Now more than ever, the importance of memory cards cannot be overlooked. With resolutions increasing each year and advanced video features being integrated into the latest cameras, proper storage has its place. Today’s memory cards have to be good at a lot of things. It hasn’t been a simple matter of large storage capacity for some time now. Large files require fast reading and writing speed. With mirrorless and DSLR cameras shooting 4k video and 120fps frame rates, this isn’t questionable. For all you beginners out there, that’s why one memory card can cost up to ten times more than another card with the same storage capacity.
Most cameras on the market today use SDHC and SDXC memory cards. Even the flagships have at least one slot for these cards so that’s why we’ve put together this list.
It can be really confusing to buy a memory card, especially if you get lost in all the numbers on the labels. There’s a lot more to look for than what the manufacturer has printed to be read or write speed. The most important factor in making this decision is by far the write speed. Your card needs to be able write large files quickly. The read speed however, which is often used by manufacturers to market their cards, tells you how fast you can copy data from your card.
It’s easier to find the right card if you pay attention to the names. UHS-I and UHS-II are the fastest cards available on the market today. UHS stands for ultra-high speed. One thing you do need to check before making a purchase is your camera’s compatibility. If your camera isn’t compatible with UHS-I speeds, it will just use the old Class 10 transfer speeds.
Here are our five favorite SD type cards of 2015.
1. SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC/SDXC UHS-II
These are the fastest memory cards available on the market today. With an exceptional top read speed of 280 MB/s and a maximum write speed of 250 MB/s, they will handle anything from fast burst shooting to 4k uncompressed video.
2. SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I
These memory cards have become very popular with both amateurs and professionals. SanDisk’s Power Core Controller makes them incredibly reliable and durable. With generous speeds of up to 95MB/s, they’re perfect for high speed photography and Full HD video. The best part is the unbeatable price to quality ratio.
3. Lexar Professional 1000x SDXC UHS-II 256GB
If you’re looking for high speed read/write speeds and extreme capacity, this card from Lexar is one of the best options out there. We highly recommend it for shooting longer 4k videos as well as for professional photographers who need to capture thousands of high resolution images quickly.
4. Lexar Professional 600x SDXC UHS-I
The medium segment of the market has its stars too. With a minimum guaranteed read speed of 90MB/s, these SDCX cards are perfect for most photographers and videographers.
5. Lexar Professional 400x SDXC 64 GB
If you’re looking for affordable high capacity, this Class 10 card is probably one of the best deals you’re going to find. While it might not be the top pick for videographers, it will get the job done admirably when shooting high speed photography.