Of course, not all memory cards are created equal. They come in different shapes and formats. They come in different sizes, AKA storage capacity. Also, of course, there are different brand names, as well as different transfer speeds and physical durability. Put all this together, and it can be intimidating to consider how it’s actually the memory card, and not your camera or lens, that is the final “point of (potential) failure” in capturing your photos!

When it comes to choosing which is the best memory card for photographers, it’s worth noting that the answer will change based on each photographer’s needs. Specifically, of course, what camera do you own, but also, what do you photograph?  With that in mind, here’s our guide to help you find the best memory cards for you.

Understanding Different Types of Memory Cards

If you’re new to photography, you should notice early on that your camera does clearly label which type or types of memory cards it can accept. There should be a basic label on the camera itself, plus the user manual will go into greater detail about memory card compatibility.

Some cameras only take one SD card, or two SD cards at once, while others may only take XQD, CFexpress, or other memory cards. Some cameras with dual card slots can use multiple memory card formats at once, such as SD and CFexpress.

What you still must figure out, however, is which version of the card that your camera uses is the best memory card to serve your needs. We intend to help you in both areas. Below, we’ll break down different memory card types and look at the strengths and weaknesses of each before sharing our picks for the best memory cards.

SD Memory Cards

Professional photographers and hobbyists alike use SD (Secure Digital) format memory cards. However, the specific acronym, “SD”, is actually outdated, as you’ll see next. It is important to remember this because you do not simply want to buy any SD card; you need to look for specific types. (Read on!)

SDHC Memory Cards

Again, SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards are an older type in the SD family. They were/are ideal for casual and aspiring photographers; more than good enough for everyday use. However, SDHC only comes in 8-32GB capacities, and we usually recommend 32-64GB as a bare minimum for most photographers who have a camera with 24 megapixels or more. So, once gain, read on!

SDXC Memory Cards

SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity) is the current generation of the SD card format. SDXC comes with 64GB and higher capacity, as well as significantly greater speeds.

So, when a fellow photographer asks you, “Hey, can I borrow an SD card?” …they probably mean SDXC. However, again,  when shopping for memory cards, double check to make sure it says SDXC!

The SDXC memory card format is perfect for photographers and videographers of all types, from beginners to professionals. Even if your camera has 40+ megapixels, or captures 4K video, an SDXC memory card should be fine. Unfortunately, there is one more caveat, so read on…

SD Memory Card Speeds | UHS-I, UHS-II, V30, V90, U1, U3, …and more!

Now, this is where shopping for SD(XC) memory cards can get truly confusing and frustrating. Unfortunately, there are multiple ways in which SD card speed is measured/labeled.

First, there is what is called a “Speed Class” rating. As before, many of the slower, older speed classes are either discontinued and/or irrelevant to modern cameras, so we’ll skip right over the oldest speed ratings, and talk about UHS-I and UHS-II. (UHS stands for Ultra-High Speed)

Start by looking for SD cards with a “U3” rating. By comparison, a “U1” would be practically unusable on modern high-megapixel cameras, because it only guarantees a  transfer speed of 10 MB/s, and cameras these days can capture 50-75+ MB raw files at 10+ frames pre second. Yikes!

So, “U3” SD cards with a UHS-I and UHS-II speed rating are the bare minimum for most photographers. UHS-I should be fast enough for casual photographers, even with high-megapixel cameras. They usually reach up to 200 MB/s read speed, which is very respectable. Professionals or anyone who photographs fast action will likely want UHS-II, which we’ll get to in a minute.

Memory Card Read Speed VS Write Speed

It is important to insert this caveat now: memory cards have two different speed ratings: read speed and write speed! You may see “200 MB/s” displayed prominently on a memory card or packaging, but that could only be its read speed, which is the speed you get when transferring photos to your computer. The write speed, which is how fast your camera can save photos to the memory card, might be a LOT slower, unfortunately! So, always read the fine print when shopping for SD memory cards, and check both the read and write speeds. These days, most all photographers will want an SDXC UHS-I or UHS-II card that reaches 200-300 MB/s transfer speeds.

UHS-II SD Cards

Photographers who do a lot of high-speed or near-constant shutter clicking, (or high-quality 4K video) will want to shop exclusively for UHS-II SD cards. The best ones can offer not just 300 MB/s read speed, but also an impressive 299 MB/s write speed. (Impressive for SD, that is…)

Unfortunately, as if that wasn’t complicated enough, there is one more thing: a video-centric speed rating: “V30” or “V60”. Thankfully, this “V” rating is a bit more straightforward: V30 means a minimum of 30 MB/s write speed. V90, for example, means a minimum write speed of 90 MB/s.

Memory Card “X” Speed Ratings

A few memory card brands, (mostly Lexar) still also use yet another unhelpful speed rating, such as “1667X” or “1800X”. Unfortunately, these numbers don’t mean much, and again they may only denote a read speed, not a write speed. Therefore, we recommend ignoring these numbers completely; just look closely for the read & write speeds.

[Related: Memory Card Backup Tips For Surviving An Apocalypse]

microSDHC and microSDXC

The microSDHC and microSDXC formats are perfect for camera phones and action cameras, but we don’t generally recommend them for professional cameras because you’ll be relying on a (cheap plastic) adapter to write and read every single one of your photos.

Outdated: CompactFlash Memory Cards

Another card format that is becoming rarer because of upgraded versions is the CompactFlash. Before, this memory card format was common for almost all high-end DSLRs. However, the capacities and speed of SDHC and SDXC have made CF an outdated memory card format.

Outdated: CFast Cards Memory Cards

Don’t be fooled! The CFast memory cards are not compatible with the Compact Flash format, despite sporting the same structure and size. The CFast cards are known for being significantly higher speed than CF, however, both are now relatively obsolete. If you own a slightly older camera that uses CFast cards, or are considering buying one, you’ll want to keep this in mind.

XQD Cards

These memory card formats are limited only to some Nikon DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and Sony camcorders. At this point, camera manufacturers are not leaning toward this format, because CFexpress cards supersede it. But, XQD Cards are known for impressive performance for video recording and high-speed photography.

