The Best Memory Card for Cameras in 2023 (Updated)

A memory card is an essential piece of equipment for any photographer. The best memory card for your camera will depend on the type of camera you have, the amount of storage you need, and your budget. Here are some tips to help you choose the right memory card for camera.

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Types of Memory Card for Camera

The first, most basic thing is the type of memory card your digital camera accepts.

In most consumer-oriented cameras, it’s a single SD card. That’s the one type that you’ve undoubtedly seen before. But there are many more. Here’s a list on the main card types that at least a few cameras use:

SD Cards

SD-type memory cards are the most popular and widespread format memory card type. They range from cheap to high-end, fast cards. The first generation is standard SD. They go up to 2GB in size.

SDHC and SDXC cards are bigger. SDHC ranges from 2GB to 32GB, SDXC is anything above 32GB.

In terms of speed, there are five categories. Default Speed and High Speed were introduced with the SD card standard. Ultra High Speed or UHS (I-II-III) cards are available in SDHC and SDXC.

A UHS-I memory slot is in most modern cameras, which allows for 104 MB/s data transfer. MB/s and Mb/s are different units. MB/s is 8 times faster than Mb/s. UHS-II and UHS-III are quicker and used in semi-pro or pro cameras.

MicroSD Cards

MicroSD cards are the little brothers of SD memory cards. Apart from widely being used in smartphones, some smaller cameras accept them too. You’ll also find microSD card slots in almost all drones.

Speed ratings and classes are similar to those of an average size SD card.

CF Cards

The first DLSRs introduced Compact Flash (CF). It’s bigger than an SD card. Traditional CF memory cards are currently being phased out, but some cameras still employ it. Notably, Canon’s flagship 5D MkIV and 1DX MkII bodies both accept CF in one of their slots.

In terms of speed, they sit between the UHS-I and UHS-II SD card. The upper limit for CF is 160 MB/s.

If you have a digital camera that uses CF, you’ll need an external card reader. You can’t plug them directly into a laptop like you can with an SD card.

They are being replaced by CFast cards, which look identical but use different protocols.

CFast Cards

XQD Cards

The first XQD cards were released in 2012. They have a completely new form factor and offer excellent write and read speeds.

You can find XQD memory cards in some professional cameras. Nikon has used them since 2017. For example, in the D500, the D850, the D5, the Z6, and the Z7.

CFexpress Cards

CFexpress cards are not a continuation of the CFast, as the name suggests. The format has been developed as the successor for the XQD. These memory cards for cameras offers offering blazingly high speeds.

Cameras with XQD slots will be compatible with CFexpress, as well. But you need a software update for that.

The first digital camera to exclusively use dual CFexpress cards will be the upcoming Canon 1DX MkIII. The camera will record RAW 4K video, so a high-speed class card is crucial.

How to Decide Which Card to Buy

So far, we have covered all memory card types that you’ll potentially come across in a digital camera.

To find the best memory card for your camera, you have to consider a few aspects.

1. Size

Think about how many photos you want to take on a single occasion.

Take a look at the file sizes your camera produces. A standard, 20MP jpg file is around 10-15 MB. RAW files vary a lot in size. They can be anywhere between 25 MB and 150 MB. It depends on resolution, bit depth, and compression.

Multiply this file size by the number of photos you’ll take. Shooting videos alongside photos makes the equation a bit more complicated. If you’re planning on that, count on slightly bigger memory cards.

So, you can calculate your ideal memory card size. But the world is not perfect and you have to take safety into account.

If you have a single slot in your camera, you will not want to buy a single, large memory card for your camera. If that card goes missing or broken, you will lose all your data. So instead, we recommend purchasing a few smaller memory cards.

You can swap them on the run and even back them up at the same time.

If you’ve got dual slots, this is not an issue. Record to both of them simultaneously, and you’re good to go. You can buy two large memory cards.

2. Speed

First, it’s important to distinguish between writing and read speeds. The read speed is usually printed onto the memory cards in large. But, it’s not what you’re looking for.

Writing speed is much more critical. It sets your limitations in terms of recording photos or videos.

Consider whether you want to shoot a high frame rate burst. Photographing wildlife, sports, or action usually requires using bust mode. In that case, you’ll need the fastest card your camera can handle.

Have a glance at the specifications of your camera. Maximum writing speed should be there. Alternatively, you can calculate it yourself. Multiply the biggest possible file size by the highest frame rate. Then, choose a card that has writing speeds slightly above that.

Video recording, notably 4K, also requires fast cards. In that case, take a look at your bit rate, and choose your card accordingly. The writing speed of the card should at least match the bit rate. Note that writing speeds are usually given in MB/s. Bit rate is marked in Mb/s.

If you’re not shooting in burst mode or videoing in 4K, don’t purchase an expensive high-speed memory card for your camera. Buying reliable products is essential, though.

3. Quality

In terms of reliability and durability, memory cards can vary a lot. It’s not an issue with newer, top-grade formats like XQD or CFast. But it’s very much an issue with the CF and SD card.

If you’re buying cards from well-known brands, you’re good to go. Sandisk, Lexar, Kingston, and Transcend are renowned manufacturers.

Before purchasing a memory card from a lesser-known brand, do a little research about it. Check the ratings on Amazon, as well as user reviews.

Also, if you’re not buying directly from an authorized dealer, take extra care. SD cards are particularly easy to counterfeit. You might still get a working memory card for your camera, but it can be slow or die in a few days.

Our Recommendations

So, without specific ranking, here’s a quick list of the cards we use and trust.