What is the best memory card for your Sony camera?
Choosing the right memory card is important for your camera's performance. Which memory card suits your Sony camera and your workflow best? Do you opt for an SDXC card or rather a faster CFexpress Type A card? We compare alternatives to Sony memory cards and help you make the best choice.
Which memory card fits in my camera?
To determine the best memory card for your Sony camera, you first need to know which memory card types are available. You can almost always use an SD card (SDHC, SDXC), but some cameras are also compatible with CFexpress Type A cards. The information on which card fits your camera can be found, for example, on Sony's website or in the user manual.
What types of SD cards are there?
SD (Secure Digital) is the oldest type of SD card, with a storage capacity of up to 2GB. These cards are actually no longer sold.
The successor to SD is SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity). This card has a storage capacity of 4GB to 32GB. These cards are still on sale in a few shops, but are best left out.
The current standard is SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity) with a storage capacity of 64GB to 2TB. This card supports ultra-high-definition video and high-speed continuous recording. This card type is suitable for a Sony camera.
Speed classes of SD cards
You will see all sorts of symbols on the card. Those symbols have to do with the card's minimum read and write speeds. For example: the Lexar SDXC 2000x Pro has a minimum write speed of 90 MB/s and a maximum speed of 300 MB/s.
- Speed Class: UHS-I or UHS-II possibly highest data transfer speeds (UHS-I 104MB/s, UHS-II 312MB/s in lab tests). The Speed Class has to do with the type of card slot in your camera and thus determines which card you can use at all. If you use a fast type II card in a UHS-I slot, it will not be read properly and the speed will be only a fraction of the value stated on the card.
- Video Speed Classes: V30, V60, V90: specifically for video recording, with minimum write speeds of 30MB/s, 60MB/s, and 90MB/s respectively. Although this classification is already greatly outdated with today's cards with speeds of up to 800/900MB/s sustained writing speed.
CFexpress Type A
There are some Sony cameras that support CFexpress Type A. This card type is many times faster than an SDXC card. CFexpress 2.0 has a maximum read speed of 1000 MB/s and a write speed of 800 MB/s. And the new generation CFexpress 4.0 has a maximum read speed of 1800 MB/s and a write speed of 1650 MB/s.
Often, the casing has metal parts making them sturdier and more resistant to physical damage. They are marked with the CFexpress logo and specifications such as type and speed. The maximum write speed is also usually mentioned.
VPG certification
CFexpress memory cards have the so-called Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) for classification. This value is represented by a number 200 or 400 in a clapperboard. Basically, it is similar to that of the Video Speed Class marking on SDXC cards. Only, the speed is not max 90 MB/s (V90), but the VPG certification guarantees that a memory card can maintain a minimum write speed in MB/s of no less than 200 MB/s or even 400 MB/s. So this is the very lowest speed at which data can be written to the memory card consecutively.
Differences between a CFexpress Type A and an SDXC card
The biggest difference between a CFexpress Type A and an SDXC card are the read and write speeds. If you insert SDXC card into a camera that supports CFexpress, you simply won't achieve the highest possible speed. A CFexpress card uses a different data storage and data transfer technology than an SD card. This makes them faster and more efficient at writing data.
"This makes them faster and more efficient at writing data."
Other than that, they obviously don't look the same. Compared to an SDXC card, a CFexpress Type A card is slightly smaller and has no bevel. It has a different structure of pins and metal contacts. This makes the CFexpress card not only slightly smaller, but also more robust than the SD card.
Why doesn't an SD card have a VPG rating?
The technology used in the two card types does not come from just one organisation. The CompactFlash Association is responsible for the CFexpress cards. SDXC cards are designed by the SD Association. Memory cards are given ratings according to specifications and testing standards set by organisations that developed the technology used. A CFexpress card gets a VPG classification from the CompactFlash Association and UHS-II and V90, among others, are given by the SD Association. Of course, those ratings are about how fast a card is. Speeds are expressed in MB/s (megabytes per second).
Sony cameras supporting CFexpress Type A
Currently, only a few Sony cameras support CFexpress Type A, but the future of CFexpress Type A looks promising. With Sony's support, there will be continuous improvements in speed, capacity, reliability and compatibility. With these cameras, you can use the fast CFexpress Type A cards:
- Sony Alpha 1 (A1)
- Sony Alpha 9 M3 (9M3)
- Sony Alpha 7S III (A7S III)
- Sony Alpha 7 IV (A7 IV)
- Sony Alpha 7R V (A7R V)
- Sony FX3 (Cinema Line)
- Sony FX6 (Cinema Line)
- Sony FX30 (Cinema Line)
How to choose the best memory card?
Is your camera compatible with multiple cards? Then you need to start making a choice. First you need to decide what you will use the camera for. This has a lot of influence on the required speed and storage capacity.
If you have dual card slots in your Sony camera, then it is recommended to use two equivalent cards. By using two of the same cards, for example a CFexpress Type A card in both slots, you ensure the same high reading and writing speeds. This avoids any delays or performance issues that may arise when using cards with different speeds and capacities.
What do you use the camera for?
Once it is clear which card will fit in your camera, you need to think about what you are actually using your camera for. This determines the requirements you should place on the card. Anyway, the write speed is always very important, as this indicates how fast the memory card can store data. If the memory card is too slow, you may get jerky images or recording errors. Therefore, when buying a memory card, pay attention to its write speed and read speed.
Why do you need a CFexpress Type A card?
A CFexpress Type A card is recommended if your camera supports it. This is because this card type has much higher read and write speeds compared to SDXC cards. This is important when recording 4K or 8K video without suffering from lag. So for video, a CFexpress Type A card is really worth it.
"The faster the card can write the photos, the more photos you can take in succession during a burst."
Besides video, you also need a high write speed when taking photo bursts. The faster the card can write the photos, the more photos you can take in succession during a burst. Some Sony models can shoot up to 30 photos per second! So if you take photos during, say, a tennis match, you should be able to take multiple photos during a burst. Similarly, in wildlife, fashion and event photography, it is better if your camera can write away the photos quickly. When working with high-resolution RAW shots, a fast card is also necessary to efficiently write away these large files and avoid storage problems.
When do you use an SDXC card?
If you are only into portrait or urbex photography, then a good SDXC card might be enough. Portrait photography usually does not require fast consecutive shots. In landscape and architecture photography, fast burst shots are generally not necessary either. After all, the focus there is on capturing well thought-out compositions.
In product photography, an SDXC card is also often sufficient, as the focus is usually on capturing detailed images in a controlled environment. Less fast write speeds are then needed, and as a photographer, cards offering medium speeds will usually suffice.
Save video files to SDXC card
If you want to record 4K videos at higher bit rates and higher frame rates (60-240 fps), you will need at least a V60 card. For best performance and resolutions above 4K, SDXC UHS-II cards with a V90 rating are recommended. Also, if you shoot in S-Log, for example, then a V90 card is the best option. Higher than V90 the video speed rating does not currently go. SDXC cards formatted with the exFAT file system are unlimited in file size. So your files can be larger than 4GB, which is the maximum file size of cards formatted with the older FAT32 file system.
How many Gigabytes should my memory card have?
For a minute of video in 4K quality (3840 x 2160 pixels), you need to count on about 1-2 GB, so for an hour you need about 120 GB. Video bitrate, frame rate, length and format affect the size of video recordings.
It is not possible to say exactly how much, as it also depends on the degree of data compression and the actual data streams generated. So if you want to record long videos in high resolution, you can basically never have enough capacity. A capacity of at least 128GB is therefore recommended for video recording.
For Full HD1080 video files, you need much less memory. For a minute of video in Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), you should count on about 200-300 megabytes, so for an hour you would need about 18GB.