CFexpress Cards

For a high-speed, professional memory card, the current industry standard is CFexpress. Unfortunately, this memory card format is only available for selected high-end cameras such as the Sony A1, Nikon Z9, and Canon R3, plus a few others.

CFexpress cards come in two types: Type A and Type B. These two types are not interchangeable, and a camera that allows only a Type A card cannot operate with a Type B format, or vice versa.

CFexpress type A memory cards are unique in that they are physically similar to SD cards, though not exactly. A few cameras can accept both SDXC and CFexpress type A; mainly Sony, plus some Canon, but not all. CFexpress type B memory cards, on the other hand, share physical dimensions and connection formats with XQD; so, some cameras are compatible with both. (Mainly Nikon)

With these two different versions of the same memory card, (by name at last) it is definitely important to pay very close attention to which type of CFexpress card you are buying, and making sure it is compatible with your camera. Having said that, virtually all CFexpress cards are blindingly fast, with transfer speeds measured (theoretically) in the 1000’s of MB/sec.

NOTE: CFexpress type A cards have a theoretical maximum speed of 1000 MB/sec, while CFexpress type B cards reach up to 2000 MB/sec. Both are adequate for almost all types of photography

Now that we established the differences, strengths, and weaknesses of each memory card format, it’s time to delve into our best selections. You’ll discover the best memory cards for every format in the rest of the article below.

[Related: How To Recover A Damaged or Corrupt Memory Card}

Best SD Memory Cards

First, let’s start with the best SD cards. This format is definitely the most ubiquitous, and unfortunately, has the most options that you’ll probably want to avoid. (Remember what we wrote about read speeds VS write speeds.

SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I & UHS-II

If you need a well-rounded choice that combines performance, fast transfer speeds, and ample storage, at an affordable price, this SanDisk Extreme Pro selection is perfect for your needs.  We recommend it as the minimum investment, (Sandisk also makes “Extreme” and “Ultra”; avoid them!)

The incredibly affordable UHS-I Sandisk Extreme Pro SDXC cards (starting at $15-30 for 64-128GB capacities, respectively) may be tempting, however, we strongly recommend the Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-II cards, for their significantly increased physical durability. (Click here to see a lot of broken SD cards!)

Although the UHS-II Sandisk card read speeds are similar, the significant increase in write speeds, plus the physical durability, are worth the price tag of $50-80 for 64-128GB cards.

Specifications:

• Card Type: SDXC UHS-II
• Storage capacity: 64GB to 1TB
• Read speeds: 200-300 MB/s
• Write speed: 90-260MB/s
• Ideal for: general & professional photography and video

[Related Reading: SanDisk Releases a 1TB Extreme Pro SDXC Memory Card]

ProGrade Digital 64GB-512GB UHS-II SDXC Memory Cards

ProGrade Digital is an all-professional memory card maker, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally buying an old, outdated, slow, or poor quality memory card. Their most affordable SD cards, the 128GB SDXC UHS-II, offers 250 MB/s read and 130 MB/s write, for $54 or just $98 for a 2-pack!

As a bonus for workflow compatibility, ProGrade Digital also makes high-speed memory card readers for your computer workflow, with 10 Gb/s USB3.2 (type-C) connections, as well as 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3. Last but not least, ProGrade has specialized software for both data recovery and checking the overall health of your memory card. Therefore, we recommend them for all professional photographers who might be at risk of reaching the standard 100,000-image read+write cycle lifespan of a memory card.

Specifications:

• Card Type: SDXC UHS-II
• Storage capacity: 64-512 GB
• Read speed: 250-300MB/s
• Write speed: 130-250 MB/s
• Ideal for: professional photographers who often shoot rapid-fire, high-volume, and high-resolution 8K and/or raw video.

Best CFexpress Memory Cards

For maximum speed, and of course professional reliability, we recommend these CFexpress Memory Cards.

SanDisk Extreme Pro CFExpress Card

Professional photographers looking for the best-performing CFExpress Type B memory card will do well with the SanDisk selection. It provides an astounding 1400MB/s to 1700MB/s read/write speeds, which only a few cards can keep up with.

Note that this class of CFexpress cards does have slightly varying speed ratings depending on the exact capacity. All of their speeds are more than enough for high-speed action photography and 8K/raw video, though.

Specifications:

• Card type: CFExpress Type B
• Storage capacity: Available in 64GB-1TB
• Read/Write speeds: Ranges from 800MB/s to 1700MB/s
• Ideal for: Professional photography & videograph

Lexar Professional CFExpress Type B Card

This memory card provides an excellent value option for professional photographers who need impressive performance without encountering any data issues. (Buffer clearing for stills, or video recording “skips”

The Lexar Professional memory card offers a remarkable read speed of 1750MB/s and a respectable (For CFexpress) write speed of 1000MB/s.

Specifications:

• Card type: CFExpress Type B Card
• Storage capacity: Ranges from 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB
• Read/Write speeds: 1000MB/s to 1700MB/s
• Ideal for: Professional photography

Sony Tough CFExpress Type A Memory Card

Since the main camera system using CFexpress Type A cards are Sony cameras, we strongly recommend Sony Tough cards. CFexpress Type A cards may be comparatively slower than Type B memory cards, however, they’re still multiple times faster than the fastest SDXC cards.

The Sony Tough CFexpress Type A memory cards provide an impressive 700-800MB/s speed that will carry you through almost any photography or videography session.

Specifications:

• Card Type: CFExpress Type A
• Storage capacity: 80-640GB
• Read/Write speeds: 700-00MB/s
• Ideal for: Professional photography/videography

Best CF Memory Cards

If you use a DSLR that accepts Compact Flash cards, here is our one and only recommendation; this is the tried-and-true memory card onto which we as a studio have recorded, no exaggeration, literally millions of photos:

SanDisk Extreme PRO CompactFlash

Because some cameras still utilize the CompactFlash format, choosing the best memory card that provides impeccable read/write speeds and storage capacity for your shooting needs is only fitting. The SanDisk Extreme PRO CompactFlash can sustain HD video capture and provide various storage capacities that suit your needs.

Specifications:

• Card Type: CompactFlash
• Storage capacity: Maximum of 256GB
• Read/Write speed: 150MB/s to 160MB/s
• Ideal for: Both photography and videography (4K raw videos)

Best microSD Memory Cards

Although we don’t recommend using them in professional cameras with an adapter, if you have a Gopro, Drone, or similar compact device, you’ll definitely want one of these…

Samsung Pro Endurance

Sticking true to its moniker, “Endurance,” this Samsung microSDXC memory card can store up to 43,000 hours of continuous video footage. It offers read/write speeds from 30MB/s to 100MB/s, which makes it a top-performing card.

Specifications:

• Card type: microSD (comes with an SD card adapter)
• Storage capacity: Up to 128GB
• Read/Write speed: 30MB/s to 100MB/s
• Ideal for: drones, GoPros, dashcams, home security cameras

Samsung EVO Plus microSDHC

Another budget option that provides peace of mind against damage or image loss is the Samsung EVO Plus microSDHC memory card. It comes with a standard SD adapter, so you can use it as storage for devices that only uses the SD card format, in a pinch.

This memory card provides a read/write speed from 30MB/s to 100MB/s, which is adequate for photography and filming on most phones. Additional security features include a 10-year limited warranty and hardening against damages.

Specifications:

• Card type: microSD (comes with an SD card adapter)
• Storage capacity: Available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB
• Read/Write speeds: 30MB/s to 100MB/s
• Ideal for: everyday photography (cellular/mobile phone storage, etc)

The Best Memory Cards – XQD

A select few cameras such as certain Nikon DSLRs and early mirrorless such as the Nikon Z7 & Nikon Z6 cameras accept XQD cards. For these cameras, here are our recommendations:

Sony Professional XQD G Series

This memory card is suitable for high-quality 4K video recording and high-framerate photo drive modes up to 10 FPS and 45 megapixels. It provides a whopping read/write speed of 400MB/s to 450MB/s.

Specifications:

• Card type: XQD version 2
• Storage capacity: Available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB
• Read/Write speeds: 400MB/s to 450MB/s
• Ideal for: High-speed action, 4K video

The Best Memory Cards – CFast

SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast 2.0

Commonly utilized for professional videography, the CFast memory card has one of the most limited usability because this card is only used for the Canon EOS 1-D X Mark II and Hasselblad H6D-100C. If you own one of these, then you’ll want a SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast memory card.

Specifications:

• Card type: CFast
• Storage Capacity: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• Read/Write speeds: 430MB/s to 525MB/s
• Ideal for: High-speed action and 4K videography

Conclusion | The Best Memory Card For Your Camera

Despite the overwhelming variety of memory cards available, your camera manufacturer will always be a reference point for which format to choose. You don’t have to get out your user manual every time you shop for a new memory card, though; just go by the guidelines outlined in this article, and the label on your memory card door.

Beyond that, the best memory cards for you as a photographer will depend on the genre of photography you shoot, as well as the frequency. Wedding photographers will potentially capture thousands of photos per week, for example, and will require more storage, faster speeds, and long-term durability. Most photographers, whether doing professional portraits or casual vacations or everyday photography, will get the best value out of owning just two (since everybody needs a backup, pro or not) …of whichever offers enough storage space and physical quality.

Knowing your own specific needs will give you criteria for your budget, storage capacity, and speed.  We hope that this list helps you with your search for the best memory cards. If you have a top pick that didn’t make a list, let us know in the comments below.

We all have our own ways of storing and sorting files, but the bottom line is we want to be sure our files are safe and secure for our clients. Because of this, we’ve created our list of the Best Memory Card Holders and Wallets for Photographers, updated annually. These lists are based on our personal experience as working photographers combined with extensive research from other reputable sources online.

If we missed anything, or if you have any recommendations on what we should consider for next year, please comment below!

Best Memory Card Holders & Wallets

Memory card cases, holders, and wallets all store your cards in a safe and efficient way, but many also come with additional features like labels, being waterproof, shock/impact proof, and dust proof! There are many options to choose from so we’re hoping this list helps make your choice a little easier.

Pelican 0915 Memory Card Case (Our Choice)

Our Winner for Best Memory Card Holder.

The Pelican 0915 Memory Card Case is one of the top sellers on B&H Photo & Amazon, and comes in on the top of many lists and personal recommendations among industry professionals, especially since it offers a shock and water resistant seal (IPX4 rating) to provide an extra level of protection for your precious cargo.

The case can hold 12 SD cards, 6 miniSD, and 6 microSD cards, meaning the only thing left out here would be the larger Compact Flash and QXD cards. At a price point averaging under $20 you can’t go wrong with the Pelican brand.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

• Amazon
• B&H

[REWIND: How To Recover A Corrupt or Damaged Memory Card]

Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket Series Card Carrier

Our 2nd Place Winner for Best Memory Card Case.

The Think Tank Card Wallets are available in a few different variations for different card types, (SD / CF), but our preference leans towards the CF version as it can still hold smaller card types like SD and micro versions, while also being capable to squeeze in the new QXD format cards in a pinch, giving you a little more flexibility in your shooting style.

I’ve had one of these wallets since I picked up my first Think Tank bag almost a decade ago and I still carry it with me on nearly every shoot. The fold up design with carabiner clip & lanyard combo makes it very easy to store and attach to your camera bag.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

• Amazon
• B&H

Lowepro GearUp Memory Card Wallet 20

Our 3rd Place Winner for Best Memory Card Case.

Lowepro’s GearUp Memory Card Wallet is the best version they’ve released, in my opinion. The interior is loaded with a variety of slots to hold SD, micro SD, CF,  CF Express, and  XQD cards, giving you an ultimate combo of shooting capabilities with a long life span.

The case has 12 larger slots for CF & XQD type cards, and 8 smaller slots for the SD and micro SD style cards. It has a fully zippered closure for easy access as well as a rear loop with clip to attach to your camera bag or accessories for extra security on the move.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

• Amazon
• B&H

[REWIND: Never Lose An Image With This File Backup And Cloud Storage Guide]

Additional Options

Ruggard Neoprene Protective Pouch

The Ruggard Neoprene Protective Pouch for Memory Cards is a small neoprene case that can hold and protect up to 6 memory cards, (large or small), in laminated mesh pockets. The rear pocket can even hold a spare battery for your camera.

