Last updated on February 8th, 2024
Figuring out which is the best SD card for photography may not be so simple to most photographers and videographers. First of all, there are many requirements that make sense to buy a memory card. A few things to take into account include read speed, write speed, capacity, durability and the quality and ability to last years.
Let’s go over which SD memory cards you should buy, which brands are best, and the overall best SD cards for photography:
Best SD Card for Photography Overall Winner
Lexar Professional 2000X 64GB SDXC Uhs-II Card
Our overall best SD card for photography is the Lexar Professional 2000X 64GB SDXC Uhs-II card, this highspeed sd card which allows for quickly capturing as well as transferring high-quality photographs. And with 1080p full HD, 3D, and 4K video, as well as a transfer speed up to 2000x (or 300MB/s), this SD card is great for powering through post-production with high speeds.
With a high-speed performance that leverages UHS-II technology (U3), you’ll get super-fast transfer speed, up to 300MB per second. This is a top SD card for photography because of its SD UHS-II reader for high-speed file transfer and capturing high-quality images at 1080p full HD. And along with that, the card is backward compatible with UHS I devices. Check out our best sd card readers.
Customers love the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II SD card because it is fast and measures up super close to its advertised 300MB/s read speed. No wonder why this SD card falls on our list as the best SD card for photography.
Best Budget SD Card for Photography
SanDisk Ultra 32GB Class 10 SDHC UHS-I Memory Card up to 80MB/s
Our budget pick for the best SD card for photography is the SanDisk Ultra 32GB Class 10 SDHC UHS-I Memory Card. Supporting up to 80MB per second, this memory card is perfect for compact even to mid-range point and shoot cameras and video cameras.
This SD card is over twice as fast as your conventional SD cards, which makes it perfect for taking photographs and transferring files too. With Class 10 rating for Full HD 1080p video, the SanDisk Ultra provides amazing video recording performance.
Transfer speeds are quick at up to 80MB per second. The card is also waterproof, x-ray proof, temperature proof, shockproof, and magnet proof. And with a ten-year limited warranty, you know that the SanDisk is going to last. Along with that, this SD card is compatible with SDHC enabled, and SDHC, I/SDXC I UHS enabled cameras.
Amazing picture and video is only one memory card away with this best SD card for photography. Customers love how they can rely not only on the card itself, but also on the brand, SanDisk. Customers who bought this best SD card for photography know they won’t be missing out in the future because of this card.
Best SD Card for Photography Runner Up
SanDisk Extreme PRO SD UHS-II Card
Our runner up for the best SD card for photography is the SanDisk Extreme PRO SD UHS-II, a memory card designed for professionals in mind. With up to 300MB per second reading and 260MB per second writing speed, you will attain 4K quality video and Full HD video that is cinema quality.
This memory card is shockproof, temperature proof, waterproof, and x-ray proof, so you know it will be in safe hands while in transport and while in extreme environments. Also, there is data recovery software that comes available with a download.
Learn the best ways to back up for photos here
Customers love this best SD card for photography because it does the job and does it well. SanDisk is a trusted brand, so customers know they are getting quality out of their SD card when they purchase it. And if anything happens to this SD card, you can mail it in, and get a new one, no questions asked. This memory card lives up to its hype and that’s what solidifies its spot on best SD cards for photography.
Best SD Card for Photography Under $50
Lexar Professional 1667X 128GB SDXC Uhs-II/U3 Card
Our under $50 best SD card for photography is the affordable Lexar Professional 1667X 128GB SDXC Uhs-II/U3 card. With this card, you get high-speed performance from the UHS-II technology (U3). Transfer speed goes up to 1667x or 250MB per second.
Capture the highest quality images and extending 1080p Full-HD, 3D, and 4K video. There are even large capacity options at up to 256GB, which means you can shoot longer without having to change cards. And high-speed file transfer to the computer means an accelerated workflow. Also, it’s backward compatible with UHS-I devices as well as backed by limited lifetime support.
Customers, like elopement photographer love this best SD card for photography with its ability to work great and be a true bargain yet an excellent performer at that.
Best SD Card for Photography Under $25
SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card
Our under $25 pick for the best SD card for photography is the SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I card. With shot speeds at up to 90MB per second and transfer speeds at up to 170MB per second, this card is capable of doing a lot for not much.
This memory card is excellent at shooting 4K UDH video and burst mode photography. You can also capture uninterrupted video with UHS speed class 3 and video speed class 30 with enabled devices. The SD card comes with a rescue PRO deluxe 2 data recovery software download as well.
The SD card also is built as well as tested in different environmental conditions. The card itself is capable of harsh conditions and is temperature proof, shockproof, waterproof, and x-ray proof. Along with that, there is a limited lifetime manufacturer warranty.
Customers love this SD card for the good results and performance of the brand and card itself. We chose this best SD card for photography for the name it lives up to and the budget price tag it comes with.
Honorable Mentions:
Prograde SD Card V90 (64GB)
It would go without saying that the Prograde SD card V90 (64GB) deserves to be on the list of best SD cards for photography. Why? Well, the 250MB per second write speed instantly saves high-res recordings on your devices. No more waiting time here. With read speeds of 300MB per second, get your work uploaded to your computer in mere seconds.
The Prograde SD card V90 is laser-etched with serial numbers forged in a premium ProGrade Lab, which guarantees to keep counterfeiters at bay. They also inspect each memory card before shipping out to make sure it’s authentic.
This memory card even has advanced Recovery Pro Software, so you never have to worry about your photos being corrupted or losing photos or videos again.
