Best Memory Cards Sony ZV-1

The Sony ZV-1 is a camera that has one UHS-I SD card slot. It needs a card that has a U3 or V30 speed class to record video at 100Mbps or 30MB/s. This makes picking the best memory card for the Sony ZV-1 fairly straight forward. This guide will point you to the best options.

Recommend Memory Cards Sony ZV-1

The Sony ZV-1 is a camera for video makers who want to vlog. It does not matter if the card is fast or slow when you shoot 4K video, so you do not need to buy the most expensive v90 UHS-II cards. If you want to move your files from the card to the computer faster, Sony has a good E-card. It can write at UHS-I speed, but it can read at UHS-II speed. For UHS-II cards, this is a good deal from a trusted brand. Here are some of the best UHS-I SD cards for the Sony ZV-1, including those Sony E cards.  

Sony ZV-1 Specs

Sensor: 20.1MP 1″ Processor: Exmor RS BSI CMOS Sensor Memory Card Compatibility: UHS-I, U3 | Single Slot Sony ZV-1 Capacity: There is no specified limitation to the memory card size by Sony. Video Specs: 4k 30p, 100Mbps (12MB/s) 8-bit H.264

 

Sony ZV-1 What Size Card To Buy?

For 4k shooting in the Sony ZV-1, you don’t need anything different or special when buying memory cards other than the U3 or v30 rating. Because the Sony ZV-1 has a low bitrate for 4k video, it can write to memory cards with speeds as low as 12MB/s. Any memory card with a U3 rating will meet these specs, but U1 cards may not and the ZV-1 will reject U1 cards if you try to record 4k video to them.  

Sony ZV-1 Record Times

Here is a chart that shows you the record times of the various record formats related to the size of each card.

Resolution	Format	Bitrate	32GB	64GB	128GB	256GB
4k30p, 24p	XAVC S 4K	100Mbps	43min	85min	171min	341min
4k30p, 24p	XAVC S 4K	60Mbps	71min	142min	284min	569min
1080 120p, 100p	XAVC S HD	100Mbps	43min	85min	171min	341min
1080 120p, 100p	XAVC S HD	60Mbps	71min	142min	284min	569min
1080 24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p	XAVC S HD	50Mbps	85min	171min	341min	683min
1080 25p, 30p	XAVC S HD	16Mbps	267min	533min	1067min	2133min
1080 60i	AVCHD	24Mbps	178min	356min	711min	1422min
1080 60i	AVCHD	17Mbps	251min	502min	1004min	2008min

 

Best Memory Cards Sony ZV-1 Bottom Line

The Sony ZV-1 is a camera that uses UHS-I memory cards. Sony also has E-cards that are special. They can write as fast as UHS-I cards, but they can read as fast as UHS-II cards. This can make transferring files to your computer quicker. You may want to try this card if you care about read speeds.

Updated Card Recommendations

The ZV-1 uses a standard UHS-I SD slot. It shoots 4K at 100 Mbps (12.5 MB/s) and 1080p at up to 50 Mbps (6.25 MB/s). Any U3/V30 card from a reputable brand handles all of this without issue — the camera is not fast enough to stress any decent UHS-I card. This is one of those cases where the simplest recommendation is the correct one: U3/V30 or better, and you’re done.

Current top UHS-I options worth considering: the Lexar Silver Plus (fast sequential reads for offloading footage), SanDisk Extreme Pro (consistent across Sony cameras), and Kingston Canvas React (solid price per GB at larger capacities). Any of these covers the ZV-1’s full spec without leaving anything on the table.

UHS-II cards will work in this slot but the speed premium is wasted in-camera — the ZV-1 can’t use the faster interface. The only scenario where a UHS-II card makes sense is if you have a UHS-II card reader and care about faster file transfer to your computer. Even then, it writes to the camera at the same UHS-I ceiling as everything else. For most people: a fast UHS-I card is the right call.

Capacity: 64GB covers roughly 55 minutes of 4K at maximum bitrate. 128GB is the practical choice for a full day of mixed video and stills shooting — enough that running out mid-shoot is unlikely.

Cards to avoid: anything rated U1 or plain Class 10 without a U3 or V30 marking. The ZV-1 will refuse to record 4K to cards that don’t meet the minimum write speed, and even where it allows it, slow cards extend buffer recovery noticeably for stills bursts.