The case can fit easily inside your camera bag, jacket pockets, and for someone wanting to take the extra step, the case has a belt loop to allow very easy transport on your camera bag/straps or even your own belt!

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

• Amazon
• B&H

Gepe All-in-One Card Safe Extreme

This card holder is for the more safety-minded photographer who’s ready and shooting in all of the elements. While the cases listed above are all great, if you’re an adventure photographer or happen to be traveling in some extreme weather and situations, you may want or need something more.

These little guys are extremely tough, waterproof (IPX7 Rating), crushproof, protect against static electricity, and even float in water! The case can hold 8 micro SD cards, 4 SD cards and 4 CF cards and comes in a variety of colors for your personal style. The only thing missing from this case is a lanyard or clip so you could attach it to your gear to make sure it doesn’t slip out anywhere along your journey.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

• Amazon
• B&H

Cecilia Gallery SD Memory Card Wallet

If you’re looking to add a little more style to your memory card holder, than the Cecilia Gallery SD Memory Card Wallet is the one for you. While just as functional as the other wallets listed above, the combination of charcoal canvas with leather fixtures adds just a subtle touch of flair.

Offered in 3 varieties of color for the exteriors, the interior is covered in a soft micro-fiber and is designed to hold 9 SD and 4 Micro SD cards. These wallets are slightly higher priced than the ones listed above, but at an average of $34 they are still within most of our budgets. Especially if this holder can sync up in design and style with our apparel and camera bags/straps!

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

• B&H

Pioneer 10 Compartment Memory Card Organizer

While it may just look like a flimsy piece of plastic, it can store up to 10 memory cards, and the real benefit of a system like this is the memo area that you can write date/contents in to keep track of what you’ve shot on a busy day. Plus, it still protects your memory cards from dust, static, and being bent, broken, or crushed.

The slim design makes it easy to slide into nearly any compartment of your camera case/bag and at a price of under $10, how could you go wrong?

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

• Amazon
• B&H

How to Choose The Best Memory Card Holder and Wallet

The thing to remember is you shouldn’t struggle to carry your memory cards, and you definitely shouldn’t have to worry about them while in transit. You owe it to yourself to invest in a good case that protects, organizes, secures your cards, and fits your personal style & brand. Head to your local camera store and pick a few up to see what feels right, and speak with your colleagues to see what cases they use and why. The work you do will be a major deciding factor in the case or wallet system you end up buying.

Summary

Here is a list of all the gear discussed in this article:

• Pelican 0915 Memory Card Case (Our Choice)
• Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket Series Card Carrier
• Lowepro GearUp Memory Card Wallet 20
• Ruggard Neoprene Protective Pouch
• Gepe All-in-One Card Safe Extreme
• Cecilia Gallery SD Memory Card Wallet
• Pioneer 10 Compartment Memory Card Organizer

What did we miss? Please give us feedback so that we can check out other bags and keep this list up-to-date.

Personally, I have clicked well over one million photos in my career, and the number of images that I’ve truly “lost” has been limited to a couple of unimportant snapshots here and there, thankfully. However, I have had a few memory cards “go corrupt” on me, and each time I was able to retrieve all the photos!

First, it is important to start by understanding how memory cards work. Also, just as importantly, you need to create a simple, safe workflow procedure and then never, ever cut any corners! Cutting corners, and sheer forgetfulness, will be your worst enemies.

Unfortunately, the fact is that human error is far more common or likely than actual memory card failure. It may sound silly, but, don’t accidentally format a memory card if you’re not absolutely sure you’ve transferred the photos!

In this article, we’ll provide you with workflow steps for basic SD card recovery, (or any memory card, of course) so you can give yourself the best chance (the last chance!) of never truly losing images.

Memory Card Recovery | How To Save Your Images!

Duplicate Your Images As Immediately As Possible

Your absolute best line of defense against any sort of data loss is redundancy, AKA, having a backup! So, duplicate your images as immediately as possible.

Most high-end cameras these days have dual card slots, and therefore all serious photographers should be recording raw images to both cards at once, especially if you are getting paid to click photos! If you do this, the entire issue of a memory card getting corrupted usually becomes a secondary, last-resort emergency.

[Rewind: Tips for surviving a potential memory card disaster]

If the worst happens, there are two categories of problems that you face: Data corruption, and physical memory card damage. As you might imagine, one is easier to deal with by yourself!

Physical Memory Card Damage

Cards can crack open, (both CF / SD) or have the contact points damaged, or be physically bent or punctured etc. (Surprisingly, water, especially freshwater, is a rather survivable event! Saltwater is nasty stuff, though.)

[Rewind: Why You Shouldn’t Buy Cheap Memory Cards! (Sandisk Yikes!)]

Unfortunately, if a memory card is physically destroyed, there is not much you can do except to either carefully attempt data recovery, (see below) or send the memory card off to a professional recovery service. The good news is, if you’re willing to pay a price, sometimes even a highly damaged memory card can be recovered.

Data Corruption

Okay, so, let’s assume that your memory card is at least in good enough physical condition to be plugged into a card reader. (If it’s physically falling apart, you probably don’t want to get bits of it stuck in your camera, but a cheap card reader can be sacrificed!)

If you were using dual card slots, then the first thing to do is to check the other memory card, of course. What if you weren’t using dual card slots, or what if both cards are somehow not displaying images that you know should be there?

In this worst-case scenario, there are two common problems: either a single image has gone bad, or the whole memory card has failed.

Step 1 | Immediately stop shooting on the corrupt card!

No matter what, the very first thing you do when you suspect that a memory card has encountered a problem is, STOP SHOOTING! If you keep shooting on that “bad” memory card, all bets are off.

Why is this so important? Because of over-writing. In most cameras when you “format” a card, it does not actually erase or destroy the image data on that card. It simply tells the card to “pretend” that the current images aren’t there, which allows the camera to write new image data onto the card, on top of the old image data.

If this happens, if the images you wish to recover get overwritten by newer images, then you’re really, really out of luck. Maybe the CIA or FBI can help you. (Or pray to the magical ENHANCE gods?)

So, remove your memory card immediately, and finish your photoshoot on a different card.

I pre-print a few “BAD” labels on a P-Touch labeler,
and store them in my card wallet for an emergency.

