Guide to the Best Nikon D3200 Memory Cards - Fastest, Best Value, and Compatibility
Every photographer knows that a reliable memory card is just as vital to their craft as the camera itself. For users of the Nikon D3200, a compact yet powerful DSLR camera, choosing the perfect memory card can be a game changer.
In essence, a memory card’s speed and storage capacity determine how effectively your camera operates. This, in turn, impacts your ability to capture high-quality photos and videos effortlessly.
This article aims to guide you through the intricacies of memory cards, helping you understand their types, capacity, speed, and more. In particular, we will delve deep into the realm of SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards that are compatible with the Nikon D3200.
With our comprehensive guide, we hope to dispel any confusion and provide you with the insight you need to make an informed choice. After all, a well-suited memory card can truly elevate your photography experience, allowing you to capture, store, and transfer your precious memories with utmost efficiency.
If you’re in a hurry, here’s the best card you can buy for the Nikon D3200:
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- 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.
Best SD Memory Card for Nikon D3200: The Fastest Card
The title of the fastest memory card for the Nikon D3200 currently goes to the SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I. Its speed and efficiency can be game-changing for photographers, transforming the way they capture and store memories.
The SanDisk Extreme PRO is a UHS-I, U3, V30, and Class 10 card. Its write speeds can sustain a whopping 90MB/s, while it’s capable of up to 170MB/s read speed. These metrics make it an excellent choice for photographers who need to capture high-quality images and Full HD videos without any delay or lag.
Why Speed Matters
When it comes to memory cards, speed isn’t just a number - it has real-world implications for how you use your camera. Here’s why:
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Burst Shooting: High-speed cards like the SanDisk Extreme PRO allow for seamless burst shooting. This means you can continuously capture multiple photos in a brief period without your camera slowing down or stopping to clear the buffer. This can be crucial for wildlife, sports, or any action photography where the subject is fast-moving.
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Video Recording: Recording Full HD or 4K videos require a card with high write speed to handle the larger amount of data. A slow card might cause video recording to stop abruptly or result in corrupted video files. The SanDisk Extreme PRO’s high write speed makes it an excellent choice for smooth, uninterrupted video recording.
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File Transfer: A high-speed card isn’t just beneficial in your camera - it’s also handy when you’re transferring files to your computer. A faster read speed means that you can offload your photos and videos to your computer more quickly, which can be a significant time-saver, especially if you’re dealing with a large number of high-resolution files.
The Need for Speed: An Anecdote
Consider the case of John, a professional wildlife photographer. John often found himself in situations where he had to capture rapid sequences of images. Using a lower speed memory card, he often missed crucial shots because his camera buffer couldn’t clear quickly enough. The result was a lag between bursts of photos, causing him to miss out on key moments.
However, once John switched to the SanDisk Extreme PRO, he found that his camera could keep up with the rapid-fire action. The high-speed memory card could quickly write the data, allowing him to continue shooting without any lag. The faster card made all the difference, enabling him to capture the perfect shot of a soaring eagle or a charging rhino at just the right moment.
In conclusion, while there are various factors to consider when choosing a memory card for your Nikon D3200, speed should be high on the list. A fast card like the SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I can significantly enhance your camera’s performance, ensuring you never miss a memorable shot.
Recommended SD Cards
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Nikon D3200 SD Card Compatibility
The only memory cards compatible with the Nikon D3200 are SDXC, SDHC, and SD. Check to make sure that you have the current firmware installed on your camera for the best overall performance.
The newest cards, SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity), are unable to be used with the D3200.
Four different versions of Secure Digital (SD) cards that you need to take into consideration. SD memory cards can be recognized from the capactiy of the SD memory card.
- 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.
MicroSD Cards
MicroSD cards are a smaller variant of the SD cards, and they can be used in devices that have MicroSD slots. These cards are often used in small devices like smartphones, tablets, and drones, but can also be used in DSLR cameras like the Nikon D3200 with the help of an adapter. However, there are a few things to consider before using a MicroSD card in your camera:
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Performance: MicroSD cards, generally, may not perform as well as regular-sized SD cards. This is due to their compact size that may limit the card’s performance in some instances.
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Adapter: MicroSD cards need an adapter to fit into an SD slot. While this isn’t necessarily a problem, it’s another piece that can potentially fail or get lost.
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Cost: MicroSD cards with an SD adapter can sometimes cost more than a comparable SD card.
Overall, MicroSD cards can be a good choice if you need to switch the card between devices that require different card sizes. But if you’re only using the card for your Nikon D3200, a regular-sized SD, SDHC, or SDXC card would be the best choice.
Benefits of Faster Cards
Using a faster memory card comes with a range of benefits:
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Faster Burst Shooting: A faster card can clear the camera’s buffer more quickly. This allows you to take more shots in continuous or burst mode without having to wait for the camera to write to the card.
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Higher Resolution Video: Faster cards can handle higher resolution video. If you plan to shoot 4K or higher resolution video, a fast card is a must.
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Quicker File Transfers: A faster card can also speed up file transfers to your computer. This is especially useful if you’re shooting a large number of photos or high-resolution video.
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Future-Proofing: Investing in a faster card now can prepare you for future upgrades. Even if your current camera doesn’t support the fastest speeds, your next one might.
Bear in mind that while a faster card offers these benefits, it won’t make your camera shoot faster photos or higher resolution video than it’s capable of. Always check your camera’s specifications to see what card speeds it supports.
Image Capacity
Here’s a fast approximation of the total number of large JPEGs photos you can expect to be stored on a SD memory 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 card is dependant on the sequential write and read speeds. SD card file write speed is very important for clearing the buffer for continuous shooting and recording video.
A slow card can cut down the number of continuous photos the Nikon D3200 can take. This is because the camera’s buffer is not able to write data to the card quickly enough.
With video, a slow card can cause an abrupt end to shooting. The video file could also be corrupted. If you are going to capture video, it is crucial the card you use meets the required write speed for video.
Card read speed is important for file transfers to a computer. If you have cards that are full, a card with a fast read speed will decrease the transfer time.
Speed Class Rating
The continuous write speed of a card is represented by the Class rating. SD cards that have a write speed of at least 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 purchase online will be Class 10. You can check the class rating of a memory card by searching for a number inside of the C on the front.
Ultra High Speed (UHS)
The Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus is built into SDUC, SDXC, and SDHC memory cards. The UHS bus cards to have faster transfer rates.
Three separate specifications exist. They are called UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.
Look at the label to figure out 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 will be the rating of the SD memory 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
Card Speed Requirements for HD Video
Shooting high definition video (HD) requires a faster card speed than shooting still photos. This is because video files are larger and need more data to be written to the card quickly.
For the Nikon D3200, which shoots Full HD video (1920x1080), the recommended minimum card speed is Class 10 or UHS-I U1. These cards can handle a minimum write speed of 10MB/s, which is sufficient for Full HD video recording.
However, if you are planning to record videos continuously or in higher resolution in the future, you might want to consider a faster card.
For example, to record 4K video (3840x2160), a minimum card speed of UHS-I U3 or V30 is recommended. These cards can handle a minimum write speed of 30MB/s.