Best Canon 70D SD Memory Card

The Canon 70D may use SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards. For burst shooting and video, it is essential the card you use has a fast write speed.

The performance of your camera can be decreased by using an incompatible memory card.

If you’re in a hurry, here’s the best SD memory card you can buy for the Canon 70D:

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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.

SD memory cards have greatly reduced in price the time since the launch of the Canon 70D.

With prices being affordable, it does not make sense to pick anything but a professional-quality card.

SanDisk Extreme Pro, Lexar Professional, and PNY Elite Performance cards are excellent. I have not had data errors or a card break with any of those memory cards.

All the complications I have experienced has been due to low-cost unbranded memory cards. Seeking to save around a buck is not worth the cost if your 70D is going to experience hassles.

A smart way to save money is to select a lower capacity SD memory card from a quality manufacturer. By making that choice, you’ll not have to be anxious about the images stored 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.

The memory cards that can be used with in the Canon 70D are SD, SDHC, and SDXC. For best performance, be sure that your camera is using the latest firmware.

The newest memory cards, SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity), are not compatible with the 70D.

Four separate versions of Secure Digital (SD) cards that you need to be familiar with. SD memory cards can be recognized from the capactiy of the card.

  • 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

Below is a fast estimation of the total number of large JPEGs shots you should expect to store on a SD memory card:

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

The speed rating of an SD card is based on the continuous write and read speeds of the card. Card file write speed is important for continuous shooting as well as video.

Slows memory cards can cause a drop in the number of continuous photos the Canon 70D can take. This is because the buffer in the camera is not able to write data to the card quickly enough.

With video, a slow card can cause a sudden end to the recording. The video file could also end up being corrupted. If you intend to record video, it is critical the SD card you use meets the requirements of the 70D.

Card read speed is important for transferring files to a computer or laptop. If you have cards that are full, a card with a fast read speed will decrease the amount of time it takes the transfer to finish.

SD Card Speed Class
SD Card Speed Class

The sustained write speed of an SD memory card is the criteria for the Class rating. Cards that have a minimum write speed of at least 10MB/s are labeled as 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 brand of SD memory card that you can purchase today will have a Class 10 rating. To discover the class rating of a memory card, try to find a number inside of a C on the label.

Example of UHS Rating
Example of UHS Rating

The Ultra High Speed bus (UHS) is often found in SDUC, SDXC, and SDHC cards. UHS allows provides a way to improve file transfer rates.

There are 3 separate versions. They are called UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.

Look at the front of the memory card to figure out the rating of a card. The presence of a Roman numeral I, II, or III on the front of the card, that will be the UHS rating of the SD memory card.

  • 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

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