The intense decision of right this moment’s cameras, coupled with their skill to seize excessive FPS pictures and as much as 8K video, locations enormous calls for on the pace of reminiscence playing cards. In case you’ve ever needed to wait dozens of painful seconds for the buffer to empty, you’ll know what I’m speaking about. Because of this, I examined reminiscence playing cards from totally different elements of the value spectrum immediately in Nikon cameras – together with CFExpress, XQD, and SD playing cards – to indicate you which of them are the quickest.
Reminiscence card producers know the way essential pace is, which is why they proudly proclaim the learn and write speeds glowing in gold lettering on the field. In a perfect world, these numbers would make for the proper shopping for information. However we reside in the true world, the place the knowledge written on the field doesn’t all the time imply very a lot.
Are producers attempting to misinform us? I want to suppose not. Nevertheless, their check situations are removed from the true world. That’s why I made a decision to seek out out the sensible learn and write speeds for myself.
For now, I’ve examined the 36 reminiscence playing cards under. I’ll increase this real-life pace rating each time I take advantage of a brand new reminiscence card sooner or later.
How I Examined
I carried out the assessments under utilizing a Nikon Z9 or Nikon Z8 coupled with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. Each cameras have the identical most body charge, the identical buffer capability, and the identical file sizes. The benefit of the Z8 is that it additionally means that you can check SD playing cards. I set lossless compressed RAW (common file dimension 54.8MB), 1/1000s, f/2.8, and steady taking pictures on the highest charge of 20 FPS. I shot the check scene for 60 seconds. This was repeated for 5 totally different check scenes to reduce the measurement error and the impact of the scene on the file dimension.
To measure learn pace, I used my MSI Creator Z16 laptop computer (Intel Core i9, Geforce RTX 3060, USB3.2 Gen2 ports). For the connection between the cardboard and the laptop computer, I used Exascend USB 3.2 Gen 2 Twin-Slot Readers (CFExpress B and SD playing cards) and Lexar Skilled XQD 2.0 USB 3.0. For testing I used the EaseUS DiskMark utility. Once more, I took 5 measurements after which averaged the outcomes.
I didn’t check the playing cards’ skill to withstand overheating, nor did I measure their pace as a perform of temperature. This measurement will surely be very attention-grabbing, however would require strictly standardized situations, which aren’t simple to attain. The unique Nikon MC-CF660G CFexpress Kind B, the Delkin Units 325GB BLACK CFexpress Kind B or the ProGrade Digital 650GB CFexpress 2.0 Kind B Cobalt playing cards are reported to present superb outcomes on this respect. So, for those who plan to make use of the cardboard primarily for 8K uncooked video recording, it is best to contemplate this characteristic as properly, along with pace.
The Outcomes
Within the first few seconds of high-FPS taking pictures, I didn’t discover any vital variations between the totally different playing cards. That is as a result of comparatively deep buffer of the Nikon Z9 and Z8. Nevertheless, as soon as the buffer is full, the variations turn into obvious, because the slowest playing cards instantly grind to a halt. On the worst card I examined, the body charge after the primary few seconds dropped precipitously, and the typical pace over 60 seconds was a mere 1.9 FPS.
With that, let’s get into the assessments.
#1 Nikon MC-CF660G CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1500 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1700 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 854.9 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 15.6 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $726
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#2 ProGrade Digital 650GB CFexpress 2.0 Kind B Cobalt
Declared write pace: 1500 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1700 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 847.6 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 15.5 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $540
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#3 Delkin Units 150GB BLACK CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1530 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1725 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 843.9 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 15.4 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $180
The place to purchase: B&H
#4 Delkin Units 325GB BLACK CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1530 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1725 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 839.9 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 15.3 fps
Common measured learn pace: 1067.0 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $425
The place to purchase: B&H
#5 Delkin Units 128GB POWER CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1700 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1780 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 832.4 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 15.2 fps
Common measured learn pace: 1055.6 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $110
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#6 Delkin Units 256GB BLACK CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1400 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1645 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 831.0 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 15.2 fps
Common measured learn pace: 821.3 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $_ _
The place to purchase: No Longer Obtainable
#7 Exascend Important CFexpress B 1TB
Declared write pace: 1700 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1800 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 805.6 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 14.8 fps
Common measured learn pace: Not measured (to be added)
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $469
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#8 ProGrade Digital 325GB CFexpress 2.0 Kind B
Declared write pace: 1500 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1700 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 804.3 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 14.7 fps
Common measured learn pace: 1033.2 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $450
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#9 Lexar 256GB Skilled CFexpress Kind B Card DIAMOND Collection
Declared write pace: 1700 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1900 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 795.2 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 14.5 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $296
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#10 Delkin Units 325GB BLACK G4 CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1700 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1800 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 804.3 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 14.7 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $280
The place to purchase: B&H
#11 ProGrade Digital 512GB CFexpress 4.0 Kind B Gold
Declared write pace: 2400 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 3400 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 762.6 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 13.9 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $180
The place to purchase: B&H
#12 Nextorage 165GB NX-B1PRO Collection CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1900 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1950 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 759.3 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 13.9 fps
Common measured learn pace: 1034.7 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $170
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#13 Clever Superior 1TB CFX-B Collection Mark II CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1550 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1700 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 748.9 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 13.7 fps
Common measured learn pace: 600.8 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $400
The place to purchase: B&H.
