SD Card Buying Guide: 11 Best of 2019
- SD Cards - SD cards, or Secure Digital cards, are the most common type of memory card. These cards have a maximum capacity of 4GB and don't have as fast read/write speeds as other kinds of SD cards, namely SDHC and SDXC.
- SDHC Cards - SDHC cards, or Secure Digital High Capacity cards, were developed to handle the larger file sizes of high-resolution still photos and HD videos. Any SD card with a capacity between 4GB and 64GB is considered an SDHC card. These cards come in different classes, which indicate their speed. For example, a Class II SDHC card offers 2MB/second while a Class 10 SDHC offers 10MB/second.
- SDXC Cards - SDXC cards, or Secure Digital Extended Capacity cards, are basically souped-up versions of SDHC cards. With 64GB SD cards, 128GB SD cards, 1TB SD cards, and plenty more with even greater storage, these things can hold a ton of data. These cards are also faster - a Class I SDXC card works at 10MB/second while a Class III SDXC card works at 30MB/second. The largest SD card currently available is the Lexar 1TB Class 10 UHS-I SDXC card.
- CF Cards - CF cards, or CompactFlash memory cards, are often used by professionals because they have larger storage capacities and faster read/write speeds than normal SD cards. In fact, many older professional-grade DSLRs (like the Nikon D810) have a CF card slot, though now many professional cameras are incorporating slots for XQD cards (discussed below).
- XQD Cards - Even more high performance are XQD cards. These cards use PCI express to transfer data, and as such, are much faster. In fact, read/write speeds are anywhere from 1GB/second on up.
- SanDisk Extreme Pro 256GB CF Card - Great for stills, HD video, & 4K video with read/write speeds up to 160MB/150MB/s
- Transcend CompactFlash 800 Card - Great blend of storage (up to 256GB) and speed (120MB/s read and 60MB/s write)
- Samsung EVO Plus SDXC MicroSD Card - 10-year warranty, read-write speed of 100MB/30MB/s, and capacities up to 256GB
- Samsung PRO Endurance MicroSD Card - With up to 128GB of storage and read/write speeds up to 100MG/30MB/s, this is a great option for your smart device.
Photo by djedzura via iStock
If you're new to photography, one of the most confusing things to wrap your mind around is all the different types of memory cards.
Obviously, a memory card is not an optional accessory for digital photography, but just slapping any ol' memory card in your camera isn't going to get it done, either.
In addition to the different types of memory cards, they also come in all sorts of brands and storage capacities. That begs the question, what is the best memory card for photography?
That's where this guide comes in...
Below, I've outlined 11 of the best SD cards you can get today.
Types of Memory Cards
Photo by nicolas_ via iStock
First things first - let's explore different types of memory cards. Below is an abridged overview of what's available:
Also available are Micro SD cards, which come in SDHC and SDXC variations as well. They're smaller than their big brothers both in physical size and storage capacity. For example, where a normal SDXC card is considered to be anything 64GB and greater, a micro 32GB SD card is considered SDXC.
What is the Best SD Card?
Photo by scyther5 via iStock
Of course, the answer to "what is the best SD card?" is, it depends.
For most casual photographers, a traditional SD card will be just fine.
However, if you're an enthusiast or if you dabble in video work, you'll definitely need the added capacity of an SDHC or SDXC card.
If you primarily use your smartphone or a tablet for photography, a microSD card is in order, whereas if you are getting into professional work, you'll want CF cards for older DSLRs or XQD cards for newer cameras, like the Nikon Z6 and Nikon Z7.
All that said, below are a few recommendations for the best SDHC and SDXC cards currently available.
SD Card Buying Guide: SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC UHS-I
Card Type: SDXC
Capacity: Up to 512GB
Read/Write Speed: 90MB/s; 95MB/s
Pros: Wide range of storage options up to 512GB
Cons: Not the fastest card in the world
With a Class 3 rating, this isn't the fastest card out there, but the reliability and durability of SanDisk cards makes this an excellent option.
What makes this a great choice is the variety of storage capacities - up to a whopping 512GB.
This is a capable card for stills and video with options that are affordable at many different price points.
Price: Starting at $16.50 at Amazon
SD Card Buying Guide: Delkin Devices SDXC UHS-II
Card Type: SDXC
Capacity: Up to 128GB
Read/Write Speed: Up to 300MB/s; 200MB/s
Pros: Waterproof, shockproof, and X-ray proof; RAW burst and high frame rate compatible
Cons: Can't always handle maximum write speed when shooting video
This card is blazing fast with read speeds up to 300MB/s, giving you fast data transfer and immediate access to your files.
Rated Video Speed Class 90, this card can accommodate over 250MB/s recording speeds for uninterrupted 4K, 8K, and 3D video, as well as HDR, 360-degree, and high-speed video capture.
Price: Starts at $229.95 at Adorama
SD Card Buying Guide: Lexar Professional 128GB SDXC UHS-II
Card Type: SDXC
Capacity: 128GB
Read/Write Speed: Up to 300MB/s; 260MB/s
Pros: Reliable high-speed performance, comes with UHS-II SD card reader
Cons: Iffy compatibility with some Olympus cameras
Though this might be overkill for casual photographers, the Lexar Professional SDXC card offers lightning-fast performance for still photography and video work.