Step 2 | Inspect The Memory Card for damage

Assess the situation: does your camera not even “see” the memory card at all? Is it giving you a specific “ERR” message or code, or memory card warning? Is it telling you to format the card?

Or, can you actually see images on the card but one or more of them look visually corrupted, or are showing up as an “X” thumbnails?

Whatever the case, quickly jot down some notes and then remove the problem card, label it as “BAD”, and put it in your memory wallet.

Step 3: Run Image Recovery Software

There are many different memory card recovery applications out there, some are free and some cost a few dollars. I prefer the ones that cost somewhere in the $20-50 range; they seem to get the job done very well.

Try companies like Salvage Data for professional data recovery, or my favorite (on my Mac) is called PhotoRescue, from www.datarescue.com. I’ve been using this app for over ten years, (more often to help friends than myself!) and it has never let me down. In case anyone is wondering, yes, I’ve had better results with this application than with the name brand, Sandisk memory card recovery and Lexar memory card recovery applications.

On my PC, I use a more powerful (and a slightly more expensive) app called Data Rescue PC3 from ProSoft.

If you’re hoping for a free solution, I’ve heard success stories about a program named Recuva. As I mentioned, most memory card companies offer their own memory card recovery software, either for free or as a trial, but I can’t say that any of them work better than the apps I prefer.

How to perform memory card recovery

As you run the recovery software, even with its default options you’ll often be lucky, and it will immediately pop up with every photo that wasn’t recently over-written. In fact, if it’s been a long time since you shot the card all the way to 100% full, (I almost never do this anyways) …then you might wind up finding all kinds of images from many, many different shoots, going back many months!

There’s a small chance that one or two images might be truly corrupt; these might have been the culprits that caused your card to trigger the error message in the first place. Recover these images anyway, and try reading them in multiple different programs including the name-brand (Nikon, Canon, Sony) raw software that came with the camera. (Such as Nikon View NX) You might at least get lucky with a full-resolution JPG preview, if not the raw file itself.

Unfortunately, sometimes nothing comes up at all. If this happens, just try running the recovery again; do a deep scan, or advanced scan, or whatever additional options your recovery app has. If this fails, try another recovery program!

The least productive outcome is that your computer simply doesn’t recognize the memory card. The good news is that even if the card isn’t visible in Explorer or Finder, your recovery app may still see it. (You’d likely also be able to see the memory card in your disk utility application, if this was the case.)

If the card simply isn’t reading in your computer at all, you can try cleaning the contact points and re-inserting it a few times.

*Quite a few laptops have SD card readers that can get finnicky due to firmware; maybe try an external SD card reader, instead of an internal one.

Hopefully you’ve gotten nearly all your images back by now. Your software recovery has transferred the raw photos to your computer, and you can breathe that sigh of relief.

Of course, before you go back to work like nothing ever happened, be a responsible photographer and retire that memory card! (You did buy a memory card with a lifetime warranty, right?) Don’t take a risk with that card again; send it in for a free replacement. Especially if you’re a working pro.

What to do with Water Damage to Memory Cards

Okay, back to the physical aspect of things, before we wrap up. Believe it or not, water damage to memory cards is actually very survivable! In fact, a whole lot of folks have joked about how they accidentally put an SD or other memory card through the washing machine, and they figured what the heck, they might as well put it through the dryer too… lo and behold, the card then worked perfectly!

I would never recommend putting a memory card in the dryer, of course, but instead simply drying the card off with a towel and leaving it in a warm, dry place. (If your accident involved salt water, take a fresh damp cloth and wipe down your camera, lens, and/or memory card! Salt is like cancer to electronics.)

You can try the bag of rice trick, or you can use some of the anti-humidity desiccant packets. However, all you really need is low humidity and time. (If you live in Arizona, just let it sit out for a day or two!)

If you do this, instead of jamming your wet memory card into your camera/computer, you might not even need to run recovery software!

(Again, I’d recommend retiring & replacing that memory card! It’s the responsible thing to do.)

[Rewind: When is it time to retire an old memory card?]

Step 4: When All Else Fails, Call for Backup

So, you’ve tried everything and you still can’t recover any images. Maybe the card is physically damaged, or maybe it is just totally corrupted.

Either way, there may still be hope. Data recovery specialists have tools to perform actual SD card repair, or rebuild any type of memory card or hard drive, both physically and electronically.

My personal favorite, DriveSavers, is one of the most trusted names in data recovery. Their prices aren’t cheap, though; if you’ve lost only a few images on a small memory card it won’t cost you too much, but if you lost a whole hard drive, you’ll quickly look at costs in the thousands of dollars.

Conclusion | SD Card Recovery Is Possible!

Hopefully, your memory card recovery efforts don’t come to that. Or if they do, hopefully, you have photographer’s insurance that can help pay for it. Either way, no matter what the problem may be, there’s a very good chance you can recover images from a corrupt or damaged memory card.

If you have any questions or would like any additional input on a particular aspect of this process, or the overall safety workflow, please comment below!

Happy clicking,
-Matt-

We always place a heavy emphasis on redundancy and backing up images, but we shouldn’t overlook the one BIG step in between capture and storage/backup: how we transfer our images from our camera to our computer! This step can impact the safety of our memory cards and the image files themselves, not to mention how much time we spend performing the task of downloading.

Luckily, transferring images is now easier, faster, and more secure than it was in the early days of digital photography, thanks to the wide variety of memory card readers available. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional photographer, don’t underestimate the importance of this indispensable piece of gear!

Choosing the best memory card reader for your workflow deserves serious consideration, and, to help you out, we’ve looked at a wide array of features on five current memory card readers. In this article, we’ll list our favorites, based on factors including transfer speed, compatibility, build quality, and other areas to help you make an informed purchase.

Types of Memory Card Readers

There are several types of memory card readers available, but the most common are CompactFlash (CF), Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMediaCard (MMC) card readers.

SD Card Readers: SD card readers are designed specifically for SD cards, which are commonly used in digital cameras, smartphones, and other devices.

CF Card Readers: CF card readers are designed for CompactFlash cards, which are used primarily in professional-grade cameras and video equipment.

MMC Card Readers: MMC cards are similar in size and shape to SD cards, but they do not have a write-protect switch like SD cards do.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Memory Card Reader

Before choosing a memory card reader, there are a few key factors to consider:

Compatibility: Make sure the card reader is compatible with the type of memory card you’ll be using in your photography or video.

Speed: Look for a card reader with fast transfer speeds to save you time when transferring large files.

Ease of Use: Choose a card reader that’s easy to use, with clear instructions and a simple interface.

Size and Portability: Consider the size and portability of the card reader if you’ll be using it on the go.

Best Memory Card Readers

ProGrade Digital CFExpress Type B and SD Card Reader

For professional photographers who utilize both SD and CFExpress card formats, the ProGrade Digital CFExpress Type B and SD Card Reader is a great option. This memory card reader can accommodate most modern mirrorless and DSLR cameras, and it features incredibly fast transfer speeds up to 1.25GB/s (10Gb/s) from both cards simultaneously.

In fact, this is one of the fastest card readers we’ve worked with, especially when using faster cards (and the appropriate cable). Finally, the included 2-year warranty also lends a lot of credence to the build quality of this card reader.

Specifications:

• Supports card type: UHS-I and UHS-II SD, SDHC, SDXC, CFExpress Type B
• Connection type: USB Type-C and Type-A
• USB Speed: USB 3.2 Gen 2

Pros:

• Fast read/write speeds
• Compatible for both SD and CFExpress card formats
• High-quality build
• Comes with a USB Type-C connector and USB Type-A cable

Cons:

• Relatively pricey
• Doesn’t support XQD card format (Some Nikon cameras)
• USB 3.2 connection can occasionally bottleneck transfer speed

[Related: Prograde SD Card & Refresh Pro Software Review]

SanDisk ImageMate Pro Multi-Card Reader

If you have a variety of memory cards with different formats, you’ll need a memory card reader that can provide plenty of versatility and functions. The good news is that the SanDisk ImageMate Pro Multi-Card Reader is a great all-around card reader to help you out.

While that alone may qualify it as the best memory card reader for you, its size might matter. One important consideration for those on the go is that this card reader falls on the bulkier side. For that reason, we’d more likely recommend it for desktop use.

Specifications:

• Card types supported: UHS-I and UHS-II SD, SDHC, SDXC, microSDHC, microSDXC, and CompactFlash
• USB speed: USB 3.1 Gen. 1
• Connection type: USB Type – A

Pros:

• Reliable read/write speeds for UHS-I and II SD Cards
• Comes with a detachable USB Type-A Cord
• Comparatively more affordable than other options on this list

Cons:

• No USB 3.1 Gen. 2 or Type-C connection
• Not ideal for mobile use

ProGrade Digital Thunderbolt 3 CFExpress and XQD Card Reader

We’ve talked about finding the best memory card reader, but if you’re looking for the fastest, then you’ve found it. The ProGrade Digital Thunderbolt 3 CFExpress and XQD Card reader provides up to a whopping 5GB/s (40Gb/s) of data transfer speed, which is up to four times faster than USB 3.2 Gen 2. If your computer accepts USB-C inputs, then consider this memory card reader a must-have.

Just know, however, that as its name implies, this card reader requires a Thunderbolt 3 port.  You can find the same build quality and 2-year warranty as described in the ProGrade option that kicked off this list.

Specifications:

• Supports card type: CFExpress Type B, XQD
• Connection type: Thunderbolt 3
• Dimensions (size): 98 mm. x 98 mm. x 24 mm.

Pros:

• Fast read/write speeds
• Ideal for Nikon Z 6 and Nikon Z 7 users
• High-quality build for durability

Cons:

• Expensive
• No USB connectivity

Kingston Workflow Station Dock

Are you tired of having to deal with adapters or different cables when you have a whole stack of SD or micro SD cards to back up? Instead of tolerating such inconvenience, consider picking up the Kingston Workflow Station Dock.

This device is a USB-C modular docking station that can accommodate multiple USB-C or USB-A connections ,and numerous SD card readers. This option especially comes in handy when working with a large team (with photographers, videographers, drone operators, etc.).

Specifications:

• Card types supported: SD, MicroSD
• USB speed: USB 3.2 Gen 2
• Connection Type: USB Type-C and USB Type-A

Pros:

• Fast read/write speeds
• Simultaneously access up to 8 SD cards

Cons:

• Requires power source to operate
• Quite expensive
• Only SD/MicroSD compatible modules

Kingston Nucleum USB Type C Hub

Some photographers travel all the time, or at least very often. They may also work outdoors more often, or on-location, even if getting on an airplane or checking into a hotel is not involved.

If you fit this description, then you know the importance of having all portable and lightweight devices. With newer MacBook Pro computers eliminating many ports and leaving only Thunderbolt (USB-C) connectivity, options quickly become limited! This is where the Kingston Nucleum USB Type C Hub comes in. This memory card reader includes seven ports (see the specs below) and is compatible with SDHC and SDXC SD and Micro SD cards.

Specifications:

• Card types supported: UHS-I and UHS-II SD, SDHC, SDXC, microSDHC, microSDXC
• USB speed: USB 3.1 Gen 1
• 7 ports: USB-C connection, including USB 3.1 Type-C power pass through, USB 3.1 Type-C data transfer port, SD card slot, Micro SD card slot, USB 3.0/3.1 backwards compatible with USB 2.0, and 4K HDMI
• Connection type: USB Type-C

Pros:

• Portable and versatile
• Durable, metallic build

Cons:

• Transfer speeds may not be as fast as other options on the list

Conclusion

Before deciding which is the best memory card reader for you, always consider which memory cards you actually use, the transfer speeds you want, the connection compatibility for your devices, and the portability of the reader. By doing so, you can ensure you’ve selected the best card reader for your money.

We hope this compilation helps. Let us know if you have other picks that we missed by sharing them in the comments below and adding your personal experience with any of these card readers!

I’ve owned pretty much every major brand of memory card, too, from Kingston and others “back in the day”, to the latest and greatest Sony “Tough” and ProGrade. Of course, I’ve owned literally dozens of Sandisk memory cards, virtually all of them “Pro” or “Extreme Pro”.

Unfortunately, I’m done buying Sandisk SD cards. and I think you can see why. They seem to be more flimsy than any other memory card (make or model) I have ever had. Inevitably, they split open and spill their memory chip guts.