#14 Delkin Units 128GB POWER G4 CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1700 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1780 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 719.4 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 13.1 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $110
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#15 Angelbird 512GB AV PRO
Declared write pace: 850 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1785 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 690.7 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 12.6 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $130
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#16 Exascend 1TB VIGOR
Declared write pace: 1700 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1800 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 676.2 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 12.3 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $469
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#17 Clever Superior 512GB CFX-B Collection Mark II CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1550 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1700 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 619.2 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 11.3 fps
Common measured learn pace: 603.2 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $200
The place to purchase: B&H.
#18 Lexar 128GB Skilled CFexpress Kind B Card GOLD Collection
Declared write pace: 1500 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1750 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 618.6 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 11.3 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $90
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#19 Nextorage 512GB NX-B2SE Collection CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1900 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1950 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 581.5 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 10.6 fps
Common measured learn pace: 1034.2 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $175
The place to purchase: Adorama and Amazon.
#20 Sony 128GB CFexpress Kind B TOUGH
Declared write pace: 1480 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1700 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 548.9 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 10 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: from $109 (used) or $168 (new)
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#21 Lexar 256GB Skilled CFexpress Kind B Card SILVER Collection
Declared write pace: 1300 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1750 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 511.8 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 9.3 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $140
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#22 SanDisk 128GB Excessive PRO CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1200 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1700 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 427.6 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 7.8 fps
Common measured learn pace: 1064.2 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $110
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#23 Sony 64GB G Collection XQD
Declared write pace: 400 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 440 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 355.1 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 6.5 fps
Common measured learn pace: 355.5 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $90
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#24 Nikon XQD 64GB
Declared write pace: 400 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 440 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 352.7 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 6.4 fps
Common measured learn pace: 402 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $160
The place to purchase: Amazon.
#25 Lexar XQD 32GB 2933x Skilled
Declared write pace: 400 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 440 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 351.1 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 6.4 fps
Common measured learn pace: 361.3 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $_ _
The place to purchase: No Longer Obtainable
#26 Delkin Units 256GB POWER CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1700 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1780 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 351.0 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 6.4 fps
Common measured learn pace: 473.9 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: Sure
Common worth: $135
The place to purchase: B&H.
#27 Nextorage 128GB NX-F2PRO Collection UHS-II SDXC
Declared write pace: 299 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 300 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 252.1 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 4.6 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $110
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#28 ProGrade Digital 256GB UHS-II SDXC
Declared write pace: 250 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 300 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 242.3 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 4.4 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $202.5
The place to purchase: B&H
#29 ProGrade Digital 128GB UHS-II SDXC
Declared write pace: 250 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 300 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 239.3 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 4.4 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $109
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#30 Sony 64GB SF-G TOUGH Collection UHS-II SDXC
Declared write pace: 299 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 300 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 236.4 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 4.3 fps
Common measured learn pace: 94.3 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $100
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#31 SanDisk 64GB Excessive PRO UHS-II SDXC
Declared write pace: 260 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 300 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 222.5 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 4.1 fps
Common measured learn pace: 94.5 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $65
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#32 ProGrade Digital 128GB CFexpress 2.0 Kind B Gold
Declared write pace: 1400 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1700 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 202.5 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 3.7 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $100
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#33 OWC 128GB Atlas Professional CFexpress Kind B
Declared write pace: 1400 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 1700 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 198.5 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 3.6 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $_ _
The place to purchase: No Longer Obtainable
#34 SanDisk 64GB Excessive PRO SDXC UHS-I (95MB/s)
Declared write pace: 90 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 95 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 108.1 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 2.0 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $34.5
The place to purchase: Amazon.
