, or water exposure, we can often repair the hardware enough to access the internal memory and recover your data.

7. How long does CFast data recovery take?

Standard CFast data recovery usually takes 2–5 business days. For urgent projects or time-sensitive shoots, we offer Expedited and Expedited Plus service options for faster turnaround.

8. What file types can you recover from a CFast card?

We recover a wide range of professional video and media file formats stored on CFast cards. This includes ProRes, CinemaDNG, Blackmagic RAW (BRAW), Canon XF-AVC, REDCODE RAW (R3D), MXF, MOV, MP4, AVI, DNxHD, DNxHR, and XAVC formats. In addition to video files, we also recover RAW image files, JPEGs, WAV audio, project files, and other production data commonly saved on CFast media. If your file type isn’t listed, contact us—we likely support it too.

9. What CFast card brands can you recover data from?

We recover data from all major CFast card brands, including SanDisk, Lexar, Delkin Devices, Angelbird, ProGrade Digital, Sony, Transcend, ADATA, Hoodman, and Wise Advanced. Whether you’re using CFast 2.0 cards for professional video production or earlier generation CFast models, our lab is equipped to handle recoveries from all manufacturers. Even if your CFast card brand isn’t listed here, we likely support it as well—just contact us for a free evaluation.