Best SD Memory Cards – Real Benchmarks

If you’re looking to get the best performance and reliability out of your camera, then you need the right memory card. To help you find the best SD Memory Cards For Cameras, we’ve put together comparisons with speed tests of the most popular models on the market. With this data, you can choose which card best suits your device for reliable and fast photo and video capture!

Fastest SD Memory Cards

For USB performance testing, the chart shows the results of AJA System Test benchmarking utilizing a UHS-II Prograde USB-C memory card reader with a 2018 Macbook Pro.

You can sort these results according to speed or class, allowing you to easily identify the fastest and slowest SD memory card for your needs. Keep in mind that actual speeds may vary slightly depending on the type of reader used.

Memory Card Benchmarks By Camera Brand

Want to know which memory card best suits your camera? Check out this guide! I’ve compiled a list of the most popular memory cards that have undergone a speed test in each camera, split between different camera brands. Refer to this guide for the best memory card performance for your gear.

Canon Memory Card

Searching for the perfect memory card for your Canon camera? This dedicated page from Canon helps you figure out which ones are best suited to your device. We’ve moved all the tests over here to keep track of new cards that come up and how they would work with your older Canon camera–so you can get some general recommendations and make a well-informed purchase!

Best Memory Cards For Canon

Sony Memory Cards

Memory cards for Sony cameras have traditionally been limited by low write speeds. For instance, most of Sony’s older cameras are typically only able to write to memory cards up to 30MB/s. However, newer models such as the A9II and A7rIV now provide enhanced performance, with CFexpress Type-A speeds even close to those of Nikon Z cameras and their CFexpress cards.

Recommended Memory Cards For Sony Cameras

Fujifilm Memory Cards

Are you in search of the ideal memory card to suit a Fujifilm camera? Take a glance at this invaluable guide which has tested and rated many of the top card brands in relation to various Fujifilm cameras.

Recommended Memory Cards For Fujifilm Cameras

Leica Memory Cards

Nikon Memory Cards

If you’re looking for the right memory card for your Nikon camera, this guide will help you make an informed decision. We’ll take a look at various specifications and features so you can easily pick the perfect card for your needs. From write speeds to physical size, we can help you determine which Nikon memory card is best suited for you.

Recommended Memory Cards For Nikon cameras

Panasonic Memory Cards

Memory cards for Panasonic cameras have shown varying levels of performance depending on the model. On the older micro four-thirds cameras, there was typically a 35MB/s bottleneck bus speed, or twice that when running UHS-II cards. However, newer models such as the GH6 and the full-frame system have seen improved performance with UHS-II and UHS-I memory cards and are beginning to include support for CFexpress Type-B cards.

Recommended memory Cards For Panasonic Cameras

Olympus Memory Cards

Memory cards for Olympus cameras can vary widely in terms of read and write speeds. Generally speaking, older models are more likely to have bus speed bottlenecks that may limit memory card performance. However, more recent models tend to be much faster, and the differences really become apparent when using higher-end, high-speed cards.

Pentax Memory Cards

When using a Pentax camera such as the K-1, one should make sure to use high-speed memory cards that are compatible with the device. While most memory cards will work with the camera, their write speeds can be limited due to a bus speed bottleneck at approximately 30MB/s-40MB/s. Therefore, it is best to check both your camera and the specifications of the card to ensure optimal performance!

Ricoh Memory Cards

When considering memory cards for your Ricoh camera, UHS-I cards are the best option. Ricoh GRIII has shown great performance when using the newest cards, guaranteeing a successful photography experience.

Memory Cards For Sigma

If you’re using a Sigma camera, having the right memory card is essential. This is especially true for the company’s new L-mount fp cameras which come packed with powerful specs and features. Memory cards provide efficient storage capacities that are compatible with your device and suitable for your needs. Make sure to follow these guides to determine what type of memory card your Sigma camera can support for optimal performance.

Memory Cards For Action Cameras

Older GoPro Hero 5 cameras had problems with certain memory cards. Fortunately, newer GoPro models have better hardware and most of these issues have been resolved. Meanwhile, models like DJI Osmo Action and Osmo Pocket are known for their good memory card performance even when shooting at higher bitrates.

Check out this guide on the best SD cards for GoPro.

Micro SD Memory Cards For Drones

When it comes to flying a drone for photography or videography, the right memory card can make all the difference. Memory cards come in a variety of styles and sizes, designed for different drones with various specs. To ensure you get the most out of your flying experience, make sure to choose the perfect memory card for your drone that meets its requirements and ensures optimal performance.

Use these guides to help you find what will work best!

Memory Micro SD Memory Cards For SmartPhones

Memory Card Types And Performance

What Do All The Numbers And Letters On Memory Cards Mean?

• SDHC – SDHC indicates that a card is going to use the 32-bit Fat32 file structure. This can have some performance limitations on cards. Some of the new Speed Classes like V30, V60 aren’t available on these fat32 cards. Also, you’ll see a file size limit of around 4GB.
• SDXC – SDXC indicates that the card is going to be 64-bit using the exFat file structure. This means you get all the of what technology memory cards have to offer. The V30, v60 speed classes, and larger file sizes.
• Class 10 – This is an older designation that they still put on memory cards. There used to be other classes written on memory cards, typically it would be a number inside a circle. Now every card is pretty much Class 10 and new Speed Classes have come around like U1 / U3 and V30 / V60 etc. So it’s all getting a little cluttered. Class 10 will give you a minimum guaranteed write speed of 10MB/s.
• U1 / U3 – These are speed classes like Class 10 that indicate the minimum write speed a card is capable of. U1 is 10MB/s and U3 is 30MB/s. Typically if you’re shooting high bitrate video, you’ll want the U3 cards. Some cameras like Sony’s won’t even let you use their advanced video codecs without a U3 memory card.
• V30 / V60 / V90 – This is the latest speed class. Just like Class 10 and U1 / U3, this speed class has to do with guaranteed minimum write speeds. V30 = 30MB/s, V60 = 60MB/s, and so forth.
• UHS-I / UHS-II – UHS-I and UHS-II memory cards are built completely differently. UHS-II memory cards have a second set of pins that basically give the memory cards dual lanes to read and write data to and from. This makes these memory cards potentially twice as fast when used in UHS-II devices.

Potential Memory Card Problems

Memory Card Not Working

There are several reasons a memory card may not work and I’ll list a few that I’ve seen or have personally dealt with.

1. Bad Memory Card – Not all memory cards are created equal, and you may find yourself with a bad one from time to time. While most brands offer warranties of 10 years or a lifetime. If you get stuck with a defective card, you can usually just send it back to the manufacturer and try a new one instead.

2. Brand Incompatibility – Memory card brand instability can cause trouble when using different cameras. Certain camera brands like Sony may not be compatible with Samsung memory cards for video recording, and Canon states some of their cameras do not often support Sony cards. To avoid these problems, switch to a different brand of cards such as Sandisk, Lexar, or Delkin. These cards tend to work better with most cameras.

3. Memory Card Is Slow – Is your memory card slow? If so, it might be defective or even a counterfeit! It is best to purchase memory cards from a trusted source such as BHphoto, Amazon, or Adorama instead of buying on eBay. This ensures that you are getting an authentic product and not one that is fake.