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Best Canon 6D SD Memory Card

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The Canon 6D uses SD, SDHC, & SDXC memory cards. To avoid problems when recording video, cards should be Class 10 with a UHS-I rating.

SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards are designed to work in the Canon 6D. Fast write speeds are a critical factor for continuous shooting and video.

An incorrect memory card can reduce the performance of your camera.

If you’re in a rush, here’s the best memory card you can buy for the Canon 6D:

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SanDisk Ultra 64GB SD Card
SanDisk Ultra 64GB SD Card
Check prices on: Amazon
  • UHS-I, U1, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 10MB/s write speeds.
  • Excellent choice for photos.
  • Capable of recording Full HD (1920x1080) Video.
  • Inexpensive with more than good enough performance.
  • Larger capacities are available for a reasonable price.

Memory cards are now substantially lower priced than at the time the camera was first introduced.

Due to the price range being low, it doesn’t make financial sense to buy anything besides a pro-level SD memory card.

The best memory cards I use have been the SanDisk Extreme Pro, Lexar Professional, and PNY Elite Performance models. I have never had a card failure or data errors with those SD memory cards.

All of the trouble I have encountered has been with low-cost unbranded cards. Hoping to save a little bit of money isn’t worth the cost if your 6D is not going to operate in the right way.

A good way to save money is to pick a lower storage capacity SD memory card from a high-quality supplier. By making that choice, you will know your images are secure on the card.

SanDisk Ultra 64GB SD Card
SanDisk Ultra 64GB SD Card
Check prices on: Amazon
  • UHS-I, U1, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 10MB/s write speeds.
  • Excellent choice for photos.
  • Capable of recording Full HD (1920x1080) Video.
  • Inexpensive with more than good enough performance.
  • Larger capacities are available for a reasonable price.
PNY Elite-X 128GB SD Card
PNY Elite-X 128GB SD Card
Check prices on: Amazon
  • UHS-I, U3, V30, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 30MB/s write speeds.
  • Good for burst shooting photos and recording 4K video.
  • Larger capacity cards are available.
  • Reliable & Durable: Magnet Proof, Shock Proof, Temperature Proof, Waterproof.
SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB SD Card
SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB SD Card
Check prices on: Amazon
  • Comparatively expensive for faster read speeds.
  • UHS-I, U3, V30, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 30MB/s write speeds.
  • Only makes sense for professional use or if you need the largest storage capacity available.
  • Temperature-proof, waterproof, shock-proof, and X-ray-proof.

You are limited to using SDXC, SDHC, and SD memory cards with the Canon 6D. Check to make sure you have the most recent firmware installed on your camera for the best results.

The newest SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) memory cards, can’t be used with the 6D.

You need to understand the four kinds of Secure Digital (SD) cards that can be purchased. You can identify the cards depending on their storage size.

  • SD (Secure Digital) - 128MB to 2GB.
  • SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) - 4GB to 32GB.
  • SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) - 64GB to 2TB.
  • SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) - 4TB to 128TB.
SD Card Contacts
SD Card Contacts

Listed here is an estimation of the number of high-quality JPEGs photos you should expect to store on a SD card:

  • 16GB - 4,640 images
  • 32GB - 9,280 images
  • 64GB - 18,560 images
  • 128GB - 37,120 images

The speed rating of an SD memory card is determined by the continuous write and read transfer speeds of the card. SD card write speed is essential for continuous shooting and video.

Slows SD cards can cause a drop in the number of continuous photos the Canon 6D can capture. This is because the camera’s buffer is not able to write to the memory card fast enough.

When recording video, a slow card can cause a sudden end to the recording. The video file may also end up being corrupted. If you intend to record video, it is critical the memory card you use meets the minimum requirements of the 6D.

Card read speed is important for file transfers to a computer. If you are filling up cards with images or video, a memory card with a fast transfer speed will save you time.

SD Card Speed Class
SD Card Speed Class

An SD card receives a Class rating derived from its continuous write speed. Memory cards that have a minimum write speed of 10MB/s will be labeled Class 10.

  • Class 2 - 2MB/s
  • Class 4 - 4MB/s
  • Class 6 - 6MB/s
  • Class 8 - 8MB/s
  • Class 10 - 10MB/s or faster

Every name-brand card that you can find for sale today will be rated Class 10. To determine the class rating of a SD card, look for a number inside of the C on the front label.

Example of UHS Rating
Example of UHS Rating

The Ultra High Speed bus (UHS) is a feature often found in SDUC, SDXC, and SDHC memory cards. UHS memory cards to have faster read and write speeds.

There are 3 different specifications. The versions are UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.

Look at the label to figure out the UHS rating of a card. If the card has UHS, a Roman numeral I, II, or III can be seen on the label.

  • UHS-I - Maximum transfer rate of 104 MB/s
  • UHS-II - Maximum transfer rate of 312 MB/s
  • UHS-III - Maximum transfer rate of 624 MB/s

This is a list of articles related to the Canon 6D camera:

Updated on 2022-10-05
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