Welcome to my Sony a9 memory card guide.
I’ve tested 18 memory cards in the a9 to find out which cards are the fastest based on their actual in-camera speed and not the card label speed.
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Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- In-Camera Card Speed Comparison
UHS-II Memory Card Speed & Buffer Tests+−
- 1. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II
- 2. Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II
- 3. Delkin Devices POWER UHS-II
- 4. Hoodman Steel 2000x UHS-II
- 5. Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 UHS-II
- 6. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II
- 7. ProGrade V90 UHS-II
- 8. Ritzgear Video Pro UHS-II
- 9. PNY X-PRO 90 UHS-II
- 10. Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II
- 11. Sony SF-M UHS-II
- 12. Transcend SD 700S UHS-II
- 13. Lexar Professional 2000X UHS-II
- Simultaneous Recording Slot 1 + Slot 2
- Sort RAW / JPEG
- Which Memory Cards are Compatible?
- What Size Memory Card Do You Need?
- Summary
In-Camera Card Speed Comparison
Here’s a quick in-camera memory card speed comparison for all of the memory cards that I have tested in the Sony a9.
Best UHS-II Memory Cards
These in-camera tests were carried out using the Sony a9 with firmware version 6.00. All cards used were 64GB SDXC UHS-II memory cards.
Click the memory card name to jump to my full buffer test results with multiple file formats.
| Memory Card | In-Camera Write Speed * | Max Burst ** | Video Rating | Price Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II | 147 MB/s | 127 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 2. Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II | 144 MB/s | 127 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 3. Delkin Devices POWER UHS-II | 144 MB/s | 127 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 4. Hoodman Steel 2000x UHS-II | 144 MB/s | 127 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 5. Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 UHS-II | 144 MB/s | 127 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 6. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II | 143 MB/s | 127 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 7. ProGrade V90 UHS-II | 143 MB/s | 127 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 8. Ritzgear Video Pro UHS-II | 135 MB/s | 127 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 9. PNY X-PRO 90 UHS-II | 135 MB/s | 127 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 10. Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II | 131 MB/s | 127 | V60 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 11. Sony SF-M UHS-II | 131 MB/s | 127 | V60 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 12. Transcend SD 700S UHS-II | 115 MB/s | 124 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 13. Lexar Professional 2000X UHS-II | 114 MB/s | 123 | V90 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
Best UHS-I Memory Cards
These in-camera tests were carried out using the Sony a9 with firmware version 6.00. All cards used were 64GB SDXC UHS-I memory cards.
Click the memory card name to jump to my full buffer test results with multiple file formats.
| Memory Card | In-Camera Write Speed * | Max Burst ** | Video Rating | Price Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Delkin Devices Advantage UHS-I | 77 MB/s | 116 | V30 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 2. Kingston Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I | 77 MB/s | 116 | V30 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 3. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I | 76 MB/s | 116 | V30 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 4. Lexar Professional 1066x UHS-I | 61 MB/s | 113 | V30 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 5. Transcend 500S UHS-I | 54 MB/s | 113 | V30 | B&H Photo | Amazon |
UHS-II Memory Card Speed & Buffer Tests
Here are my complete in-camera speed and buffer tests for 13 UHS-II SD cards.
These tests were done using the Sony a9’s electronic shutter and shooting at the maximum frame rate of 20 FPS.
However, when shooting Uncompressed RAW or Uncompressed RAW + JPEG the maximum frame rate does drop down to 12 FPS.
1. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label): 299 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 134 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 147 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 32.38 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 245 | 41.06 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 367 | 148.3 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 120 | 47.80 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 93.52 |
2. Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label): 260 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 132 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 144 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 32.56 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 243 | 41.05 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 367 | 147.15 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 120 | 47.90 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 94.02 |
3. Delkin Devices POWER UHS-II
Delkin Devices design and support their memory cards in the USA.
The Power cards have been built specifically for extreme conditions and are protected against water, shock, and x-rays. They also feature built-in error correction and wear leveling.
Each card is backed by a Lifetime Warranty and Delkin’s American-based customer support team.
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label speed): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 250 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 132 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 144 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Delkin Devices POWER UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 32.77 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 243 | 41.25 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 367 | 147.19 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 120 | 47.95 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 94.04 |
4. Hoodman Steel 2000x UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 64GB, 128GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label speed): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 260 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 132 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 144 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Hoodman Steel 2000x UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 32.76 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 243 | 41.15 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 367 | 147.55 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 120 | 47.93 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 94.05 |
5. Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label speed): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 280 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 96 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 144 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 32.56 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 242 | 42.90 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 366 | 155.29 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 114 | 67.12 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 222 | 108.92 |
6. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label speed): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 260 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 132 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 143 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 33.65 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 241 | 41.58 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 367 | 148.55 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 120 | 48.12 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 94.03 |
7. ProGrade V90 UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label speed): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 250 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 132 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 143 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the ProGrade V90 UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 33.65 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 241 | 41.58 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 367 | 148.55 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 120 | 48.12 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 94.03 |
8. Ritzgear Video Pro UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label): 280 MB/s
- Write speed (label): 250 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 131 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 139 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Ritzgear Video Pro UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 33.56 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 243 | 41.48 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 366 | 149.28 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 120 | 48.00 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 225 | 95.52 |
Check Price & Reviews: Ritz Gear Video Pro
At: B&H Photo | Amazon
9. PNY X-PRO 90 UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label): 280 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 132 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 138 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the PNY X-PRO 90 UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 34.55 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 241 | 41.58 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 367 | 148.15 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 120 | 48.52 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 93.01 |
10. Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II
The Sony SF-M Tough memory cards are similar to the more expensive SF-G Tough version, but these are rated V60 for video and their read speed has been cut to 277MB/s and the write speed to 150MB/s.
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V60
- Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label speed): 277 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 150 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 121 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 131 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 37.06 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 240 | 44.16 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 364 | 147.72 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 118 | 53.20 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 95.02 |
11. Sony SF-M UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V60
- Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label speed): 277 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 150 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 121 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 131 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Sony SF-M UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 127 | 37.06 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 240 | 44.16 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 364 | 147.72 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 118 | 53.20 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 95.02 |
12. Transcend SD 700S UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label speed): 285 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 180 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 108 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 115 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Transcend SD 700S UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 124 | 42.61 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 239 | 48.62 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 367 | 148.84 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 116 | 60.23 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 95.11 |
13. Lexar Professional 2000X UHS-II
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label): 260 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 108 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 114 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Lexar Professional 2000X UHS-II card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 123 | 42.75 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 236 | 48.63 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 366 | 149.70 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 116 | 59.63 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 226 | 100.45 |
UHS-I Memory Card Speed & Buffer Tests
Here are my complete in-camera speed and buffer tests for 5 UHS-I SD cards.
These tests were done using the Sony a9’s electronic shutter and shooting at the maximum frame rate of 20 FPS.
However, when shooting Uncompressed RAW or Uncompressed RAW + JPEG the maximum frame rate does drop down to 12 FPS.
1. Delkin Devices Advantage UHS-I
Bus speed: UHS-I
Video speed class: V30
Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB,512GB, 1TB (SDXC)
Read speed (label speed): 100 MB/s
Write speed (label speed): 80 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 71 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 77 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Delkin Devices Advantage UHS-I card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 116 | 64.33 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 232 | 71.87 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 364 | 144.84 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 112 | 92.25 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 221 | 127.10 |
2. Kingston Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I
Bus speed: UHS-I
Video speed class: V30
Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB (SDXC)
Read speed (label speed): 170 MB/s
Write speed (label speed): 90 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 71 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 77 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Kingston Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 116 | 64.67 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 232 | 71.89 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 364 | 144.94 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 112 | 92.27 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 221 | 127.11 |
3. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I
Bus speed: UHS-I
Video speed class: V30
Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB,512GB, 1TB (SDXC)
Read speed (label speed): 170 MB/s
Write speed (label speed): 90 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 70 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 76 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 116 | 65.68 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 232 | 72.81 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 364 | 144.99 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 111 | 93.27 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 221 | 127.81 |
4. Lexar Professional 1066x UHS-I
Bus speed: UHS-I
Video speed class: V30
Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB,512GB, 1TB (SDXC)
Read speed (label speed): 160 MB/s
Write speed (label speed): 120 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 59 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 61 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Lexar Professional 1066x UHS-I card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 113 | 81.13 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 226 | 86.65 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 366 | 146.25 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 110 | 111.95 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 219 | 150.30 |
5. Transcend 500S UHS-I
Bus speed: UHS-I
Video speed class: V30
Capacities: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB (SDXC)
Read speed (label speed): 95 MB/s
Write speed (label speed): 60 MB/s
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Here are my complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (20 FPS).
