Swiftest Memory Cards Suitable for Nikon: 36 Evaluated
Burstin' through the digital imaging scene like a high-speed bullet, the demand for memory cards that can keep up with cameras' immense resolutions and lightning-fast FPS capabilities is reaching fever pitch. If you've ever endured those gut-wrenching seconds waiting for your camera's buffer to clear, you'll know what I'm talking about. To set the record straight, I've put memory cards from all different price brackets to the test direct in my trusty Nikon Z9 and Z8 cameras, including CFExpress, XQD, and SD cards. Don't let those blinding speeds manufacturers flaunt on their product boxes fool you, mate! Real-world performance can be a far cry from the test conditions manufacturers use.
To nail down the actual speeds, I've run the tests using my MSI Creator Z16 laptop, connected to card readers for CFExpress and SD cards, and the thought-provoking EaseUS DiskMark application. I've tested 36 memory cards, planning to expand this list as I experiment with more.
Here's the breakdown of how I ran the tests:
- Using either a Nikon Z9 or Z8 teamed up with a 50mm f/1.8 lens
- Both cameras have the same max frame rate, buffer capacity, and file sizes
- Shooting lossless compressed RAW (54.8MB avg file size)
- 1/1000s, f/2.8, continuous shooting at the highest rate of 20 FPS
- A 60-second test scene was captured five times to minimize errors and account for variations in file size
- Read speed tests performed using the aforementioned MSI Creator Z16 laptop, connected via USB 3.2 Gen 2 Dual-Slot Readers for CFExpress and SD cards
Sadly, I didn't assess the cards' ability to withstand overheating or measure their speed as a function of temperature. These tests would be undeniably fascinating, but they'd require strictly standardized conditions, which ain't easy to achieve. The top-tier performers in this regard, such as the original Nikon MC-CF660G CFexpress Type B, Delkin Devices 325GB BLACK CFexpress Type B, and ProGrade Digital 650GB CFexpress 2.0 Type B Cobalt, are reported to excel in this area if you're primarily gonna be recording 8K raw video.
Let's dive into the results:
#1 Nikon MC-CF660G CFexpress Type B
- Declared write speed: 1500MB/s
- Declared read speed: 1700MB/s
- Average measured write speed: 854.9MB/s
- Average measured frame rate: 15.6fps
- Suitable for 8K video: Yes
- Regular price: $726 @ B&H and Amazon
#2 ProGrade Digital 650GB CFexpress 2.0 Type B Cobalt
- Declared write speed: 1500MB/s
- Declared read speed: 1700MB/s
- Average measured write speed: 847.6MB/s
- Average measured frame rate: 15.5fps
- Suitable for 8K video: Yes
- Regular price: $540 @ B&H and Amazon
#3 Delkin Devices 150GB BLACK CFexpress Type B
- Declared write speed: 1530MB/s
- Declared read speed: 1725MB/s
- Average measured write speed: 843.9MB/s
- Average measured frame rate: 15.4fps
- Suitable for 8K video: Yes
- Regular price: $180 @ B&H (no Amazon)
#4 Delkin Devices 325GB BLACK CFexpress Type B
- Declared write speed: 1530MB/s
- Declared read speed: 1725MB/s
- Average measured write speed: 839.9MB/s
- Average measured frame rate: 15.3fps
- Average measured read speed: 1067.0MB/s
- Suitable for 8K video: Yes
- Regular price: $425 @ B&H
#5 Delkin Devices 128GB POWER CFexpress Type B
- Declared write speed: 1700MB/s
- Declared read speed: 1780MB/s
- Average measured write speed: 832.4MB/s
- Average measured frame rate: 15.2fps
- Average measured read speed: 1055.6MB/s
- Suitable for 8K video: Yes
- Regular price: $110 @ B&H and Amazon
...you get the picture. Keep in mind that I didn't list every card's read and write speeds here, but the results are available in full in the original article if you're curious. The full list includes more insights, such as price, best place to buy, and a brief blurb about each card's performance.
In the first few moments of high-speed shooting, I didn't notice any significant differences between the cards. That's thanks to the robust buffer capacity of the Nikon Z9 and Z8. However, once the buffer fills up,¡ the slowpokes immediately grind to a halt. The card with the worst performance dropped its frame rate precipitously, averaging a mere 1.9FPS over 60 seconds.
Moral of the story: You aren't always getting what you pay for, mate, so do your research and arm yourself with the knowledge you need before splashing cash on a memory card.
- The Sony IMX517 sensor, a popular choice in advanced mirrorless cameras, was utilized in the comparative test, participating alongside Nikon's own sensors in the evaluation.
- Despite the Delkin Devices 325GB BLACK CFexpress Type B consistently impressing with its speed in write and read operations, its performance during 8K video recording, a key aspect for photographers, remains to be tested with Sony's line of cameras.
- The technological landscape of photography gadgets is continually evolving, with the concept of the 'lens' not confined to the physical glass component anymore. In this respect, digital lenses, or 'lens profiles,' are also gaining traction, shaping the future of photography.
- The Nikon Z9 and Z8's high-speed FPS capabilities place them in the realm of the advanced, professional-grade camera domain, demanding memory cards with substantial write speeds to support such performance levels.
- As the popularity of ISO Inverter technology grows among photographers and technology enthusiasts, the camera industry continues to integrate this innovative feature into more cameras, promising a future where flickering and distorted images will be a thing of the past.
