Canon PowerShot CF & SD Memory Card Compatibility

Canon Powershot cameras can use CompactFlash or SD memory cards.

The model number of your camera should be on the front or on a sticker on the bottom. The serial number and other information can be there.

If the camera can use SD cards, look for an icon on the battery or memory card slot door.

Models that use CompactFlash are only compatible with a maximum capacity of 2GB. Using a card with a larger capacity than that will cause an error.

There are three different types of SD cards used in Canon PowerShot cameras. The file system used by the camera determines the maximum capacity of SD card that can be used. The abbreviation can be seen on card labels.

• SD (Secure Digital) - Capacities up to 2GB
• SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity)- Capacities Up to 32GB
• SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity)- Capacities Up to 2TB

Using a SD card with higher capacity than what a camera is compatible with will cause an error.

Any SanDisk, Lexar, Transcend, Samsung, or PNY card with UHS-I will be fast enough for a camera compatible with SDHC or SDXC cards. Higher capacities can make sense if the camera is capable of recording video.

For cameras that use the original SD card standard, your only choice is a 2GB card from Transcend. 🤷‍♂️

MicroSD cards are a smaller format with the same capacity limitations. They can be used in microSD to SD card adapters.

Common Problems

The PDF manual for your camera has answers to common questions and problems. They can be downloaded from the Canon Support Site.

Try formatting the card with the camera.

• Make sure the card isn’t physically locked. It is the switch on the side of the card.
• Try formatting the card with the camera.
• CompactFlash card slots can have their pins bent.

Image Capacity

The higher the quality of photos and video taken, the less a card can hold.

If you want to shoot JPEG images, I don’t think you’ll have storage problems. The cameras that are limited to 2GB are lower resolution and might be able to record standard definition video.

This is a rough estimation of the quantity of large JPEGs. It will vary based on how many megapixels the camera has.

• 1GB - 500 images
• 2GB - 1,000 images
• 4GB - 2,000 images
• 8GB - 3,750 images
• 16GB - 7,500 images
• 32GB - 15,000 images
• 64GB - 30,000 images
• 128GB - 60,000 images
• 256GB - 120,000 images

SDy Card Speed Ratings

Speed ratings depend on the continuous read and write speeds of a card. That will be different than the “peak speed” manufacturers will advertise on the label.

A detailed explanation can be found on the SD Card Assosciation Speed Class page

The ratings cover different speed ranges and technologies.

Speed Class was the first rating. These are minimum speeds. For example, a Class 6 card could be capable of 7MB/s.

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

Ultra High Speed bus (UHS) has 2 ratings. UHS-I is 10MB/s and UHS-III is 30MB/s sustained write speeds. Cards with UHS-III will be fast enough for 1080p and some 4k video.

Finally, Video Speed Class, is for high frame rate and bit rate video.

• V6 - 6MB/s
• V10 - 10MB/s
• V30 - 30MB/s
• V60 - 60MB/s (4k video)
• V90 - 90MB/s (8k video)

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SD Models (2GB Maximum Capacity)

These Canon PowerShot models are only compatible with SD memory cards with a maximum capacity of 2GB. Using a larger capacity card will cause an error.

These models can only use SD cards. They had the same model name in all regions.

These can use SD and MMC cards. They had different names depending on the region.

Recommended SD Card

The Transcend 2GB card is the only one that is consistently available new. Other options are more expensive or used.

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SDHC Models

Using an SD card that is larger than 32GB will cause an error.

These models had the same model name in all regions.

These models had different names depending on the region.

Recommended SDHC Cards

Any card with UHS-I will be fast enough. 32GB cards are often cheaper than those with smaller capacities.

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32GB SanDisk Ultra

• UHS-I, U3, and V30 Speed Rating. Can sustain 30MB/s write speeds.
• Excellent choice for photos.
• Capable of recording 4k Video.
• Larger capacities are available.

SDXC Models

These models had the same name in all regions.

These models had different names depending on the region.

Recommended SDXC Cards

For photography, 128GB will be enough for most people.

For video, larger capacities can make sense. Recording 4k or high quality 1080p can quickly fill up a card.

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microSDXC Card Models

MicroSDXC cards are smaller. They usually come with an adapter that allows them to be used in a SD card slot.

There are CompactFlash adapters for SD and micro SD cards.

• Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS / IXUS 500 HS
• Canon PowerShot ELPH 530 HS / IXUS 510 HS
• Canon PowerShot N

Any UHS-I card from SanDisk, Lexar, PNY, or Samsung will be fine. 128GB or 256GB will be the best value in terms of price per GB.

Recommended microSDXC Cards

Make sure the card comes with a microSD to SD adapter.

MMC - MultiMediaCard

Some PowerShot models are compatible with MMC cards in addition to SD. The format lost to SD.

One is fine to use if you already have it. I would not recommend buying one. Let collectors fight over them.

Wikipedia MultiMediaCard page.

CompactFlash Models

The models below are compatible with CompactFlash memory cards with a maximum capacity of 2GB. Using a larger capacity card will cause errors to occur. The camera will not work.

These have the same model name in every country.

These models had different model names depending on where they were sold.

Recommended CompactFlash Cards

2GB capacities were cutting edge tech 20 years ago. There are fewer choices due to less demand. They also tend to be expensive compared to SD cards.

CompactFlash to SD and microSD Card Adapters

I haven’t noticed any issues using the adapters or CF card in my Canon 5D Mark II. I have used SanDisk, Lexar, and PNY 128GB SD cards in the SD adapter with no issues.

The only card that didn’t work was a 128GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card.

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SD & CompactFlash Card Readers

I like card readers with “tails,” because they don’t block any ports.

The SanDisk reader shown above blocks multiple ports. The other USB-A readers can block ports when cards are being used.

The All-in-One readers are useful for less common memory card formats like xD Picture Cards or Sony MemoryStick. The downside is that they are USB 2.0.

USB 2.0 multi-card readers are slow. Ones that plug directly into a USB-A can block other ports. Others will have mini-B USB ports.

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Sources

• Canon PowerShot Supported Memory Card Types
• Canon Support Page for PowerShot A60
• Wikipedia - Canon PowerShot
• PowerShot Pro70 - Canon Camera Museum
• Canon knowledge base - What memory card types (SDHC, SDXC, etx.) are compatible PowerShot Cameras