Best Memory Cards Nikon Z6 II/Z7 II – With Real Benchmarks

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The Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II are the definition of “reliable workhorses.” While they don’t demand the extreme sustained speeds of the newer Z8, they have their own unique quirk: The Dual-Slot Bottleneck.

Because these cameras feature one CFexpress Type B slot and one SD UHS-II slot, your card choice determines your entire workflow. If you are a wedding photographer shooting to both cards for backup, your $300 CFexpress card is only as fast as your SD card.

In this guide, I’ve benchmarked the latest cards to help you build the perfect kit—whether you need maximum redundancy for clients or value-focused storage for travel.

Slot 1 supports CFexpress Type-B or XQD memory cards.

Slot 2 can take UHS-II or UHS-I memory cards.

Slot 1: CFexpress Type B (The Primary)

The Z6 II and Z7 II are technically limited by their internal processors, capping write speeds at around 330 MB/s in real-world testing. This means you don’t need the expensive “Diamond” or “Black” series cards designed for the Nikon Z9.

The “Future-Proof” Note: While the Z6 II and Z7 II are CFexpress 2.0 cameras, you can safely use CFexpress 4.0 cards (like the ProGrade Iridium). You won’t see a speed boost in-camera, but your offload speeds to your computer will be twice as fast.

The Smart Buy: I recommend the Lexar Gold Series or Delkin Power. These mid-range cards easily saturate the Z6 II’s buffer but cost significantly less than the flagship models.

Occasionally, some CFexpress cards in Nikon Z6, Z7, Z8, and Z9 series cameras are a little tight. I’ve had this happen with Angelbird and OWC cards. However, this has been improved with the Nikon Z6 III.

Slot 2: SD UHS-II (The Bottleneck)

This is where most Z6 II owners make a mistake. If you set your camera to “Backup” mode, it waits for the SD card to finish writing before letting you shoot again.

For Backup Shooters (Weddings/Events): You must use a V90 card. Something like a Sony G Tough V90 or SanDisk Extreme Pro V90 is essential here. A slower V60 card will cripple your buffer depth, making your fast CFexpress card useless.

For Overflow/Video Shooters: If you only use the SD slot when the CFexpress is full, or just for H.264 video, you can save money with a V60 card like the Lexar Silver Pro. It runs cooler and offers twice the storage for the same price.

Best CFexpress Reader

I’ve been benchmarking these cards with the ProGrade CFexpress + UHS-II reader. The Lexar reader is slightly faster if you just need a reader for CFexpress cards, although the difference isn’t really noticeable in real-world file transfers.

Prograde CFexpress + UHS-II Reader – Amazon / B&H – This reader will not read XQD cards, but it is my favorite because of the magnetic base that lets me stick it to my desk or computer.

If you buy an Angelbird card, you should also buy an Angelbird reader to upgrade the cards’ firmware.

Also, see the Guide To The Best Accessories for the Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II.

Memory Card Benchmarks

Continuous burst images were taken to benchmark each memory card in the Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II until the buffer was filled. Then, the time required to clear the buffer was measured against the amount of data written. This gave me a rough speed of how each card is performing in-camera. I ran several series with each card to rule out issues or other hiccups that sometimes occur with freshly formatted cards.

There was significant wild variation in the Nikon Z6 II. Many V90 UHS-II cards were not engaging that second set of pins and ran at UHS-I speeds. I am told this is a problem with the camera firmware, so just stick with the cards posting good scores.

CFexpress & SD Memory Cards For Nikon Z6 II & Z7 II

To see how each card runs with a Thunderbolt reader for faster speeds, check out the guide for the Best CFexpress Type B cards.

Can I still use XQD?

Yes, and for the Z6 II / Z7 II, XQD cards are still perfectly viable.

If you are upgrading from a D850 or original Z6 and already own Sony G or Nikon XQD cards, keep using them! The speed difference between XQD (approx. 220 MB/s) and the camera’s max write speed (330 MB/s) is noticeable but not earth-shattering for single-shot work. Save your money for good glass instead.

Video Requirements: 4K/60p and Heat

Unlike the Z6 III, the Z6 II tops out at fairly modest bitrates (approx. 144 Mbps for 4K/60p).

The “Why” for CFexpress: However, for long-form interviews or events, I still recommend recording video to the CFexpress slot. The cards are physically larger and dissipate heat much better than plastic SD cards, reducing the risk of overheating warnings during long takes.

The Reality: You technically don’t even need CFexpress for video; a V30 SD card covers the data rate.

Choosing the Right Size: 128GB is the New Minimum

When buying media for the Z6 II and Z7 II, you aren’t just buying storage space; you are buying durability and considering the long-term use implications. I’ll explain.

• The “Wear-Leveling” Factor: Flash memory wears out the more you write to it. A 512GB card will theoretically last 4 times as long as a 128GB card because the controller has more fresh blocks to cycle through. For professional use, over-buying capacity is a smart long-term investment.

For the Nikon Z6 II (24MP)

• Photography: A 128GB card is the sweet spot. It holds over 2,500 Lossless Compressed RAWs, which is more than enough for a typical wedding or event.
• Hybrid/Video: If you shoot 4K video, bump up to 256GB. This gives you plenty of headroom for a full day of mixed media without needing to swap cards in the field.

For the Nikon Z7 II (45MP)

Recommendation: Start at 256GB for photography. If you are going on a landscape trip or some serious travel where you might be away from a computer for days, a 512GB or 1TB CFexpress card can be very useful, giving you a ton of peace of mind. Although I would still back up the card regularly, just in case something happens.