The Best Memory Cards for the Sony A380

The A380 is compatible with SD memory cards and has a single memory card slot. cards with a max storage capacity of 32GB can be used in the A380.

An error code will be displayed if you try to use an SD memory card that has a capacity of 64GB or larger. You will be required to get multiple cards if you need more storage. The read and write speeds of SD cards are the main specs to focus on.

Sony PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo cards can also be used in the camera. They are limited to a maximum capacity of 16GB. PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo memory cards are no recommended as they are discontinued and expensive to buy.

If your A380 will be getting used regularly. Currently, a UHS-I SD memory card and compatible SD memory card reader are the fastest way to copy images.

Getting a top level SD memory card also will help to future proof the SD card for use in another device or camera. This will help you avoid a situation where you are not able to use a feature on a device, such as shooting 4k video, due to the SD memory card not being able to write data fast enough.

Do you have the right focal length lens for the types of photography you need to do? Check out the best lenses for the A380.

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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.

Since the release of the A380, SD card prices have gone down and storage capacities have become substantially larger. The difference in price between the fastest SD card and a average option is remarkably little. The price is more closely related to storage, with the bigger SD memory cards costing more money.

Buying the highest capacity cards makes sense if you are going to shoot a large quantity of RAW files for sports, action, event, or wildlife photography. Another contributing factor could be if you are planning to upgrade your camera or use the card in a different device.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro line of SD memory cards are frequently the best option for most situations. They have very fast transfer speeds, which means they have the best chance of working in future digital cameras or devices that use SD cards.

Lexar Professional and PNY Elite Performance are other cards that I have also had excellent experiences with. I have not had images or data become corrupted or unrecoverable on any of these cards. If that’s a situation that did happen, all of the manufacturers have image recovery software.

Issues I have encountered have been with generic SD memory cards. Being a bundled item or a low price are the selling points of these cards. However, this is also the most common kind of SD card to be advertised incorrectly.

It is easy to put a Class 10 sticker on a SD card with a Class 4 rating. When the camera image processor starts writing data there is bound to be an error message or unreadable photos if the card’s write speed doesn’t meet the camera’s requirements.

Storage capacity controls a large part of the price. You will be better off by buying a card with a smaller capacity to lower cost as opposed to using a generic brand. Read and write speeds are important factors that will impact your experience with the A380.

PNY Elite 32GB SD Memory Card
PNY Elite 32GB SD Card
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  • 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

SanDisk Ultra 32GB UHS-I SD Card
SanDisk Ultra 32GB SD Card
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  • 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.

Samsung EVO Plus 32GB SD Memory Card
Samsung EVO Plus 32GB SD Card
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  • 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.
UGreen Memory Card Reader
UGreen Memory Card Reader

The UGreen 4-in-1 memory card reader supports four different types of memory cards. These include all memory cards camera manufacturers use in all but their newest professional-level cameras.

The UGREEN reader has a USB 3.0 connection. The card reader’s USB 3.0 transfer speeds will be faster transfer speeds than what the A380 is capable of transferring files with the USB mode.

There are overwhelmingly favorable customer reviews for the card reader, which I agree with. It’s a good product because the reader has been compatible with all the computers (Windows, Mac, and Linux) I have plugged it into.

The cable stops memory card slots from being blocked by other devices or accessories that are plugged into another USB or nearby port.

When I looked for a smaller card reader that would be easier to travel with, I needed to go through the return process with several orders. I encountered the most frequently found problem in customer reviews, the memory card readers did not work with my computer.

The card reader supports the card formats below:

  • CompactFlash Cards
  • SD, SDHC, & SDXC Cards (UHS-I supported)
  • Memory Stick (MS), MS Pro, MS PRO-HG, & MS XC DUO
  • MicroSD, Micro SDHC, & Micro SDXC Cards