CFexpress , SDHC , SDXC , UHS , SD4.0 – those terms may sound like mumbo - jumbo but they all refer to the memory cards used mostly in cameras , but in other devices . In this clause , we have put a reach of SDXC , microSDXC and CFexpress memory cards through their paces on the Mac and in the camera , and selected our top picks .
Most of today ’s camera have a slot for the Secure Digital Memory Card ( also lie with as an Mount Rushmore State visiting card ) . The big CFexpress bill , the successor to the Compact Flash and XQD cards , can also be detect in professional and picture photographic camera . If you ’re in the market for a new memory card , peruse our picks below . We also provide entropy on our testing procedure and how we measure each card , and explain the important aspect to look for when shopping for one .
UHS-I SD memory cards
Top Pick: Kingston Canvas Go Plus
Pros
Cons
The Canvas Go Plus is a UHS - I memory card without any weaknesses . It belong to to the top grouping when it number to writing and meter reading . Due to its favorable price , it take in our cost - performance crown . crucial : If you desire to use the maximum read speed , you need a suitablememory card lecturer .
Only very few memory cards come with a sturdy box.
Lexar Professional Silver Plus
The Professional Silver Plus is an invisible memory card in the best sense of the password . Our test results did not progress to the maximum data transference rate of 205MBps , but it shines with a good terms and a gratis lifetime license for the Lexar Recovery Tool . Please note : If you want to utilize the maximum read stop number , you will want a suitablememory add-in reader .
Samsung Pro Ultimate
Samsung offers two memory cards in its Pro series designed for lensman and videographers , the Pro Plus with a utmost of 180MBps and the Pro Ultimate test by us with a upper limit of 200MBps . It is also the fastest UHS - I memory board card in our roundup . It is not even expensive , on the contrary , as a microSD remembering bill it is one of the tawdry . It therefore deserves our price - functioning bakshish . tending : If you desire to utilise the maximum reading speed , you need asuitable retentiveness card reader .
UHS-II V60 SD memory cards
Top Pick: Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II V60
The V60 Canvas React Plus immediately position itself in the top ranking for indication . When indite , it is one of the fastest V60 memory visiting card . The price is a buy considering the performance . It therefore garner the price - carrying out tip among the V60 memory cards .
Top Pick: SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II V60
For a V60 memory card , the Extreme Pro V60 is at the upper end of the price scale . However , it offers almost V90 - degree performance . It is by far the fastest V60 remembering card in the benchmark for writing and is only unnoticeably slow than its big brother when understand . It is also a top performing artist in cameras , outperforming even some V90 remembering notice . A very good option for photographers . The long warranty of 30 years and the information recovery program included speak in favor of a professional product .
Lexar Professional Silver Pro UHS-II V60
The new Silver Pro V60 is set aright at the top of the V60 class when it come to writing . It fall somewhat behind when reading , although 244MBps is not slow . The cost and good accessibility make it a recommendation .
OWC Atlas Pro UHS-II
The Atlas Pro is a distinctive V60 memory card . It remains within the class when writing and struggle above all when reading out on the Mac with high speed . The favorable price create it a passport . The software program from OWC , which can influence the health position of the memory card , is professional .
PNY EliteX-PRO60 UHS-II
The cheapest UHS - II remembering card is the EliteX - PRO60 . With its low price , it is only slightly more expensive than the UHS - I retention cards and therefore deserves a recommendation . When writing , it continue in its V60 class , but shines with a eminent speed when reading on the Mac .
UHS-II V90 SD memory cards
Top Pick: OWC Atlas Ultra UHS-II V90
With the Atlas Ultra , photographers and videographers get a professional memory card at a professional toll . It is currently the fast memory board add-in for many camera in our roundup . The software from OWC , which can check the wellness position of the memory carte , is also professional . The high speed and the software sling the Atlas Ultra to a execution recommendation . The OWC Atlas Ultra is mainly sold through specialised retailers .
ADATA Premier ONE UHS-II
The Premier ONE is one of the quick UHS - II memory card , both when reading and in the camera . Only in the Canon EOS R7 does it not belong to the top group . In term of price , it is one of the cheapest V90 retention poster and therefore wins our price - functioning tip for V90 computer memory cards . The Premier ONE is also available in microSDXC format .
Angelbird AV Pro SD UHS-II V90
The Angelbird AV Pro V90 is one of the fastest memory calling card . The focus on professional is also evident in the service , as the client has access to a professional data point recovery Robert William Service for three years .
Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II V90
The Canvas React Plus has been on the marketplace for some time and has no weaknesses . It is one of the fast memory board card in the test . Unfortunately , it is currently difficult to receive , otherwise it would win the toll - performance tip . The Canvas React Plus is also available in microSDXC data formatting .
ProGrade UHS-II V90
The top South Dakota store poster from ProGrade is in the top group in the camera test , meeting professional requirements . It also shines when read out on a Mac . The price is reasonable for the professional public presentation . The warrant is too brusque for a professional memory card , but it smooth with free software system for show the wellness condition .
SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II V90
The V90 Extreme PRO is a perennial dearie on the grocery store . Even if it is not the libertine in all measurements , it still render very dear results . The prospicient warranty of 30 years and the data recuperation program speak in favor of a professional ware . The good price - carrying into action ratio also speaks in favour of the Extreme Pro .
CFexpress memory cards
Top Pick: OWC Atlas Pro CFexpress 4.0
The Atlas Pro is the chinchy and at the same time one of the fastest CFexpress retentivity cards . Together with the software for fix the wellness status , this makes it an invincible offer and is therefore our price - performance gratuity . The Atlas Pro is mainly sold through specialist retailers .
Top Pick: ProGrade Gold CFexpress 4.0 512GB
The unexampled Prograde Gold belong to the later CFexpress generation 4.0 , which is distinctly noticeable when read out information with transferral rate of over 3000MBps . So it is no curiosity that it is also one of the absolute top performing artist in the photographic camera . The price is golden considering the carrying into action . The software system for determining the wellness status is a plus point .
OWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress 4.0
If you are looking for the fastest CFexpress memory card , you will find it with the Atlas Ultra . The included software for determining the health position is also swell . The short warranty is not like a professional card , but it is not the most expensive CFexpress memory notice in our comparison . The Atlas Ultra is principally sell via specialiser retailers .
ProGrade Gold CFexpress 2.0
The Gold still belong to the old CFexpress generation 2.0 , which is clearly obtrusive when translate out data . In the television camera it ranks in the middle of the battalion . The damage is ok , especially the 2 TB variant . The software for decide the health status is a plus . The new Gold Generation 4.0 is the fast and tinny alternative with 512 gibibyte .
SanDisk Extreme Pro CFexpress 2.0
The Extreme Pro is a typical Generation 2.0 store card with good mid - range operation . Compared to its contender , the cost is a petty too high . On the other hand , it polish with a foresighted warranty .
Only very few storage cards come with a sturdy loge .
Our test selection
We obtained a compass of memory batting order that insure the typical spectrum for use in action cams , drones , digital system tv camera , and professional digital cameras for flick and photography .
The Kingston Canvas Go Plus , the Lexar Professional Silver Plus , and the Samsung Pro Ultimate are in the UHS - I V30 class . These memory cards are useable in large SD and microSD formats for action cams and drones . All manufacturer admit a suitable SD card adapter .
Professional UHS - II memory cards are divided into two classes of speed : V60 and V90 . MicroSDXC UHS - II memory bill are also available , but as few professional cameras practice these small retentivity card , their use is limited to fast readout .
The V60 course include : Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 , Lexar Professional Silver Pro , OWC Atlas Pro , PNY EliteX - PRO60 UHS - II , and SanDisk Extreme Pro V60 .
In the V90 grade : ADATA Premier ONE , Angelbird AV Pro V90 , Kingston Canvas React Plus V90 , OWC Atlas Ultra , Prograde V90 , and SanDisk Extreme Pro V90 .
The CFexpress type B memory cards for professional cameras are also part into two class : CFexpress 2.0 and CFexpress 4.0 . include in the testing : OWC Atlas Pro 4.0 , OWC Atlas Ultra 4.0 , ProGrade Gold 2.0 , ProGrade Gold 4.0 and the SanDisk Extreme Pro .
Only very few memory cards come with a sturdy box.
A new turbo form has been established in the UHS - I memory card division . Around 100MBps is the usual maximum read speed for the UHS - I standard . Kingston , Lexar , and Samsung push this limit up to 200MBps with the memory cards we tested . As the read speed is particularly important when transferring to a Mac , this is a big plus for the now - shew memory cards . However , this opulence requires acompatible memory plug-in reader .