With compatibility with a wide range of camera manufacturers, this card is likely to work with just about any modern camera from entry-level DSLRs to pro-grade mirrorless cameras.
Price: $159.99 at Adorama
SD Card Buying Guide: Sony SF-G SDXC UHS-II
Card Type: SDXC
Capacity: Up to 128GB
Read/Write Speed: Up to 300MB/s; 299MB/s
Pros: Top-shelf write speed for continuous shooting
Cons: Some reviewers have reported sudden error messages and corrupt files
Not only is this Sony SD card among the fastest on this list with up to 300MB/s read speed and up to 299MB/s write speed, but it also has a downloadable file rescuer to protect your files and withstands hot, cold, and wet conditions.
This rig is also shockproof, making it a great choice for on-the-go photographers that need a durable, reliable card.
Price: Starts at $109.00 at Adorama
SD Card Buying Guide: Lexar Professional SDXC UHS-II
Card Type: SDXC
Capacity: Up to 256GB
Read/Write Speed: Up to 250MB/s; 60MB/s (minimum)
Pros: Multiple storage options up to 256GB; excellent price
Cons: Reports of write errors when recording 4K Video
For photography and videography alike, this card makes it easy to capture and transfer files. The UHS-II technology is responsible for its fast performance, which can operate at speeds up to 250MB/s.
If you have UHS-I devices, this card will work nicely since they're backwards compatible with older devices, including older SD card readers.
Price: $94.99 (for 256GB) at Adorama
SD Card Buying Guide: Transcend SDXC UHS-II
Card Type: SDXC
Capacity: Up to 64GB
Read/Write Speed: Up to 285MB/s; 180MB/s
Pros: Great value for the money
Cons: Faster options with more storage are available for not that much more money
Though Transcend might not have the name recognition of some of the other brands on this list, it manufactures quality cards that are reliable and durable for the long-term.
This card is one of the best at capturing burst RAW files, so if that's what you do most of the time, this card is a good option.
This isn't the biggest card in the world or the fastest, but for the price, it's hard to beat.
Price: Starting at $32.99 at Amazon
SD Card Buying Guide: SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC UHS-II
Card Type: SDXC
Capacity: Up to 128GB
Read/Write Speed: Up to 300MB/s; 260MB/s
Pros: Excellent for 4K video
Cons: Capacity options are limited
This ultra-speedy memory card is very expensive, but if you're a pro that can't afford to miss a shot, there's no better card than this.
The 300MB/s read speed and 260MB/s write speed is among the tops for any memory card. Those speeds are advantageous for any pro photographer, but particularly those who rely on speed - sports photography, wildlife photography, and photojournalism, to name a few.
Price: Starting at $99.99 at Adorama
SD Card Buying Guide: Lexar Professional SDHC/SDXC UHS-I
Card Type: SDHC or SDXC
Capacity: Up to 512GB
Read/Write Speed: Up to 95MB/s; 45MB/s
Pros: Lexar reliability and lifetime warranty
Cons: Slow compared to other options
One of the best features of this card is the option to get one with 512GB of storage. If space is what you need, this card is it.
Of course, space is prioritized over speed, and this card offers among the slowest read/write speeds of cards on this list.
That notwithstanding, it'll be tough to find a card with this much storage for photos and video.
Price: Starting at $10.99 at Adorama
SD Card Buying Guide: Delkin Devices Prime SDXC UHS-II
Card Type: SDXC
Capacity: Up to 256GB
Read/Write Speed: Up to 300MB/s; 100MB/s
Pros: Offers simultaneous capture modes
Cons: 100MB/s write speed is slower than many other options on this list
Compatible with any SD card camera, the Delkin Devices Prime offers a nice blend of storage and speed, with up to 256GB of space and up to 300MB/s read speed and 100MB/s write speed.
Best of all, this card is capable of recording multiple types of data at once, like videos and stills.
Price: Starting at $47.95 at Adorama
SD Card Buying Guide: PNY Elite Performance SDHC UHS-I
Card Type: SDHC
Capacity: 32GB
Read/Write Speed: Up to 95MB/s; 90MB/s
Pros: 5-year limited warranty
Cons: Small storage capacity
If it's a high-performance budget memory card you're after, this is it.
Shockproof, waterproof, temperature-proof, and magnet-proof, this card can go just about anywhere and do its job.
Better still, PNY has priced these cards aggressively, so they're a great buy!
Price: $15.99 at Adorama
SD Card Buying Guide: SanDisk Ultra SDHC UHS-I
Card Type: SDHC
Capacity: Up to 128GB
Read/Write Speed: Up to 80MB/s; 80MB/s
Pros: Inexpensive
Cons: Not for enthusiast or pro work
If you're a casual photographer and need a new, larger, faster memory card, the SanDisk Ultra is worth a look.
With storage options up to 128GB, and with prices that are bargain basement, it's hard to go wrong with these cards for expanding your capability of capturing and storing a ton of images.
Price: Starting at $6.40 at Adorama
SD Card Buying Guide: CF Card & MicroSD Card Options
If you're in the market for a new CF card or MicroSD card, consider the following as excellent options:
