Best Memory Cards for Photographers

Looking for the best memory cards for photographers available right now?

As a photographer, you need a memory card to store the videos and photos you take and transport them to a computer for processing. But why pick any old SD card when you could choose from this list of best memory cards for photographers?

Now that you’ve chosen your perfect DSLR camera or mirrorless camera you’ll need a memory card before you can take your first photo!

However, picking external storage is slightly more complicated than picking the biggest.

Essentially, it would be best to consider other factors like intended purpose, processing speed, manufacturer, and durability.

Therefore, to ease the hassle of navigating through the vast options available in the market, I will present the top five memory cards for photographers available now.

Best memory cards for photography at a glance:

1. Transcend SDXC UHS-II U3
2. SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II V90
3. Lexar Professional 633x UHS-I
4. Sony SF-G Series TOUGH UHS-II
5. Lexar Professional 1667x SDXC UHS-II

Let’s begin!

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1. Transcend SDXC UHS-II U3

A standard memory card for photographers is the SDXC UHS-II U3, coming with sufficient speed to process images on modern devices better than most other SD cards.

The Transcend SDXC UHS-II U3 possesses an excellent writing speed of 180MB/s, with a read speed of equal value (224MB/s).

These factors make the card excellent for rapid-fire still photography with high resolution and recording 8k, 4k, and HD videos. Ultimately, it’s a worthwhile storage unit to include at an affordable price in your camera.

It’s worth noting that the Transcend SDXC UHS-II U3 64 GB memory card comes with additional features like shockproofing, waterproofing, x-ray proofing, temperature resistance, static proof, and many more.

The card is designed to process data in different conditions, meaning that irrespective of where you go and what image you take, the SDXC UHS-II U3 will be consistent.

Pros:

• High read and write speeds
• Ideal for any condition
• Strong resistance to the elements

Cons:

• Slightly pricey

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2. SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II V90

The SanDisk is a popular option for photographers due to its track record of consistent and affordable SD cards.

The Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II V90 is no exception to this reputation and is one of the best memory cards for photographers!

The SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II V90 can handle up to 128GB of data, which is sufficient space to store images before transferring them for processing or to their final destination.

The processing speed of this chip is exceptional, with a read speed of 268MB/s and a write speed of 233MB/s.

These factors make it eligible for handling video capture in 8K and 4k and continuous burst shooting with high-resolution Stills in both JPEG and raw formats.

Ultimately, you can summarise the SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II V90 as the memory card for handling shots taken in face-paced scenes like sports and bird-watching.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that this memory card is durable since it processes features like waterproofing, shock proofing, resistance to high and low temperatures, and immunity to X-rays.

In addition, it’s a consistent chip that functions when needed.

Pros:

• Perfect for fast-paced photography
• Resistant to the elements
• Large internal storage space

Cons:

• Relatively expensive

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3. Lexar Professional 633x UHS-I

Lexar is popular for producing the first customer 1TB memory card in 2019, which brought the company more publicity amongst photographers.

Thankfully, this technology business performs well upon analysis, especially with the 633X UHS-I.

The 633X UHS-I is relatively versatile, coming in storage ranges from 16GB to 1TB, making it suitable for handling a specific number of high-quality shots.

Essentially, it’s built for the casual photographer or the professional with precise demand for digital space.

However, unlike its size variation, the 633X UHS-I processing speed is considered slow compared to other camera memory cards.

You can expect excellent performance for regular shots but less for fast-paced videos and images.

Nevertheless, the Lexar Professional 633x UHS-I presents good value for your money since it’s suitable for recording up to 4K UHD video quality.

You can also expect this chip to last as it’s built for durability and resistance against the elements and pressure.

Pros:

• Can reach up to 1TB storage space
• Built for longevity

Cons:

• Larger storage space variations are expensive
• Processing power is relatively low

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4. Sony SF-G Series TOUGH UHS-II

Sony has always been at the forefront of digital and media innovations; therefore, seeing their memory card on this list is expected.

However, amongst their products, the Sony SF-G Series TOUGH UHS-II stands out due to the bold claims from the company and other photographers.

The memory card is branded as a rugged chip resistant to water, dust, grime, shock, and potentially damaging factors.

In addition, thanks to the unique Resin-moulded design, this SD card is 18x stronger than regular storage devices, thereby making it an excellent recommendation.

In terms of performance, the Sony SF-G Series TOUGH UHS-II remains impressive with a write speed of 299MB/s and a read speed of 300MB/s.

It also comes with 126GB of internal storage to maximize its potential.

While the Sony SF-G Series TOUGH UHS-II may be slightly more expensive than memory cards in this category, it remains a recommended option for professionals that desire consistency.

Pros:

• Resistance to the elements
• High processing power
• Large storage space

Cons:

• Relatively expensive

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5. Lexar Professional 1667x SDXC UHS-II

Last on this list is another Lexar product, the Lexar Professional 1667x SDXC UHS-II.

The smallest version of this camera memory card is 64GB, ideal for professionals requiring large storage space to accommodate multiple shots.

This might be the best memory card for professional photographers.

Its processing power is impressive, with a read speed of 254MB/s and a writes speed of 120MB/s, meaning the 1667x can handle video recording up to 4K with zero complications.

In addition, while it may not handle fast-paced photography, it functions excellently at taking high-resolution images.

Like other options on this list, the Lexar Professional 1667x SDXC UHS-II is durable, can operate in different conditions, and is resistant to the elements.

Pros:

• 64GB to 254 GB storage space variations
• Resistant to the elements
• Fast processing speed 1667x

Cons:

• Cannot handle beyond 4K videos

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Conclusion

Choosing one of these best memory cards for photographers may seem like a decision based only on the storage space; however, it also depends on processing speed and durability.

If you wish to take fast-paced shots or images in extremely unfriendly locations, you’ll need to consider the read and write speed, as well as its resistance to the elements.

Don’t forget that no memory card is safe from becoming corrupt. Make sure you always back up your photos to cloud storage!

Get out there and get shooting!

Chosen your memory card and ready to take some great snaps? Now it’s time to focus on editing your photos!

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