Best Nikon D810A SD Memory Cards
The Nikon D810A has two memory card slots.
There are advantages to using both memory card slots, but the D810A will operate with just one card slot being used.
Preformance is similar enough to where if only one slot will be used, a SD memory card will be the less expensive option.
SDXC, SDHC, and SD memory cards will work with Nikon D810A.
An SD card with fast write speeds is essential for continuous shooting and video.
Want to skip the jargon? Below is my recommendation on the card for use with your Nikon D810A:
- 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.
Dual Card Slots
Do Both Memory Card Slots Need to be Used?
No, you can use the camera with a single CF card. When you use two CF cards you will have more settings.
- Mirror the Cards. Both memory cards will have the same files written to them.
- Overflow. Once the first card is full, files will be written to the second card.
- RAW+JPEG. Raw files will be written to one card and JPEGs of the same images will be written to the second card.
Do SD Cards Need to be the Same?
No, the memory cards do not need to match. You can use Compact Flash memory cards that have different capacities.
Having the two Compact Flash memory cards be identical helps to prevent potential compatibility problems. For instance, a slow CF card can slow down the camera’s buffer.
Recommended SD Cards
SanDisk Ultra 64GB SD Card
- 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
- 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
- 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.
Recommended CF Cards
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
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.
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.
Best SD Cards
In the time since the release of Nikon D810A, the cost of memory cards has come way down.
Due to the cost being so affordable, it is not going to make financial sense to pay for anything but a pro-level SD card.
The best memory cards I have used have been the SanDisk Extreme Pro, Lexar Professional, and PNY Elite Performance models. I have under no circumstances had corrupted data or a card break with those memory cards.
All of the hassles I have dealt with has been with no-name unbranded cards. Seeking to save around a dollar isn’t worth it if your D810A does not work properly.
A great way to save money is to buy a smaller capacity card from a quality supplier. That way, you will not have to be anxious about the shots stored on the SD memory card.
Nikon D810A SD Card Compatibility
You can only use SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards with the Nikon D810A. Ensure that you have the latest firmware installed on your camera for the best performance.
The newest SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) cards, are not going to be able to be used in the D810A.
You should know the 4 types of Secure Digital (SD) cards that can be found. SD memory cards can be recognized based on the memory card’s capactiy.
- 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.
Image Capacity
The following is a fast estimation of how many maximum-quality JPEGs photos you should be expecting to save on a SD card:
- 16GB - 4,640 images
- 32GB - 9,280 images
- 64GB - 18,560 images
- 128GB - 37,120 images
Speed, Class, & UHS Ratings
Card Speed
The speed rating of an SD memory card is classified by the continuous write and read transfer speeds. The write speed of a SD memory card is important for clearing the buffer for continuous shooting in addition to recording video.
Slows SD cards can cause a reduction in the number of continuous images the Nikon D810A can take. This is because the camera’s buffer is not able to write to the memory card quickly enough.
With video, a slow memory card can cause an unexpected end to shooting. The video file might also be corrupted. If you intend to record video, it is important the memory card you use meets the requirements of the D810A.
Card read speed is important for file transfers to a computer or laptop. If you have cards that are full, a card with a fast transfer speed will cut down on the transfer time.
Speed Class Rating
The Class rating of an SD memory card is determined by the continuous write speed. Cards that have a write speed of at least 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 brand-name SD memory card that you can find online will receive a Class 10 rating. To check the class rating of a memory card, find a number inside of the C on the sticker.
Ultra High Speed (UHS)
The Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus is built into SDUC, SDXC, and SDHC cards. The UHS bus memory cards to have faster write speeds.
There are three separate specifications. They are called UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.
Look at the front of the SD card to determine the UHS rating of a memory card. The presence of a Roman numeral I, II, or III on the front of the SD memory card, that is going to be the rating of the SD 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
Related Cameras
According to the topics that were mentioned is what makes the the 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro is the best memory card for the Nikon D810A. Any future camera you own, you will know what SD memory card to buy.
The following are more posts on cameras with similar needs as the D810A: