Best Memory Cards Sony A9III – 52 Card Tested

The Sony A9 III features a dual memory card configuration. It can accept CFexpress Type A or SD memory cards in the same slot.

CFexpress Type A cards are considerably faster, so I recommend using them unless you need an inexpensive card for long video recordings at lower bitrates. In that case, a V60 SD card might make more sense, but they will not allow you to record 600Mbps.

I’ve benchmarked most cards, so you can use this guide to find the best memory cards for your Sony A9III.

Sony A9 III Recommended Memory Cards

The CFexpress Type A cards hit a bottleneck of around 445MB/s, so picking different brands will not significantly improve performance.

I wouldn’t buy any V90 SD UHS-II cards since you can find CFexpress Type-A cards at a better price and run significantly faster. Here are all the cards I’ve tested; they all run well.

There are two really good value cards. The Lexar Silver is the best bang for the buck, but also the Pergear Standard card runs a little slower but is less expensive.

For me, the Lexar Silver card is the no-brainer option for a casual photographer/videographer. For a pro, you might want a higher-end card with better specs and warranties, like a Lexar Gold, Delkin Black, or Sony G card.

Check out the CFexpress Type-A memory card guide to see more benchmarks on individual cards.

Sony A9 III Memory Card Benchmarks

Here are the benchmarks for all the cards I’ve tested. I fill the camera buffer with a fast burst and then calculate the amount of data written against the time it takes to clear the card.

The Sony A9 III has a buffer of about 5GB.

Here is a table

Sony A9 III Memory Cards Bottom Line

Choosing memory cards for the Sony A9 III is pretty straightforward. It’s a high-end camera, so go with high-end cards. The CFexpress Type-A cards have now come down in price to the point where SD UHS-II no longer makes sense unless you need a v60 card for casual video at lower bitrates. You cannot use a v60 card for the 600Mbps H.264 bitrate, but they work great for the HEVC recording modes.

Some great budget cards like the Lexar Silver CFexpress Type A can also be a great video or casual shooting option.