Mastering the art of purchasing flash memory: A comprehensive tutorial
In the world of photography, choosing the right memory card is crucial for capturing high-quality images and videos. Here's a breakdown of the various memory card formats, their speeds, and prices to help you make an informed decision.
SD Cards
SD cards are the most commonly used memory cards in digital cameras. They come in different capacities, with SD meaning up to 2GB, SDHC (High Capacity) more than 2GB and up to 32GB, and SDXC (Extended Capacity) above 32GB and up to 2TB. UHS (Ultra High Speed) speed class (U1/U3) has been effectively replaced by the Video speed class, with U1 having a minimum of 10MB/sec sequential write speed and U3 having a minimum of 30MB/sec sequential write speed.
SD cards are small and fragile, with small, thin plastic pieces that can easily be damaged if not taken care of. If you opt for SD cards, keep in mind that UHS-II cards offer quicker read and write speeds, but require a camera and memory card reader that support UHS-II to take full advantage of the higher speeds.
MicroSD Cards
MicroSD cards can be used instead of SD cards, but they are smaller and can be fiddly. They are often available for cheaper prices than SD cards, but don't always offer as high speeds as UHS-II SD cards. MicroSD cards are used in compact cameras and other devices like Smartphones, Dashcams, and security cameras.
CFexpress Cards
CFexpress cards offer higher read and write speeds using technology standards that are already widely in use in computing technology. They are physically the same size as XQD cards. CFexpress Type A cards, such as those offered by Sony and PROGRADE, offer performance three times faster than the fastest UHS-II cards, with 800MB/s read and 700MB/s write speeds. However, the most popular cameras using CFexpress Type A memory cards are Sony models, including the Sony Alpha 7S III, Sony Alpha 9 III, Sony FX3, Sony FX30, and Sony Alpha 7R V.
On the other hand, CFexpress Type-B cards are available from brands including Sony, Sandisk, and Lexar. They are used in cameras like the Nikon Z6 (II), Z7 (II), Z9, Canon EOS R3, Canon EOS R5, Fujifilm X-H2S, and X-H2. The fastest CFexpress Type-B cards offer around 160MB/s, a speed surpassed by UHS-II SD cards, as well as other cards such as XQD.
XQD Cards
XQD memory cards have been mainly used in high-end Nikon DSLRs, such as the Nikon D6, D500, D850, Z6 (II), Z7 (II), Z9. However, they are being gradually replaced by CFexpress cards. The 64GB Sony XQD G series card costs £119, and the 120GB Sony XQS G series card costs £161.
CFast Cards
CFast is yet another memory card format designed primarily for video, CINE and broadcasting use.
Choosing the Right Card
When choosing a memory card, look for a card with the fastest WRITE speeds. This is particularly important for high-resolution images and videos. Also, if you have a high-speed card, then you're going to need a high-speed memory card reader.
Remember, the best memory card is the fastest you can afford, in the right format for your camera. It's also important to beware of fake memory cards, and stick to trusted retailers when buying a memory card. The general advice is that you should format the memory card in your camera (after backing up all your photos).
For the best value CF card, the 32GB Lexar Professional (160MB/s) is priced at £35. CFexpress Type-B cards, such as the Sony CFexpress Tough G series 256GB card with read and write speeds of 1700MB/s and 1480MB/s respectively, are more expensive, costing around £286 for a 256GB card. The 165GB ProGrade CFexpress Type B card costs £177, and the 256GB Lexar CFexpress Type B card costs £286. CFexpress Type A cards, like the 160GB CFexpress Type A card, cost around £370 - £399.
In conclusion, understanding the different types of memory cards, their speeds, and prices can help you make the best decision for your photography needs. Always choose a card that offers the fastest write speed possible, and ensure it is compatible with your camera.
