{"id":129338,"date":"2020-04-13T06:00:08","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T11:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=129338"},"modified":"2020-04-10T14:03:16","modified_gmt":"2020-04-10T19:03:16","slug":"best-media-card-for-your-camera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/best-media-card-for-your-camera\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn How to Pick the Best Media Card for Your Camera"},"content":{"rendered":"

Find everything you need to know to choose the right media card for your particular camera by learning the basic terminology.<\/h2>\n

It’s a jungle of cameras, codecs, cards, and classifications out there. So, let’s get started.<\/p>\n

Many video cameras won\u2019t come with a media card included. So, after buying a camera you\u2019ll still need to make a decision on the recording media. This can be a very confusing, expensive endeavor. It\u2019s good to understand what you\u2019re buying before you buy it.<\/p>\n

While one card might work with a specific camera model, that same card might not support all of the individual formats that particular camera can capture. For example, an SD card that can handle 1920 x 1080 might not be able to keep up when recording in 4K. Shooting with high frame rates and in RAW formats will require even faster cards.<\/p>\n

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The arrows point to the SD card terminology you need to be familiar with. Image via Angelbird.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at some basic terminology that’ll help cut through some of this confusion.<\/p>\n

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Capacity<\/h3>\n

Of all the numbers and letters on media cards, capacity will almost always be the largest and most clearly marked. This is simply the storage space of the device, and the larger the number, the more money you\u2019ll end up spending. SD cards have a classification system related to storage, which is based on the different formats that limit storage space on a card. Check out the image below to see the difference between the various categories.<\/p>\n

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Here are the various SD card capacity classifications. Image via SD Association<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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Read Speed<\/h3>\n

The next number you might find prominently displayed on a card is the read speed. This has to do with how fast your data transfers will go during an offload. Be aware that these speeds are also dependent on the card reader you\u2019re using. While this number is prominently located on most cards, it\u2019s not the most important number for filmmakers. When working in video, you definitely want to take a look at minimum write speed ratings.<\/p>\n

\"Learn<\/a>

SD card read speed pertains to how fast your data transfer will go during an offload. Image via Sony.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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Write Speed<\/h3>\n

Write speed determines how quickly a card will capture data from the camera. One of the main problems with the write speed is confusing, deceptive terms like \u201cup to.\u201d Just glancing at the write speed of a card might convince you that a card is compatible with your particular camera.<\/p>\n

However, the term \u201cup to\u201d means that the write speed is not sustained. If you record with a card like this, it might lead to dropped frames and the inability to record in certain “heavy” formats. That\u2019s why it\u2019s best to look at the speed classifications. These give you the minimum write speeds, which will immediately tell you if a card is compatible with your shooting format or not.<\/p>\n

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SD card write speed has to do with how quickly a card will capture data from your camera. Image via Sony.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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The Speed Classification Jungle<\/h3>\n

While speed classifications help cut through some of the confusion, the number of different classifications just adds another layer of complexity. As mentioned earlier, SD cards have a classification for capacity (SD, SDHC, SDXC, SDUC).<\/p>\n

Well, when it comes to speed classifications, there are several for SD cards. These include the standard Speed Class, UHS Speed Class, and Video Speed Class. Use the Video Speed Class to quickly identify the minimum write speeds for each card. This classification is represented by an uppercase V.<\/p>\n

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With speed classifications, it’s important to use the Video Speed Class to quickly identify the minimum write speeds for each card. Image via SD Association<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n