Test results: Data transfer (read) to the Mac
For our research laboratory test , we used the Aja System Test Lite app to measure each memory board card with the ProGrade PG05.5 memory carte reader . The most important value of a retentivity card in this case is the read speed .
The manufacturers not only specify the write velocity grade for their memory cards , such as V90 , but also the maximum values for reading and writing . However , the values specified by the manufacturers are often not achieved , but they can be close . In general , however , it can be said that if a manufacturer specifies high values , the memory board is also faster than other memory cards .
UHS-I SD memory cards: Read test results
Results are MB per second . Longer bars / high resultant role are fast .
In the case of UHS - I remembering cards , manufacturers specify up to 200MBs . We did not achieve this in our testing . Nevertheless , 173MBps or 145MBps are not spoilt values , either . The Kingston Canvas Go Plus and the Samsung Pro Ultimate were the degenerate in our trial .
UHS-II SD memory cards: Read test results
The UHS - II memory cards shine with read rate of well over 200MBps . But even here , the note value specified by the manufacturing business , such as 300MBps , are not achieved . Most memory cards achieve values above 250MBps , which is very pleasant when sit down in front of the Mac . The top time value in the benchmark is achieved by the SDXC Adata with 292MBps .
In practice , it has to be said that most retention cards fulfil the anticipation place on them . Whether this is measured as 258MBps or 274 MBps , the difference are hard to discover ( if they ’re noticeable at all ) when seat in front of a Mac .
CFexpress memory cards: Read test results
With CFexpress retentiveness cards , the genesis change from CFexpress 2.0 to 4.0 is particularly obtrusive . The new criterion ensures over 3000MBps when translate datum . substance abuser can only do good from this plus if they expend a fast memory visiting card reader with a USB4 link . Otherwise , the limit of the USB interface of less than 1000 MBps remains . For this reason , we allow for the benchmarks for the OWC Atlas USB4 CFexpress Reader and the Prograde PG05.5 .
Test results: Data transfer (write) from a Mac
Although the memory cards are hardly ever written to on a Mac in practice session , we have also carried out bench mark test here . The sleazy V60 storage cards by nature stand out because they “ only ” accomplish around 100MBps . These are value that even the good UHS - I store cards achieve . The confirming outlier among the V60 remembering cards is the SanDisk Extreme Pro V60 with 198MBps . The quick V90 retention wag with over 250MBps are the Adata Premiere One , the Angelbird AV Pro SD V90 , the Kingston Canvas React Plus V90 , and the OWC Atlas Ultra . In the case of CFexpress memory calling card , the 4.0 generation memory wit from OWC and ProGrade exceed 2000MBps , as expected .
Memory cards Mac write benchmarks
Test results: Data transfer (write) from a camera
However , these values are not necessarily indicatory of the behavior in the digital tv camera . We therefore assess all SDXC UHS - I , UHS - II and CFexpress memory card in digital cameras . In the absence of a suited digital television camera with a microSD memory circuit card expansion slot , we measured these retentiveness cards using the adapters cater .
If the retention card ca n’t keep up with the tv camera , the physique charge per unit slows down and the television camera slows down . When taking photos , the tv camera first fills the tv camera ’s national pilot memory and at the same metre moves the photos to the memory card . Ideally , the frame rate is only reduced by a few frames per second ; in the bad eccentric , you have to take a break .
This is why fast cameras also have a one-armed bandit for fast UHS - II or CFexpress computer memory cards . For our mental testing , we used the Canon EOS R5 , Canon EOS R7 , Fujifilm X - T5 , Leica Q3 , and Leica SL3 television camera . We measure the write speed of the storage card in the tv camera . The camera was set to manual focalization and the maximum frame rate . We selected RAW as the image format and an picture meter of 1000th of a instant . The shutter release was urge on until the skeleton rate slowed down , i.e. the buff memory was full . We stopped manually until the LED indicated that all the images had been saved to the memory card . We average the whole thing over several ravel .
Memory cards write camera benchmarks
The measured value are also reflect quite well in practice in the “ comprehend speed , ” i.e. how long it takes until you’re able to take pictures again . What happens to the bod pace when the buffer store is full and finally when the photos are display in playback mode .
Apart from the Leica Q3 and the Leica SL3 , which are true not cameras for sport and nature photographers , Canon and Fujifilm assure that you could shoot long image chronological succession . Either through a large polisher memory or through a fast memory card interface . Of naturally , the fastest cards also feel fast in the camera . However , the difference between the memory cards within a class ( U3 , V60 and V90 ) is hardly noticeable .
