The Best Memory Cards for the Sony A33

The Sony A33 may use SDXC, SDHC, and SD memory cards. Fast write speeds are an essential aspect for video and burst shooting.

The functionality of your camera can be ruined by using an incorrect SD card.

If you’re in a hurry, here’s the best SD memory card you can buy for the Sony A33:

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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.

Since the introduction of Sony A33, the price of cards has dropped.

Seeing as how affordable the cost are, it would not be shrewd to purchase anything besides a high-quality card.

The best cards I have owned have been the SanDisk Extreme Pro, Lexar Professional, and PNY Elite Performance models. I have not suffered from corrupted data or a card break with those SD memory cards.

All of the hassles I have encountered has been due to low-cost unbranded SD memory cards. Hoping to save around a buck isn’t worth it if your A33 will not work properly.

To save money, buy a lower storage capacity SD card from a quality manufacturer. That way, you will not have to worry about the images stored on the SD 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 can only use SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards with the Sony A33. Ensure you have the most up to date firmware installed on your camera for the best overall performance.

The newest SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) cards, are unable to be used with the A33.

There are four different types of Secure Digital (SD) cards that you should be aware of. They are split up by 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

The following is an approximation of the total number of high-quality JPEGs shots you can expect to be stored 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 card is based on the sequential write and read transfer speeds of the card. The continuous transfer speed of a SD memory card is critical for continuous shooting in addition to video.

Slows SD cards can cause a drop in the number of continuous photos the Sony A33 can take. This is because the buffer in the camera is not able to write to the card fast enough.

When recording video, a slow card can cause an unexpected end to shooting. The video file could also end up being corrupted. If you intend to shoot video, it is important the memory card you use meets the required minimum write speed for video.

Card read speed is important for transferring files to a computer. If you are filling up cards with images or video, a card with a fast transfer speed will reduce the amount of time it takes the transfer to complete.

SD Card Speed Class
SD Card Speed Class

A card receives a Class rating in line with its continuous write speed. SD cards that have a minimum write speed of 10MB/s are rated 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-name SD memory card that you can buy will have a Class 10 rating. You can discover the class rating of a card by looking for a number inside of a C on the sticker.

Example of UHS Rating
Example of UHS Rating

The Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus is a feature often found in SDHC, SDXC, and SDUC cards. The UHS bus makes it possible for increased file transfer rates.

Three different specifications have been specified. They are called UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.

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

Determined by the topics that were mentioned is what makes the the 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro is the best memory card for the Sony A33. It also has great compatibility with other cameras.

Listed below are more posts on cameras similar to the A33: