Best Memory Cards Canon R6 Mark II

With its dual UHS-II memory card slots, the Canon R6 Mark II features impressive performance and a range of capabilities that demand fast UHS-II memory cards.

Best SD Cards For Canon R6 Mark II

With its dual UHS-II SD memory card slots, v90 UHS-II SD cards will provide you with the best performance in the Canon R6 II for photographers who need to clear the buffer quickly after a burst. However, a casual shooter or someone doing video production will find that V60 UHS-II SD card cards provide a better balance of value to size. Also, the max video bitrate of the Canon R6 II runs at 42.5 MB/s which is well within the V60 memory card spec.

Here are some of the best memory cards for the Canon R6 Mark II tested in camera to show how fast the camera performed at clearing a filled buffer. Remember the camera takes two UHS-II cards, and if you want to run backup without any bottlenecks, you will need duplicate cards.

Canon R6 Mark II Memory Card Recommendations

Note: After running benchmarks with all the latest cards, there seem to be some compatibility issues with some of the card’s memory controls with this camera. This could just be a bad run of cards I have, but to play it safe be sure to check the speeds of all the cards below and stick with those running at proper speeds. Or, just pick any from these recommended cards list as these cards are not showing any issues. I’m seeing this with multiple cameras now with many cards I have, it’s not just a Canon thing. I’ll update the cards soon but want to keep these results as is for now because since I have bad cards, you have the potential to have bad cards as well. There are already a lot of complaints in the Leica community about cards not running properly, so it’s not just me and the cards I have.

Canon R6 Mark II Memory Card Benchmarks

This list shows how each memory card performed in-camera by calculating the time it takes to clear a continuous burst measured against how much data was written.

I’m seeing a lot of cards not hitting their proper speeds, my guess is that most of these cards are from a 2022 production run and I think there might just be a bad memory controller that shipped with the cards and is causing some compatibility issues with some brands (most cards share a lot of the same components). I’ve seen the issue now with Canon and with Leica. For now, just avoid the cards running slower than they should be based on these benchmarks or if you have these cards double check yourself to make sure they are running at appropriate speeds.

Canon EOS R6 II Specs

Other Resources

List of Canon RF Lenses – I keep a list of every lens available for the Canon RF system.

Also, check out this guide Memory Cards For Canon Cameras to see how other cameras perform.

See my favorite accessories for the Canon R6 Mark II.

Best Memory Cards 4k Video

The Canon R6 Mark II can shoot 4k at 60 frames per second internally, with a maximum bitrate of 340Mbps, which equates to 42.5MB/s.

While it doesn’t require the fastest cards to write 4k video, it’s advisable to use a v60 speed class UHS-II card to ensure a minimum write speed of 60MB/s. However, if you have newer U3 UHS-I cards available, they should work fine for the slower bitrates under 30MB/s or 240Mbps.

For frequent video shooting, it’s recommended to use V60 UHS-II cards, which have fast read speeds during data transfer to the computer, and provide more storage capacity per dollar.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Video Specs & Recording Modes

The Canon R6 II has impressive video quality and recording modes, providing a lot of flexibility for users.

One notable feature is the high-quality 10-bit 4:2:2 h.265 encoding for 4k UHD up to 60fps, delivering excellent image quality. Additionally, there is a high bitrate 10-bit 4:2:2 230Mbps FullHD 1080p recording option, which captures a significant amount of data and color information.

Record Limit: None.
Audio File Format: AAC, Linear PCM

Canon R6 Mark II Record Times – Memory Card Capacity

Below is a chart showing record times for different bitrates based on several memory card sizes. Refer to this chart to determine memory card capacity for different recording settings.

Please note that the camera does not display which bitrate it is recording at. To determine which setting produces which bitrate, you will need to match the bitrate and setting with the chart above. Also, the ALL-I setting will provide a higher bitrate than the IPB settings.

What Size Memory Card Is Best?

If you’re unsure about what size memory card to purchase, my suggestion would start with a 128GB card, especially if you’re shooting a lot of videos or attending events. On lower megapixel cameras, such as a 24MP camera, I find that 128GB cards work well since I don’t often fill them up in a single day.

With a 64GB card, I usually don’t have any issues unless I’m shooting on the same card for several days. Additionally, Canon offers CRAW and HEIF recording modes, which create smaller files than standard RAW, providing you with more shots per card if you’re shooting casually.

Pure video shooters might want to start with a 256GB V60 card.

Fastest Memory Cards Canon R6 Mark II Conclusions

To ensure the buffer clears quickly during continuous bursting with your Canon R6 II, it is recommended to purchase the fastest V90 UHS-II memory cards.

For most users, the performance of V60 UHS-II cards should be sufficient while also being budget-friendly.

If you’re recording video at the highest bitrate, it’s best to use V60 cards such as the Sony M cards or the Sandisk Pro V60 card. But, for lower 4k bitrates or 1080p, even UHS-I cards will suffice.