The Canon EOS R5 is very fast , both with SD memory cards and CFexpress memory cards . At its peak , we measured 247MBps with the OWC Atlas Ultra . This correspond to the datum transfer charge per unit specify by the maker . The V90 memory card from Kingston , Angelbird and ProGrade are also very fast . In practice , this means shoot series of photos without being slowed down because the buffer memory is big and the card interface is immobile . It is almost logical that the EOS R5 also specify records with CFexpress memory cards . We measured a acme of 531MBps with the OWC Atlas Ultra and 505MBps with the ProGrade Gold V4.0 .
With a maximal data point transfer rate of 231MBps with the Atlas Ultra , the Canon EOS R7 achieves a decent speed . Only the low speed of the Adata and the SanDisk Extreme Pro V90 is surprising . The latter is even significantly slower than the V60 version of the Extreme Pro , which is our positive surprise .
Professional digital photographic camera usually have two card slot . In the lawsuit of the Fujifilm X - T5 , there are two for the fast UHS - II standard , while the Canon EOS R5 has one UHS - II and one CFexpress .
Thomas Bergbold
With the Fujifilm X - T5 , the top cards are between 170MBps and 189MBps . So it ready no sentiency to look specifically for the flying card . Here too , the Atlas Ultra is the immobile , but with two cheaper direct pursuers . The Extreme Pro V60 is also surprisingly degenerate here , almost equalling the V90 retentivity cards .
The Leicas are designed for the needs of street , mass and change of location photographer . What matters here is not maximum frame rate , but a perceived mellow processing velocity . This is exactly what all UHS - II storage cards can accomplish with sufficient write speeds of around 100MBps and more . All UHS - II computer storage cards also do comparably well when playing back images on the television camera . The grandness of a flying UHS - II computer storage identity card in the Leicas can be escort in direct comparison to a UHS - I computer storage notice . They are no fun at all in the Leicas when scrolling through the pictures .
Recommendations
When choosing the right memory card , two component are important : the pure measured note value and personal preference . Personal preference includes points such as the guarantee , the reputation of the marque or the guaranteed operating temperature . Amateur photographer will certainly make a different choice here than professionals . For this reason , master care to use the SanDisk Extreme Pro , for example , as the 30 - year warranty and very prospicient experience speak for themselves .
In terms of pure measurement values , there are no really bad memory cards . The new CFexpress 4.0 computer memory cards in peculiar impress with information transference rate at NVMe SSD layer . Current cameras are not yet able to employ this .
When it add up to UHS - I cards , the Kingston Canvas Go Plus and the Samsung Pro Ultimate are our cost - operation weft . High read speeds and a favorable price speak for themselves . But be careful , ensure you have the correct computer storage card reader to achieve the high read speed .
There are just about two groups in the UHS - II memory visiting card class . The top group with high write speed and the group with a balanced ratio of Leontyne Price and say upper . The first group includes the Angelbird AV Pro V90 , the OWC Atlas Ultra and the ProGrade V90 . This group also include the Adata Premier One and the Kingston Canvas React Plus V90 with a very good cost - operation ratio . If I ’m travelling as a professional , I ’m in good hands in this mathematical group . It is also worth taking a look at the operating temperature . With Lexar and PNY , mathematical operation below 0 level is not commend , while SanDisk concord the phonograph record down to -40 degrees . As forward-looking digital cameras can get very warm when filming , the upper time value is also important . With the exception of Lexar and PNY , they all specify 85 degrees .
The second chemical group with a favorable cost per gibibyte includes the V60 memory card Kingston Canvas React Plus V60 , the Lexar Professional Silver Pro , the OWC Atlas Pro , the PNY EliteX - PRO60 and the SanDisk Extreme Pro V60 . amateur in particular will find what they are look for in this chemical group . But professionals should also care the Lexar Professional Silver Pro or the SanDisk Extreme Pro V60 .
A cosmopolitan value aside from the bare data rates is the warranty and the software addition . Together with the experience of other lensman , this provides an outlook on the anticipate inspection and repair life . As retention cards are often used for ten age or more , a warranty period of more than ten years is an vantage . This is only uncommitted from Adata , Kingston and SanDisk . In term of package , ProGrade and OWC stand out ; they admit apps to determine the health status . data point recovery is also a professional feature that is usable from Angelbird , ProGrade , OWC and SanDisk . In the case of Angelbird , not simply with sotware , but via a professional service .
Memory card accessories
Cosyspeed ST-Wallet
Measuring just 95 by 70 by 20 mm , the ST - Wallet offers space for eight SD retentiveness cards and several credit cards . There is an extra inset for the SD memory card , which are simply adjudge in blank space with rubber loops . A pocket-size connection sack offers extra storage space for coin or a USB joystick . A peculiar motion-picture show is incorporated to protect the credit card from being record . The zip has a very large nothing and is therefore easy to open up . A concealed Velcro fastener on the back is used to attach it to other Cosyspeed bags . The ST - Wallet is produced according to SGS standards and is 100 per centum vegan . It is available in four colouration combinations .
ThinkTank Pee Wee Pixel Pocket Rocket
A long name for a small bag that can hold up to seven storage cards and a memory card lector , the Pee Wee Pixel Pocket Rocket is fold three times and close up with a inviolable Velcro fixing . When opened , there is access to seven subdivided compartment . Four of these are for big CF or CFexpress memory cards and three for Mount Rushmore State memory cards . However , there is also way for 11 SD computer memory cards . The compartments not only pop the question good protection , they also hold the memory lineup very well . The material is water supply - repellent and very racy . Two loops on the back are suitable for a knock , for example , while the snap hook can be used to attach it to a haversack . The recommended Pee Wee Pixel Pocket Rocket is available in three size of it and three unlike colour combinations .
Verbatim Slimline Bluray Writer
A storage batting order is not a long - full term archiving medium , so option are want . Verbatim has developed the MDISC especially for this guinea pig and promises a shelf life sentence of 1,000 years .
Verbatim MDISC BD-R Blu-ray discs
With a shelf biography of 1,000 years , the Verbatim MDISC promises to be the ideal archiving medium . In accession to the BD - R with 25 GB , a 50 GB version is also available .
A little card lore SD memory cards
The developing of digital tv camera with an South Dakota card slot begin with the simple SD with a computer storage content of up to 2 GB ( although this variant has died out ) , be by the SDHC ( SD High Capacity ) with up to 32 GB and currently the SDXC ( Coyote State eXtended Capacity ) with up to 2 TB of computer memory space . The latest standard SDUC with up to 128 TB is still very uncommon .
If you still have an older digital camera in usage , you should take a close looking at the operating instructions , as the current SDXC cards , just like the SDHC card , are not compatible with older cameras .
There is also a change in the file system : the SDXC uses the more modern exFAT , while the previous FAT32 is still sufficient for the SDHC . The cameras format automatically in the correct file scheme , so there is no need to worry about this .
Speed
In addition to the spec regarding the memory size in SD , SDHC and SDXC , there is also a classification of the memory board circuit board according to swiftness .
Each number in the specifications stands for the minimum accomplishable data rate during storage . For example , the “ 10 ” in Class 10 stands for at least 10MBps .
in 2010 , the further development to Ultra High Speed ( abridge to UHS ) was added . UHS enables significantly loyal datum rates , up to 104MBps for UHS - I and up to 321MBps for UHS - II . UHS - II is also lie with as SD4.0 .
There are also speed class for UHS . For example , U1 and U3 , as well as V60 with 60MBps and V90 with 90MBps as the minimum write speed for the requisite of videographers .
If you need help deciding which f number class you should ideally use , a look at the camera manual will often help . V10 , for exercise , is sufficient for Full HD film , while for 4 K video you should employ at least V30 , sooner V60 . For cameras with 8 K video , V60 or even better V90 are ask .
The great matter about SDHC and SDXC cards is that it does n’t matter whether you bribe a Class 2 to 10 or UHS card in term of compatibility . They always fit out in SDHC - compatible camera .
Although the specification have been simplified with the origination of the V classes , the manufacturers still specify the maximum datum charge per unit for writing and reading on the cards as a value in MBps . In addition to this clear specification , there is often also an antediluvian specification with a factor , for example 600x . This factor is based on 150 kByte per sec , or 1 multiplication the CD reading speed . In the case of 600x , this mean 90MBps .
This article originally appeared on our sister publicationMacweltand was translate and localized from German .
Only very few memory cards come with a sturdy box.
Only very few memory cards come with a sturdy box.
Professional digital cameras usually have two card slots. In the case of the Fujifilm X-T5, there are two for the fast UHS-II standard, while the Canon EOS R5 has one UHS-II and one CFexpress.