#35 SanDisk 64GB Excessive PRO UHS-I SDXC
Declared write pace: 90 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 200 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 106.5 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 1.9 fps
Common measured learn pace: 95.6 MB/s
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $13.49
The place to purchase: B&H and Amazon.
#36 SanDisk 32GB Excessive PRO SDXC UHS-I (95MB/s)
Declared write pace: 90 MB/s
Declared learn pace: 95 MB/s
Common measured write pace: 102.3 MB/s
Common measured body charge: 1.9 fps
Appropriate for 8K video: No
Common worth: $16
The place to purchase: Amazon.
Evaluation
What stood out to me was the dramatic distinction between CFExpress Kind B, XQD, and SD playing cards. Certainly, CFExpress Kind B playing cards are the pace champions in comparison with the opposite card varieties. On the similar time, it seems that even on this class, it pays to decide on rigorously. Whereas the perfect of the playing cards averaged round 15 FPS at 60 seconds of high-speed taking pictures, there have been a number of outliers whose pace was shockingly gradual.
Specifically, the OWC 128GB Atlas Professional CFexpress Kind B and ProGrade Digital 128GB CFexpress 2.0 Kind B Gold playing cards had been far behind the XQD playing cards and even all SDXC UHS-II playing cards (clocking in at round 3.7 FPS). For the same worth, you should purchase, for instance, the greater than 4 instances sooner Delkin Units 128GB POWER CFexpress Kind B. And consider me, you’ll be able to actually really feel the pace distinction. The SanDisk 128GB Excessive PRO CFexpress Kind B card was additionally far behind expectations – although nonetheless higher than these different two – with a pace of seven.8 FPS.
I used to be stunned by the inconsistency of card speeds inside a single mannequin collection. For instance, whereas the Delkin Units 128GB POWER CFexpress Kind B (earlier technology) was one of many absolute high performers, its 256GB sibling was a whole flop within the check. This specific card additionally failed me for good after I was taking pictures in Ecuador. So, as in life, I like to recommend not placing all of your eggs in a single basket.
A really attention-grabbing consequence was achieved by probably the quickest card within the check, the ProGrade Digital 512GB CFexpress 4.0 Kind B Gold. It’s the just one within the check that already runs on the brand new CFexpress 4.0 commonplace. Sadly, not one of the cameras available on the market right this moment can make the most of the blazing speeds it guarantees as a result of they lack CFexpress 4.0 assist. Its results of 13.9 FPS on the Nikon Z9 is definitely under common amongst related playing cards (rating tenth place among the many playing cards examined right here). Nevertheless, the value/efficiency ratio is superb, and with a appropriate reader, you get a future-proof card that means that you can take pleasure in quick switch speeds right this moment.
If I needed to decide a winner within the worth/efficiency class, it might be the latest addition to our check, the Austrian Angelbird 512GB AV PRO reminiscence card. The producer modestly states sustained write pace of 800 MB/s, however don’t let that discourage you. For $130, you get a card that averaged a stable 12.6 FPS (690.7 MB/s) in my assessments. From me, this additionally earns Angelbird a particular award for truthfulness – virtually all the opposite playing cards I examined fared worse than this relative to their lofty claims.
The XQD playing cards hovered round 6.4 FPS. I might not advocate shopping for them right this moment as a result of unfavorable worth/efficiency ratio. The one purpose to purchase them is you probably have a digital camera that doesn’t assist CFExpress Kind B playing cards, such because the Nikon D4. In the meantime, the UHS-II SD playing cards had been about 4.2 FPS, whereas the UHS-I playing cards I examined achieved a mere 2 FPS or much less. Nevertheless, UHS-I playing cards could be bought very cheaply, so if pace isn’t a precedence, this can be the way in which to go.
Because the vary of playing cards utilized in Nikon cameras has expanded with the Zf to incorporate microSD, I’ll be increasing our check to incorporate them quickly. Let me know what playing cards you desire to me to check subsequent!