Are you wondering which SD card speed would be most suitable for the Sony a7 II?
If so, then you are in the right place.
In this article, you’ll learn about the recommended card speed for the Sony a7 II and other parameters you should consider.
Also, you’ll discover the best options for Sony a7 II SD cards available on the market.
Sony a7 II SD Card Speed Recommendation
The a7 II requires SDXC cards with a U3 write speed rating for good performance. Depending upon the resolution, codec, and frame rate, a7II can shoot at different bitrates.
- 100Mbps — 4K and HD (100P/120P)
- 60Mbps — 4K and HD (100P/120P)
- 50Mbps — HD (24P/25P/30P/50P/60P)
Recording at lower bitrates than this should be avoided for obtaining good output footage. The bottom line is regardless of the resolution if the card’s write speed can handle the bitrate, it’s perfectly fine.
Video bitrates are described in Mbps. Similarly, memory card write speeds are measured in MB/s. As we all know, 1 Megabyte is 8 Megabits thus, when compared in terms of memory card, the a7S II’s maximum bitrate of 100Mbps is 12.5MB/s. A memory card that can handle HD footage at 100Mbps can handle 4K footage at 100Mbps just as well.
Even if you buy a very fast memory card it won’t be of many advantages in the case of a7II as the Sony A7II features a slow 33MB/s memory card write speed. Though the write speed of Sony A7II to memory card is a bit slow because they are still using USB 2.0 bus speeds in their camera but due to the large buffer, it isn’t a hassle while shooting.
SD Card Parameters To Consider For Sony a7 II
The memory card slot is located on the side of the camera. While inserting a memory card into your camera, make sure that the camera is off. Not just any SD card would be compatible with the Sony a7II camera. The parameters that should be considered are as follows.
Card Type: SDXC
All SDXC cards are well compatible with the Sony a7II.
Speed Class: Class 10, UHS Speed Class 3 (U3)
Class 10, UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) rating cards are most fit for Sony a7 II. U3-certified SD cards maintain a minimum write speed of 30MB/s to ensure that recording continues smoothly without any dropped frames. UHS-II cards are much faster than UHS-I cards but when shooting with the a7S II, they won’t be of many benefits due to the bitrates it can shoot up to. Though, UHS-II cards may allow you to offload footage faster from the cards as long as you have a fast hard drive and a compatible card reader
Size: 64GB or 128GB
The size of the card used is entirely up to the consumer, if you are someone who needs more storage, you may opt for higher capacities. But, SD cards with capacities of 64GB or 128GB are suggested best for shooting using Sony a7 II. The data gets divided over multiple cards and hence, the chances of losing the data minimize in case of any issue.
SD Cards Recommended for Sony a7 ii
Below mentioned are the three SD cards recommended for Sony a7 ii.
SanDisk Extreme Memory Card
- Brand: SanDisk
- Speed Class: UHS-I (U3), Class 10, V30
- Maximum Read Speed: 150MB/s
- Maximum Write Speed: 60MB/s
- Storage Capacity: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB,256GB
SanDisk Extreme Memory Card offers a transfer speed of up to 150 MB/s and can record at 60 MB/s. They are known to capture uninterrupted high-resolution video with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (v30). The exterior of SanDisk cards is made of highly durable material to keep your data safe. They are tested to be temperature proof, shockproof, waterproof, and X-ray proof. SanDisk Extreme Memory cards are available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB,256GB capacities.
SanDisk Extreme Pro Memory Card
- Brand: SanDisk
- Speed Class: UHS-I (U3), Class 10, V30
- Maximum Read Speed: 170MB/s
- Maximum Write Speed: 90MB/s
- Storage Capacity: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB,256GB,512GB,1TB
SanDisk is known for its speed and quality and thus, SanDisk Extreme Pro Memory Card makes an awesome fit for your Sony a7 ii. With a blazing read and write speed of up to 170 MB/s and 90 MB/s respectively, these cards are perfect for shooting 4K UHD video and sequential burst mode photography. They are made with strong and durable material to withstand harsh weather conditions. The SanDisk Extreme Pro Memory Cards are available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB,256GB,512GB,1TB capacities.
Lexar Professional 1066x Memory Card
- Brand: Lexar
- Speed Class: UHS-I (U3), Class 10, V30
- Maximum Read Speed: 160MB/s
- Maximum Write Speed: 120MB/s
- Storage Capacity: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB,256GB,512GB
Lexar Professional 1066x Memory Cards are known for their durability and performance. They offer a read and write speed of up to 160 MB/s and 120 MB/s respectively. You can now capture high-quality images and extended lengths of Full-HD and 4K videos without experiencing any lag or interruptions. It includes Lexar Recovery Tool to recover most photos and select video files. Lexar Professional cards come in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB,256GB,512GB capacities.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this guide helped you gain all the information about the recommendations for Sony a7 II SD card speed 🙂
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