Smart Shopping Guide: Avoiding Overpriced Sony A580 Memory Cards

The Sony A580 uses SD memory cards with a maximum capacity of 2TB. Released in 2009, this camera supports modern SD cards that have improved significantly since then.

Any UHS-I SD card will work well. A 128GB card is a practical size for most users.

The camera also accepts Sony PRO Duo memory cards, which are now discontinued. SD cards are faster, cheaper, and offer larger capacities—making them the clear choice unless you already own a PRO Duo card.

If you need lens recommendations, check out our guide on affordable Sony A580 lenses.

Sony A580 SD Card Compatibility

The Sony A580 is compatible with the SD, SDHC, and SDXC standards. Each of those standards use a different file system.

Check to make sure the camera has the latest firmware.

The newest SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) cards will not work with the A580. They are too large.

• SD (Secure Digital) - 128MB to 2GB. (FAT12/16)
• SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) - 4GB to 32GB. (FAT32)
• SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) - 64GB to 2TB. (exFAT)
• SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) - 4TB to 128TB. (exFAT)

How Many Photos Can You Store?

Understanding Card Speed Ratings

Class rating is determined by sustained write speed. The rating will be shown as a number inside of a C on the label.

For example, as card that could write data at 5MB/s would get a Class 4 rating.

Class 10 card are likely much faster than 10MB/s. That’s why there are additional ratings for high resolution video.

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

Which SD Card Should You Buy?

Any new SD card will handle photos and video. Focus on these guidelines:

• Skip overpaying for ultra-fast cards. The A580 has speed limits—faster cards won’t improve performance.
• Avoid UHS-II cards. This camera lacks the hardware to benefit from them.
• Buy new, not used. You can’t verify how much life remains in a used card.

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Lexar Professional 128GB

• UHS-I, U3, V30. Sustains 30MB/s write speeds.
• Excellent for photos and 4K video.
• Larger capacities available.

SanDisk Ultra 64GB

• UHS-I, U1, Class 10. Sustains 10MB/s write speeds.
• Great for photos and Full HD (1920x1080) video.
• Budget-friendly with plenty of performance.
• Larger capacities available at reasonable prices.

PNY Elite-X 128GB

• UHS-I, U3, V30, Class 10. Sustains 30MB/s write speeds.
• Ideal for burst shooting and 4K video.
• Durable: magnet-proof, shock-proof, temperature-proof, waterproof.
• Larger capacities available.

SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB

• UHS-I, U3, V30, Class 10. Sustains 30MB/s write speeds.
• Premium pricing for faster read speeds.
• Best for professional workflows or maximum storage needs.
• Temperature-proof, waterproof, shock-proof, X-ray-proof.

About PRO Duo Cards

Sony A580 PRO Duo Memory Stick Compatibility

The Sony A580 can use PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo Memory Sticks. Those are a proprietary memory card format that Sony has discontinued.

PRO-HG are the fastest with read speeds up to 50MB/s and a 15MB/s minimum write speed. The largest capacity available is 64GB. Expect to pay at least twice as much as an SD card.

If you have a Memory Stick, go ahead and use it.

I would not recommend purchasing a PRO Duo card. SD cards are easier to find, less expensive, come in larger capacities, and are compatible with more devices.

Understanding UHS Speed Standards

The Ultra High Speed bus (UHS) is available with SDHC, SDXC, and SDUC memory cards.

There are three different specifications that increase with maximum transfer rates.

UHS ratings are shown on a card label as a Roman number I, II, or III. Product listing will prominently display the rating.

• 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