Customers love this best SD card for photography because they don’t encounter errors or issues, and they perform as to be expected. Customers never have to worry about how well the card will hold up, which makes it worth being an honorable mention on our list of best SD cards for photography.
PNY Elite Performance 32 GB High-Speed SDHC Class 10 UHS-I
Next on our honorable mention list of best SD cards for photography is the PNY Elite Performance 32 GB High-Speed SDHC Class 10 UHS-I. With up to 95 MB per second speed, get the high-performance and ultimate transfer rates for DSLR cameras and video cameras.
With multiple frames per second including full HD video capture, fast speed performance means minimizing the time that it takes to transfer photos and video to your computer. It stores as many as 10,826 photos, which means you will be able to shoot more with fewer downloads.
This SD card is shock-proof, magnet proof, temperature proof, waterproof, and compatible with SDHC and SDXC devices.
Customers love this best SD card for photography because of its ability to extensively shoot 4K videos. Customers also expect the excellent performance of this SD card, which makes it a best SD card for photography.
SanDisk 64GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card – 100MB/s
Our next honorable mention is the SanDisk 64GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I memory card. For fast and better pictures and Full HD video, this 100MB per second memory card is top-notch for our list of best SD cards for photography.
This card, in particular, is an excellent choice for compact to mid-range point-and-shoot cameras. Also, this memory card ranges from 32GB to 256GB in order to store lots of pictures and Full HD videos.
Get exceptional video recording performance with UHS Speed Class and with Class 10 rating for Full HD video. There’s also a designated performance option that supports real-time video recording compatible with UHS-enabled host devices.
Get highly fast transfer speeds at up to 100MB per second read speed and write speed (dependent on the host device). And, with a ten-year manufacturer warranty, you are covered.
Customers love these SanDisk best SD cards for photography because they are always so reliable. With hundreds of used, these SD cards hold up great.
Lexar Professional (LSD64GCBNA1667) 1667X 64GB SDXC Uhs-II/U3
The Lexar Professional is next as honorable mention on our best SD cards for photography with high-speed performance including UHS-II technology (U3) with a read transfer speed of up to 250MB per second.
This memory card also captures high-quality images with extended lengths of 1080P full-HD, 3D, and 4K video when using s DSLR camera, HD video recorder, or even a 3D camera. And large capacity options include up to 256GB, which lets you enjoy shooting longer without having to change cards.
Enjoy high-speed transfers when going card to computer, which accelerates workflow greatly. It’s also backward compatible with UHS-I devices and includes a limited lifetime product support guarantee.
Customers love with this best SD card for photography because they can record many 4K recordings at 60mps, depending on the device. Customers also love that they can get this memory card at such a bargain being so high quality.
Sony TOUGH-G series SDXC UHS-II Card 64GB
The Sony TOUGH-G series SDXC UHS-II Card is another honorable mention on our list as being one of the world’s finest constructed SD cards. With high-hardness materials, you get the highest levels of bend strength with this card, which is over eighteen times higher than standard SD cards.
This SD card is ribless, which includes a no write protection switch design. And the fast file transfer at up to 300MB per second and 299MB per second write speed three is top-notch. Being UHS-II Class 10, U3 compliant, you get fast writing speed for excellent 4K recording and burst mode continuous shooting.
Customers love this best SD card for photography because it’s durable and perfect for pros shooting in the harshest conditions. Customers never have to worry about breaking their SD card as this is one tough card.
Common SD Card Questions Answered
UHS-I vs UHS-II
So, what’s the difference between UHS-I and UHS-II memory cards? The difference is in the speed as UHS-II cards are faster when it comes to read and write speeds. They’re mainly made for videographers, especially those who must write and back up large amounts of data.
Now, UHS-I cards are slower, however, they’re much more affordable to buy for the average photographer. Still-shooters get a lot out of UHS-I cards because they don’t need the high speeds that UHS-II cards afford.
SD Card Classes and UHS ratings
It’s not too complicated to figure out what Class and UHS ratings are. Well, first, there are three main types of Speed Classes: UHS Speed Class, Speed Class, and Video Speed Class.
These Class and UHS ratings are often hard to record. First, there must be a constant writing speed. Though all these speed classes are constant, which is necessary for video recording, they designate a minimum writing performance, which means minimum and constant speed are achieved.
| Speed Class | Min. Seq. Writes | UHS Speed Class | Video Speed Class | Ideal Workload |
| Class 2 (C2) | 2MB/s | SD recording and playback | ||
| Class 4 (C4) | 4MB/s | 720p/1080p video | ||
| Class 6 (C6) | 6MB/s | Video Class 6 (V6) | 720p/1080p, some 4K video | |
| Class 10 (C10) | 10MB/s | UHS Class 1 (U1) | Video Class 10 (V10) | 720p/1080p/4K video |
| 30MB/s | UHS Class 3 (U3) | Video Class 30 (V30) | 1080p/4K video @ 60/120fps | |
| 60MB/s | Video Class 60 (V60) | 8K video @ 60/120fps | ||
| 90MB/s | Video Class 90 (V90) | 8K video @ 60/120fps |
SDHC vs SDXC
What’s the difference between SDHC and SDXC? Well, they are based on their capacities. The difference is that SDHC means SD High Capacity. Then, SDXC means SD Xtended Capacity. While SDHC cards come in capacities anywhere between 4GB and 32GB, that means SDXC cards come in sizes between 32GB or higher, which the potential maximum being 2TB.
How Long Do SD Cards Last?
It’s pretty common for photographers and videographers to wonder how long SD cards last. The simple answer is that most memory cards have the ability to last for 5 years or even more. There are memory cards, however, that may be more reliable between a few weeks of use and up to 2 years of use.
