Best Canon EOS 50D SD Memory Cards
The Canon EOS 50D uses Compact Flash memory cards. 128GB is the maximum card capacity that can be used.
A Compact Flash card bigger than 128GB will either not be recognized or the EOS 50D will display an error message.
Recommended CF Cards
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SanDisk Extreme Pro CF 128GB
- Records and captures cinema quality 4K and Full HD video.
- Transfer speed of up to 160MB/s (1067X) read speeds.
- Industry leading shot speed performance of up to 150MB/s (1000X) write speeds.
- Designed for professional photographers and videographers
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SanDisk Extreme 64GB CompactFlash Card
- Write speeds of up to 85 MB/s for faster shot-to-shot performance.
- Transfer speeds of up to 120 MB/s for increased efficiency.
- Video Performance (VPG-20) for Full HD video recording.
- RTV silicone coating protects card from shock and vibration.
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Lexar Professional CF Card 64GB
- High speed performance—leverages UDMA 7 technology to deliver a read speed up to 1066x (160MB/s).
- Supports the VPG-65 specification for professional-quality video.
- Captures high-quality images and extended lengths of stunning 1080p Full-HD, 3D, and 4K video.
- High-speed file transfer to dramatically accelerate workflow.
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Compact Flash Card Types
CF cards come in two sizes. The CF cards are known as Type I or Type II.
The only difference between the types is how thick the cards are. The width and length of the cards are the same.
- Type I - 3.3mm thick
- Type II - 5mm thick
The Type II spec allowed for the use of Microdrives in the Canon EOS 50D. A Microdrive was a small mechanical harddrive.
When CF memory cards were initially released they had high prices and very small capacities. Microdrives were the only solution to have large storage sizes.
Microdrives are no longer being produced. Because they were mechanical , failure was a matter of time. So they are almost impossible to find used.
Another use of the Type II sized slot is for Compact Flash card adapters. The adapters allow you to use Micro SD or SD cards in a CF slot.
Card Reader
The UGREEN 4-in-1 card reader is what I use with my CF cards.
The UGREEN reader is USB 3.0 compatible. Using the card reader will allow transfer speeds that are much faster than what the Canon EOS 50D is capable of.
The card reader can read these card types:
- CompactFlash Cards
- SD, SDHC, & SDXC Cards
- Memory Stick (MS), MS Pro, MS PRO-HG, & MS XC DUO
- MicroSD, Micro SDHC, & Micro SDXC Cards
Avoiding Card Read Errors
One of the common problems with cameras that use CF memory cards are damaged card slot pins. When a pin is bent, you could see a ‘unable to use card’ error.
To avoid damaging pins, don’t force a Compact Flash memory card into the Canon EOS 50D. The extra space for a Type II card makes it possible for a Compact Flash memory card to be aligned incorrectly.
If the compact flash card will not easily slide into the camera slot, take it out and check the alignment of the card. Also, check to see if these is any damage to the memory card.
If it looks fine, carefully position the compact flash card and make another attempt.