The actual a9 in-camera write speed is approximately 50 MB/s when shooting in Uncompressed RAW + JPEG L or 54 MB/s shooting in Uncompressed RAW only with the Transcend 500S UHS-I card.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer (Max Burst) | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB)– 12 FPS | 113 | 93.07 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) | 226 | 88.65 |
| JPEG L (15.7MB) | 367 | 147.44 |
| Uncompressed RAW (49.2MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) – 12 FPS | 109 | 132.32 |
| Compressed RAW (24.9MB) + JPEG L (15.7MB) | 219 | 152.30 |
Simultaneous Recording Slot 1 + Slot 2
If you wish to record simultaneously to slot 1 and 2 at the same time then there is no benefit to using a UHS-II memory card in slot 1.
The write speed will be restricted to the maximum write speed of the UHS-I card in slot 2.
Sort RAW / JPEG
This setup is also slower than writing to a single card but unlike simultaneous recording there are still benefits to using UHS-II cards in slot 1 but only when shooting uncompressed raw.
The fastest setup here is to shoot RAW to slot 1 with a UHS-II card, then JPEGs to slot 2 with a UHS-I card.
Which Memory Cards are Compatible?
Slot 1: The Sony a9 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II + UHS-I memory cards in slot 1.
Slot 2: Only SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I memory cards are supported in slot 2. UHS-II cards will still work in slot 2 but you won’t get the speed benefit, they simply default to UHS-I speeds.
What Size Memory Card Do You Need?
For shooting stills I would recommend a minimum memory card size of 128GB, espeically if you are shooting at 20 FPS.
For each memory card this will give you around 7000 images if you shoot JPEG (Extra Fine) only, 3500 images when shooting RAW & JPEG (Compressed RAW), 4880 RAW only images (Compressed RAW), 1000 RAW & JPEG images (Uncompressed RAW) and 2400 images shooting uncompressed RAW.
Memory Card Readers
If you want to take advantage of the faster UHS-II read times which are around 3x faster than UHS-I then you’ll need a UHS-II capable card reader.
Sony MRW-S1
Sony’s MRW-S1 UHS-II USB SD Card Reader/Writer enables the fast transfer of data via a USB 3.1 interface. It can read/write to UHS-II SD Cards and is backward compatible with UHS-I SD cards.
Summary
The Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II CD cards came out on top for speed by a fraction, but there’s really very little difference between the Sony Tough card and the Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SD card, except for the price.
The Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SD card typically costs around half the price of the Sony SF-G Tough card.
So if you don’t need the additional durability of the Tough card then my recommendation would be to go with the Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SD card.
Alternatively all of the top 7 UHS-II cards performed very well and you would be unlikely to notice the difference in speed when shooting in the field.
So you might simply just wish to go with your preferred brand name.
It’s a shame that slot 2 does not support UHS-II cards because if you want to shoot to both slots simultaneously you will always be restricted by the slower card. You can still use a UHS-II card in slot 2 but it will be restricted to UHS-I speeds.
I hope you have found this guide helpful in selecting the best memory cards for your a9.
If you have any questions please drop them in the comments below or sign-up to our friendly forum where members are always happy to help.
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