[Related: How To Recover A Corrupt Or Damaged Memory Card | A Step-By-Step Guide]

Sandisk SD Memory Card Quality Issues / Breakages

This is definitely a pattern. In fact, of the dozens of SD cards I have owned over the years, I believe that either 100%, or all but one, of the SD cards that failed in this manner, were Sandisk.

Considering that I am now at 5-10 Sandisk cards with the exact same type of failure, I can only conclude that Sandisk cards are significantly less well-made than the other brands I’ve been using.

In fact, even my set of nearly a dozen “cheap” Samsung SD cards, that I bought on a whim when they were on sale, are all still going strong. They even lasted so long that I retired the 16 GB ones, when megapixel counts jumped to 36 and then 45, of course. (You don’t fit many Nikon Z7 or Sony A7R IV images onto a 16 GB memory card!)

All in all, in my two memory card wallets that have my 18 most current, “active duty” SD cards, …I believe I am down to my last two that are still Sandisk. The rest are Sony & Sony “Tough”, ProGrade, Lexar, and Samsung.

Have Other Photographers Experienced The Same Breakage?

Yes, I know of at least two or three other professional photographers who have either shown me this same exact type of breakage in-person or described in great detail. The memory card “shell” splits open, and the chip falls out. This happened with Sandisk SD cards as much as 5+ years ago, back when a 128GB SD card was MUCH  more expensive!

[Related: Image recovery with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard]

Don’t Sandisk Memory Cards Have A Lifetime Warranty?

Yes, they do. Or, at least, the Extreme Pro cards do; I think Sandisk does not offer a full lifetime warranty (anymore?) for cards that do not have “Pro” on the label.

However, I just can’t consider warranty replacement to be an acceptable conclusion on such a frequent basis. Bottom line- these cards are behaving like a disposable product; I don’t care if a lifetime warranty can be honored or not, the whole reason I buy a product with such a lifelong guarantee is that I expect it to be an indication of truly top-tier build quality because that is what I REALLY need, more than a warranty–a memory card that won’t fall apart on me.

Am I Just Not Taking Good Care Of My Memory Cards?

I repeatedly ask myself this question. Am I the guilty one, am I doing something horrible to my memory cards that is causing them to break so repeatedly? There’s a chance that is the case. The abrasion marks on the card labels, and the overall wear and tear, seems to indicate that I’m doing something wrong.

True, there is the glaring fact that I have owned all the different brands, and Sandisk is the only brand that is falling apart like this. But, just for the sake of argument, let’s pretend that it’s still my own fault; I’m doing something that is causing the Sandisk cards to break. In other words, they’re clearly the poorest quality, but maybe they should still be able to stand the test of time under “normal” use.

So, honestly? I am very gentle whenever I insert memory cards into a camera and when I eject them. I only insert/eject the card once or twice a week, and not every single week of the year, so let’s just call it 50-100 cycles per year, for 3-5 years before I “retire” a card. Memory cards should all be well within their physical lifespan with this much wear and tear, I believe.

The P-Touch labels that I print on my cards can snag on the slot itself if a corner comes loose, but if that ever happens, I never try to force the card into the slot.

I store my cards in the same memory card wallet as many, many other photographers: The ThinkTank Pixel Pocket Rocket ($17-22). I own two of them for SD cards, and two of them for CF cards, plus two more that have space for both SD and CF at once. (I told you, I own a lot of memory cards! Being both a wedding photographer and a time-lapse photographer, over the past ~10 years I have had many weeks that resulted in 10K+ photos)

This cloth and plastic case is not the most rigidly protective, admittedly; it’ll be bad news if you putting the card wallet in your back pocket and sit on it, something I’ve never done. I always put the card wallet in my front pocket while I’m photographing a wedding, or in a spacious compartment of my camera bag when I’m on a different type of adventure or travel.

I’ve tried those card wallets that are a hard shell case, and they house your cards by pinching them “gently” at the edges. Honestly? Those things generally ripped SD cars in half even more rapidly; I didn’t even include those older destroyed cards in the graphic carnage photos above! I have been using the ThinkTank for many years now.

Bottom line: I could see how a crushing force might harm the memory cards, after months or years of heavy abuse, but I’m almost certain that no such heavy compressing force is happening. I can only conclude that, indeed, Sandisk SD cards just fail to deliver long-term professionally acceptable build quality. PERIOD.

So, Which SD Cards Do I Recommend?

The most sturdy types of memory cards are definitely the newer types of SD cards that have two layers of pins, because the overall construction of the card itself seems to be more of a one-piece molded plastic part; however, I’m not sure if that is true of all brands that are offering these ultra-fast types of cards.

Here is what I can say with great certainty: both Sony “Tough” and ProGrade Digital SD cards are built very solidly. They’re just highly durable, and you can feel it.

[Related: Prograde SD Cards & Refresh Pro Software Review]

Conclusion

In conclusion, you might not have thought of buying one of these “fancy” memory cards before, especially if you don’t shoot extremely high volumes of photos, and need the read and/or write speed of the memory card to be “blazing fast”. However, even if you’re not a high-volume photographer, you’re still capturing valuable images that ought to be protected by spending a little extra money on the highly durable, “tough” memory cards.

Personally, I’m just done buying Sandisk SD cards. No matter how cheap they are,  on sale or not, no matter how long the warranty is, I’m done. If Sandisk makes two-layer type SD cards that are completely different in their physical construction, I would consider them, but other than that, “nope, nope, nope”…

So, consider this a warning to other photographers! Either take extremely good care of your memory cards, (or leave them in your camera forever, and use its USB port to download your images, nice and slowly?) …or, buy a different brand of SD memory cards.

DISCLAIMER: This is my opinion and my opinion alone; this article was not sponsored by a third party. Nor did I reach out to Sandisk to see if they were interested in “taking care of me”, either. This is the raw, bare truth of my own personal experience with dozens of memory cards and literally, millions of photos captured over the course of ~20 years in digital photography.