Recommendations and best choices
When buying memory cards for video recording, it is important to choose the right one. Choose speed over capacity, but keep in mind to have enough storage capacity to work with your preferred settings. With video, factors such as frame rate, length and format affect the video bit rate and size of video files.
Card 1: Lexar® Professional CFexpress™ 4.0 Type A GOLD Series
Specifications
- Read speed: 1800mb/s
- Write speed: 1650 mb/s
- Minimum (sustained) write speed: 1400mb/s
- Rating: VPG-400 (400mb/s)
- Capacity: 640GB and 1TB
Plus points: These cards are better priced compared to Sony Tough cards. Lexar has a good reputation regarding storage media and offers a 5-year warranty. Furthermore, this card has a VPG-400 rating, which is best for recording high-resolution videos in S-Log, for example.
Use for: Certainly this card is suitable to use for 8K videos. Fast action during e.g. tennis, motorsport, car racing capture in burst mode. Because you can take many photos in quick succession for longer, you almost always have a good shot in between. After a burst, the camera's buffer is quickly written away, so you are immediately ready for the next action.
Card 2: OWC Atlas Pro CFexpress™ 4.0 Type A
Specifications
- Read speed: 1850mb/s
- Write speed: 1700mb/s
- Minimum (sustained) write speed: 400mb/s
- Rating: VPG-200 (200mb/s)
- Capacity: 480GB, 960GB
Plus points: The card comes with an adapter that allows it to also be used as a CFexpress Type B card. This increases flexibility when working with multiple cameras. Even though the card has a VPG-200 rating, OWC guarantees a minimum write speed of 400mb/s. The Atlas Pro offers excellent performance at a good price, making it a good choice for professional users. The Atlas Pro card is compatible with the availability of the OWC Innergize software. The Innergize™ software can make "Health Checks" (health checks) and has a "Sanitize" function (clean-up/erase). You can perform these functions hardware-wise to see if your card is still in good health and, where necessary, can also restore the card to new state (factory settings).
Use for: The card's large capacity makes it ideal for 8K video recording and if you save your photos as RAW files. Also, if you are out for long periods of time photographing wildlife in remote nature, this large-capacity card is nice to work with. For fashion and event photography too, it's nicer if you don't have to change cards throughout the event.
Card 3: Lexar® Professional 2000x SDXC UHS-II Card GOLD Series
Specifications
- Read speed: 300mb/s
- Write speed: 260 mb/s
- Minimum write speed: 90mb/s
- Classification: V90 (90mb/s), UHS-II, Class 10
- Capacity: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB
Plus point: The price of the card is definitely a plus if you want to fill two card slots. Lexar cards come with a 5-year warranty. The V90 video speed rating is the highest rating currently available.
Card 4: OWC Atlas S Ultra SDXC-kaart
Specificaties
- Read speed: 300mb/s
- Write speed: 250 mb/s
- Minimum write speed: 90mb/s
- Classification: V90 (90mb/s), UHS-II, Class 10
- Capacity: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB
Pluspunt: The Atlas S Ultra card is compatible with the availability of the OWC Innergize software. The Innergize™ software can make "Health Checks" (health checks) and has a "Sanitize" function (clean-up/erase). You can perform these functions hardware-wise to see if your card is still in good health and, where necessary, can also restore the card to new state (factory settings).
Brief summary
An SD card fits in every Sony camera. The current standard is SDXC with capacities ranging from 64GB to 2TB. Some Sony cameras also support CFexpress Type A cards. These cards are much faster than SDXC cards and have a maximum read speed of 1800 MB/s and write speed of 1650 MB/s. For long video recordings or large RAW files, a larger capacity is important. A capacity of at least 128GB is recommended for video. A CFexpress Type A card is also much more ruggedly built than an SD card. This makes it more resistant to drops, bumps, bending, UV and X-ray radiation.
