Best Canon PowerShot SD970 IS SD Memory Card

The Canon SD970 IS requires SD memory cards. The largest capacity SD card that will work in the SD970 IS is 32GB.

MultiMediaCards (MMC) and MMCplus cards can also be used. However, they are not made anymore. If you have one, you can use it. If you do not have one, don’t buy one, they will cost more than an SD card.

SD memory cards that satisfy the SDXC or SDUC standards are not going to function in the SD970 IS. These cards can easily be avoided as they are 64GB or larger in size.

The SDHC format was announced in 2006. All 32GB cards that are currently being produced will have almost identical performance. You cannot go wrong buying the cheapest class 10 name brand card. At the time of writing this, the PNY Elite 32GB SD memory card has the best price.

Recommended SD970 IS SD Cards

Here are some options to pick from that are compatible in the SD970 IS. With any of the cards below, you won’t have to worry about SD card data corruption or poor overall performance.

• Sequential read speed of up to 100MB/s
• Class 10, U1 rating delivers speed and performance for full HD photography and HD videography.
• V10 video speed rating to capture uninterrupted HD video at 1920x1080 format
• Compatible with point & shoot cameras, DSLR cameras, standard & advanced HD-enabled video cameras, and more
• Reliable & Durable: Magnet Proof, Shock Proof, Temperature Proof, Waterproof

• Quick transfer read speeds up to 90MB/s.
• Write speeds are not capable of recording 4k video.
• Class 10 rating for Full HD video (1080p).
• Waterproof, temperature proof, X-ray Proof, magnet-Proof, and shockproof.

• UHS Speed Class 1 (U1) supports Full HD video and burst shots. 130MB/s transfer speeds1 let you upload footage to your PC in an instant.
• Built to survive tough conditions and heavy usage, whether you’re at home, outside, or on the go. Backed by 10-year limited warranty.
• Highly durable with comprehensive 7-proof protection.
• Backed by a 10 year warranty.

Best SD Cards

Lexar, PNY, Samsung, and SanDisk both produce excellent memory cards. Avoid ordering cards from cut-rate no-name brand names.

Memory card issues, including a complete loss of all of your shots caused by file corruption, is much more likely to happen with low-cost cards. A minimal difference in cost is not worth the decrease in build quality.

Buy a reduced capacity memory card if you happen to want to cut down on costs. They generally are slightly lower in cost and you will not have to fret about the SD card having data failure.

Even then, SD card failures are infrequent. Only a couple cards have failed out of the considerable number I have acquired over the years. Age could have added to the failure, as the SD cards were included with used digital cameras.

Canon SD970 IS SD Card Compatibility

The Canon SD970 IS uses SD memory cards. There are currently 4 different specs of Secure Digital (SD) cards. Every updated memory card technical spec increases the maximum capacity and transfer speeds when compared to the prior standard.

Secure Digital memory card readers are backward compatible. A card reader built into a digital camera that can use SDXC cards will also be able to use SDHC and SD memory cards.

The card reader in the Canon SD970 IS is only compatible with the first two SD card standards. SDUC or SDXC SD cards are not going to work.

• Secure Digital (SD) - These memory cards have a maximum capacity of 2GB and are compatible with the SD970 IS.
• Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 4GB to 32GB and are also compatible with the SD970 IS.
• Secure Digital eXtended Capacity (SDXC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 64GB to 2TiB.
• Secure Digital Ultra Capacity (SDUC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 4TiB to 128TiB.

Canon SD970 IS Memory Card Full Error

Attempting to use an SD card that is 64GB or larger in size in the SD970 IS will result in the digital point and shoot camera to show an error.

Use an SD card with a capacity of 32GB or smaller to rectify the error.

If you are using an SD memory card that is 32GB or smaller, and it is not functioning correctly, format the card in the camera.

Speed, Class, & Capacity

SD Card Image Capacity

Here is a quick estimation of the number of large JPEGs you can expect to store on an SD card.

• 4GB - 1920 images
• 8GB - 3840 images
• 16GB - 7680 images
• 32GB - 15360 images

Memory Card Speed

The speed rating for SD memory cards is established by the sequential read and write speeds. The speed of the card is important for when many photographs need to be written or read from the SD memory card.

SD Card Speed Class Rating

The Class speed rating of an SD memory card is based on the sustained write speed of the card. A Class speed rating of 2 means that the card can sustain a write speed of at minimum 2MB per second.

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

The top rating a card can obtain is Class 10. There are SD memory cards that are considerably faster than 10MB/s. Those SD memory cards use other technology, such as UHS (Ultra Highspeed Bus), which have a separate rating criteria.

Sustained write speeds of 2MB, 4MB, 6MB, or 8MB per second means the card has a speed class of 2, 4, 6, or 8. Cards that have write speeds of 10MB/s or faster are rated as Class 10.

MultiMediaCard Compatibility

In 1997, the MultiMediaCard specification was introduced to the market by SanDisk and Siemens AG. MMC cards are similar to a thinner SD memory card.

The earliest 2 generations of MMC cards are going to work in the Canon SD970 IS. Compatible cards will be branded as MMCplus or MMC. Later versions will not function correctly with the Canon SD970 IS

Avoid looking for an MMC memory card. Compatible MMC cards for the SD970 IS are not at this time being built. Because of that, they are troublesome to find pre-owned and costly.

Conclusion

Buy an SD memory card for the Canon SD970 IS based on price. An expensive card isn’t going to improve performance. As long as it is a speed class 10 card, you will be fine. My recommendation is the PNY Elite 32GB SD memory card.