They released a 1TB version of their MicroSD cards back in May at the MSRP of $449 which surprised a lot of people, so to keep the excitement rolling, this week they launched the SDXC version of the memory card. SanDisk has said the reason now for these cards to hit the market is primarily cost. Now it’s much cheaper than 3 years ago to get these products manufactured, and the need for them is also in much higher demand. With nearly every product out there able to record in 4k video (or higher), creatives need a memory card that just won’t quit! The downside however, is this particular card only has a 90MB/Sec write speed, (UHS-I), with a guaranteed sustained minimum write speed of 30MB/sec.

What does this mean for videographers? Well, you won’t exactly be able to pop this guy into a new 6k cinema camera and hit the races, but for DSLR shooters using 4k h.264 or h.265 recording, the v30 1TB card from SanDisk will more than cover you. For now we’ll just have to wait and see how long before a high speed write card is released for the cinema level cameras out there at the 1TB capacity, and hope that the price isn’t too insane!

Technical Specifications

• Card Type SDXC
• Storage Capacity 1 TB
• Bus Type UHS-I
• Speed Class 10
• UHS Speed Class U3
• Video Speed Class V30
• Data Transfer
  • Read Speed: 170 MB/s Maximum (Burst)
  • Write Speed: 90 MB/s Maximum (Burst)
  • Write Speed: 30 MB/s Minimum
• Durability
  • Shockproof, Temperature Extremes, Waterproof, X-Ray Proof
• Operating Temperature -13 to 185°F/ -25 to 85°C
• Storage Temperature -40 to 185°F/ -40 to 85°C
• Built-in Write-Protect Switch Yes

For more information visit the Sandisk website here

Check Pricing & Availability of the 1TB SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Memory Card Here

Adorama | B&H | Sandisk

Enter ProGrade Digital and their new Refresh Pro Software & memory cards. The program monitors the health of select ProGrade Digital Memory cards and can“refresh your card’s performance to factory new condition.” 

The software is currently available for Windows with a MacOS version coming soon, and will work with any ProGrade memory card and reader that has the “R” Logo.

That’s the catch though, for this to work you need to run all 3 in tangent. A compatible memory card, card reader, AND the Refresh Software. Granted, it’s a pretty small price to pay for that peace of mind. Basically it’ll read a Green, Yellow, Or Red based on the health of your memory card. (I bet you can’t guess which stands for which?).

“Refresh Pro checks key attributes of the memory card’s use history to determine how much life is remaining. If the card has less than 10% remaining life it should be replaced soon and not used for an important shoot. Refresh Pro also cleans the way data is stored to the memory card to ensure it is optimized for the highest performance.”

I don’t know about you, but this all sounds pretty incredible to me! Granted we’ve not tested this out first hand but I’ve already reached out to the company to inquire about a review so we’ll let you know when that happens. Regardless, if it works as described, this will take a LOT of stress away from my fellow photographer and videographers out there!

You can pick up the Refresh Pro Software for Windows 10 from ProGrade for $29.99 US with a MacOS version coming soon. (Trust me, i’ve asked about that also!) The “Refresh” SD Memory Cards are currently available from ProGrade directly, but with any luck they’ll be available on B&H, Amazon, and others in a few weeks. (yes, i’ve asked about this too). You can get the rest of the Refresh line cards and readers through Amazon, B&H and other retailers already.

Additionally if you’re already in that catastrophic situation with corrupted or deleted files, you can run ProGrade’s Recovery Pro software, (Available on Mac & PC for $49.99US), and recover nearly any file type that you may encounter from common JPEG and RAW files all the way through a range of video files such as .MP4, .MOV and AVCHD

What do you think? does it sound too good to be true? Or is this an “about time” situation for memory cards and their manufacturers? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Check Pricing & Availability Here

ProGrade | B&H | Amazon

SDUC follows the family of SD card designations like SDHC, SDXC and so on, and it will carry the same form factor and be backwards compatible, but the similarities stop there.

The new format adds the popular PCI Express® and NVMe interfaces to the legacy SD interface which is capable of delivering a 985 megabytes per second (MB/s) data transfer rate, and the maximum storage capacity in SD memory cards then grows from 2TB with SDXC to 128 TB with the new SD Ultra Capacity (SDUC) which is part of the new SD 7.0 specification. This is all less an incremental step as it appears a monumental leap.

SD Express uses the well-known PCIe 3.0 specification and NVMe v1.3 protocols defined by PCI-SIG® and NVM Express, respectively, on the second row of pins used by UHS-II cards today. By relying on successful protocols already in the marketplace, the SDA gives the industry an advantage allowing utilization of existing test equipment and saving in development process by usage of existing building blocks used in existing designs. These cards also provide system developers new options offered by PCIe and NVMe capabilities, such as Bus Mastering, Multi Queue (without locking mechanism) and Host Memory Buffer.

[REWIND: The Fastest Memory Cards | SD, MicroSD, CF, CFast 2.0, XQD]

Considerations

It seems we are in the midst of a type of memory renaissance these days, with 2 sides to the progress being capability or reliability. On one hand there’s ProGrade Digital which is aiming to be the professional’s choice with a focus on reliability and deciding if the future medium will be CFExpress or XQD, and then there’s the actual SD Association which is pushing the limits of what can be done with SD, and actually challenging the other formats. The question is, which is more important right now?

ProGrade is reporting 1,400MB/s read speeds and burst write speeds greater than 1,000MB/s. To put that all in perspective, that’s about 3X faster than CFast and more than 4X the speeds of SDXC UHS-II. While those speeds may sound like the answer to a question that has yet to be posed, it bares reminding as I’ve said before that the quest for speed of data transfer is like running in a race where the finish line keeps moving. We want cards to handle 4K today, but Moore’s Law suggests we’ll want 6K not in 5 years, but in 2, and 8K right after.

As such, as I’m prone to say, memory card makers aren’t looking to the end of the block, as much as they need to be looking around the corner. That’s what this is, and in doing has made the ‘far-fetchedness’ of things like 8K seem less a nebulous oasis on the horizon than a tangible mile marker. In essence, the memory upgrade could dictate the evolution of the camera hardware and all that estuaries from that.

This is, in fact, really why memory card news like this is so exciting, because it allows the envelope to be pushed.

While we don’t have an idea about price, we can assume that for the time being it will be expensive in a way we haven’t yet seen with SD cards, but that may not be a problem since there’s also no word yet on full compatibility with current devices.